The Joys and Perils of Self-Fictionalization as Portrayed in Four Films - or - Why We Write
In:
Plot
Four movies that blur the line between artists and their art.
Five Plot Devices That Hurt Your Writing
In:
Plot
A list of common storytelling devices writers employ that usually cause far more harm than good.
Organic Word-Growing: Why You Should Keep the Shit in Your Writing
In:
Rewriting
A look at how accepting the crap you write during early drafts can both accelerate the writing process and feed your story.
Storyville: Where to Send Your Stories
In:
Research
No idea where to send your writing? Consult this list of the most common genre markets, as well as Richard's BIG LIST, five years in the making.
10 Grammar & Usage-Related New Year’s Resolutions
In:
Grammar
So you swore off sugar in the new year, but did you resolve to stop using 'they' to refer to a single subject? You should. Here are 10 grammar and usage resolutions for 2013.
Dramatic Situation Vs. Dramatic Scene: Win the Fight Against Poor Form
In:
Plot
There is a symbiotic "formal" relationship between situation and scene. A clearly defined dramatic-situation enhances the tension of your scenes, and more scenes ensure deeper exploration of premise.
10 Stories We Never Need to See in Workshops Again
A list of the some of the most predictable, clichéd storylines that somehow continue to appear in fiction workshops again, and again, and again.
Ghostly Doppelgangers, Bell-Ringing Goblins, and More Cranky Old Rich Jerks: Get in the Holiday Spirit With Some Lesser Known Dickens
In:
Theme
Can't get enough Dickens at Christmas time? Check out his lesser-known holiday-themed works.
6 Ways You're Molesting Your Metaphors
In:
Literary Devices
Including mixed metaphors, cliche metaphors, ambiguous implications, too close to literal, referencing outside the common experience, and over-extending your metaphors.
Storyville: Happy, Not Sappy
In:
Theme
It's not easy to write a happy story that is not melodramatic, but here are some tips on how to get there.
UPDATED WITH WINNER: Workout Your Brain: Write a Sonnet (& Win!)
In:
Poetry
Is your brain getting flabby from too much science fiction writing? Shake up your writing routine by trying out one of the oldest forms in the book. That's right--write a sonnet!
Why Netflix Makes You a Better Writer
In:
Research
Today's world of online streaming technology provides a powerful learning environment for hopeful writers. This article explores ways Netflix can educate writers and why you should care.
10 Reasons Your Screenplay Sucks (and how to fix it)
What makes a reader hate a screenplay on sight? Here are 10 pet peeves - and fixes.
Writing Beyond the Good/Bad Character Dichotomy
In:
Character
Crafting unique characters is a delicate process. Here’s a few tips to help writers bring life and color to the people in their stories.
Etymological Evolution: 12 Words Altered By Historical Misuse
In:
Vocabulary
Does the widespread misuse of certain words get your goat? Well suck it up, because that's one of the ways the English language evolves.
8 Signs It's Time to Scrap Your Writing Project
In:
Rewriting
8 warning signs that you may want to throw your latest manuscript under the lawnmower.
10 Things You Should Know About Plurals
In:
Grammar
When you have more than one, sometimes just adding an "s" doesn't cut it. Here are few things you should know about plural nouns.
8 Words to Seek and Destroy in Your Writing
In:
Phrases
8 frequently abused words or phrases that gum up your content. Stars of the show include "suddenly," "then," "is," "started," "very," "that," "like," and "in order to."
Technology: Help Or Hindrance To Writers?
In:
Workshop
Is technology increasing your productivity as a writer or distracting your muse?
Storyville: Dynamic Settings
Setting is one of the most important aspects of your story; don't overlook it.
Understanding the Objective Correlative
In:
Literary Devices, Theme
One way to embed a central theme in a story is with the use of a literary device commonly referred to as the Objective Correlative.
The 3 Most Popular Editorial Services and Do You Need Them?
By Erin Reel
In:
Rewriting
Writers have more professional support available to them now than ever before. Erin Reel, The Lit Coach, breaks down the 3 most popular editorial services, giving you the benefits, red flags and more.
Up Close and Personal: A Personality Expose of the Personal Essay
In:
Literary Devices
Get to know the Personal Essay by reading this article. Get to know yourself by writing one.
Big ‘A’ Little ‘a’: Writing Between the Concrete and Abstract
In:
Voice
One the most widely misunderstood — yet crucial — skills a writer must learn is the ability to put specific actions on the page that transcend into larger, universal concepts.
Direct-Address Commafication
In:
Grammar
Donate now to help save the direct-address comma! Get it off the endangered species list! All it takes is one well-placed keystroke, people. All it takes is a little integrity.
