Chuck Palahniuk's 2014-2015 Essays
In:
Abstracts, Character, Dialogue, Grammar, Literary Devices, Narrator, Objects, Phrases, Plot, POV, Research, Rewriting, Structure, Verbs, Voice, Word Play, Workshop
Chuck surprised us all with a new batch of essays for 2014 & 2015! There is no exact timeline on how these will roll out, so just keep an eye on the site.
Notes on the Craft
In:
Dialogue, Literary Devices
Concrete, practical methods for improving your writing.
36 Writing Essays by Chuck Palahniuk
36 exclusive craft essays on writing you won't find anywhere else online. The knowledge here is equivalent to what you'd get in an MFA program.
Storyville: Unreliable Narrators
What is an unreliable narrator and how can it affect your writing?
Sudowrite: An AI Fiction Writing Software Review
By Repo Kempt
In:
Word Play
A review of Sudowrite, fiction writing software that uses AI to generate content.
Storyville: Leaving Room for the Reader
In:
Voice
It's important to leave room for the reader. Here are some ways you can do that.
Does Anyone Really Know What Makes a Story Good?
By Jay Wilburn
While there are some writing conventions that are generally agreed upon, the subtle things that make a story good may be more intangible than we like to think.
The Banality of Evil In Fiction
By Peter Derk
In:
Character
Why is so much evil in fiction so boring? How can you give those evil-doers a little life?
Storyville: From Baseline to Variation—How to Set and Expand Expectations
How to set the baseline and then take your readers somewhere else entirely.
Do It For The Kids: I Wrote A Book On Sylvia Plath That I Wish I Had As A Teenager
In:
Poetry
We still treat teenagers like their interests and passions are amusing instead of existence-altering. So I wrote a book on Sylvia Plath to challenge that.
Storyville: Building Up Your Horror Story Before You Tear It Down
Tips on how to build up your horror story before you tear it all down.
Withholding: The Secret To Comedy Writing
By Peter Derk
In:
Literary Devices
Withholding gets a bad rap from lazy mysteries and lousy thrillers. But it's a great comedy writing tool.
The Quick and Dirty Guide to Coming Up With The Perfect Character Name
In:
Character
There’s a lot that goes into naming a character. I’ve narrowed it down to the top five factors you should consider.
Dear Emily Dickinson
A haunting open letter to the influential American poet.
Storyville: What Makes Your Stories Uniquely You?
Tap into the formative experiences that made you and apply them to your fiction.
Writing Lessons Learned from 80s Horror Movies
By Jay Wilburn
In:
Cliche
1980 was over 40 years ago. 80s horror movies are now all classics or didn't stand the test of time. Either way, they can teach us a lot about good and bad writing.
Revisiting a Work You’ve Already Published: Things to Keep in Mind
In:
Rewriting
Nick Kolakowski's revised trio of novellas, now titled "Love & Bullets", is out from Shotgun Honey this month. He has some advice...
Advice from a 19th Century Governess and How Writing About Writing Has Changed
In:
Literary Devices
Writers have always loved to give advice, even when it’s not solicited.
Nonfiction Reads to Strengthen Your Relationship with the Witch
In:
Research
Nonfiction reading recommendations for witches, witchy writers, or writers writing about witches.
Storyville: The Books You Should Read Every Year
In:
Research
Some suggestions on the books writers should read every year.
Stick the Landing: How to End a Horror Story
By Peter Derk
In:
Structure
Endings are the make or break of horror stories. Stop blowing it.
Storyville: How to Write a Massive, Multi-Pronged Hook
If you think the only hook to your story or novel is the first line, then boy do I have some news for you.
Lessons from 10 Years of Writing About Grammar
In:
Grammar
In 10 years, I've given a lot of grammar advice. Some of it is bullshit now, but some of it is truer than ever.
LURID: Moral Panic in Poetry — A Quilt for David
In:
Poetry
Sometimes the best way to retell a tarnished story is through poetry. Steven Reigns' new book, "A Quilt For David", re-examines an old moral panic from the 1990s and finds it wanting.
Jack of Shrugtown
In:
Phrases, Vocabulary
I read my first Jack Reacher book, and there were so many shrugs. Jack Reacher has come to shrug and chew bubblegum, and he's all out of bubblegum.
