Chuck Palahniuk

Chuck Palahniuk's 2014-2015 Essays

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.
Stephen Graham Jones

Write Or Go Home

Essays from the doctor himself, Stephen Graham Jones. Stephen is a critically acclaimed author and instructor here at LitReactor.
Craig Clevenger Photo

Notes on the Craft

Concrete, practical methods for improving your writing.
Chuck Palahniuk

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.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: What We Can Learn From Reading Bad Fiction

What can a bad story teach us? Turns out, it's a lot.

"Lack of Character Development" is Not Always A Problem

In: Character
Characters don't need to develop all the time. We're fine.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Anthology Calls—How to Write to Theme, and Stand Out in a Crowd

In: Research
Writing to an anthology theme while trying to stand out in a crowd.
Roy Christopher

Taxonomies for Storytelling

Dissecting the threads that make up the tapestry.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: The Big Reveal—Adding Up to Ten

In: Structure
The big reveal—adding up to ten.
Lor Gislason LitReactor

Fostering Inclusivity: Sensitivity Readings and Content Warnings

In: Research
Lor discusses two tools to create a more inclusive experience: sensitivity readings and content warnings.
Kleopatra Olympiou

6 Books with Warped Timelines to Celebrate Groundhog Day, Bill-Murray-style

In: Structure
It's Groundhog Day, the perfect excuse for you to read about time travel and warped timelines.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Dissecting Body, Mind, and Soul

Dissecting body, mind, and soul in our storytelling.

Dialog Journals and Writing Good Dialog

Start a dialog journal, fix up your dialog, write better characters, and basically rule the world.
Andrea J. Johnson

You’re A Writer, But Is MasterClass Right For You?

In: Cliche
MasterClass offers numerous courses for aspiring writers. But are such classes worth the investment? This article seeks to address that concern and give you a brief overview of some of the sessions.
Joshua Isard

Walter Mosley, Natural Language, and Empathy

In: Dialogue
Everyday language is a way to understand different kinds of people. Diving in to those differences is vital.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: 10 Tips and Exercises for Generating New Story Ideas

In: Research
Having a hard time coming up with new story ideas? We're here to help.
Karis Rogerson

So You've Won NaNoWriMo — What Next?

In: Rewriting
After winning your first NaNo, you may be wondering what to do. Here's some advice.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: The Symbolism of the Four Seasons

In: Setting
Some tips on how the seasons can service your story.
Roy Christopher

The Edible Complex: Food-based tips for research and editing

In: Research
Eating and writing sometimes feel inextricably linked. Here are three food-based tips for research and editing.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: How Grateful, Compassionate Protagonists Can Add Depth to Your Fiction

In: Character
If you have a likable protagonist, does that make for a more appealing, layered, and satisfying experience?
Stephanie M. Wytovich, MFA

When Fiction Sells, Why Write Speculative Poetry?

In: Poetry
There are a lot of ways that poetry can not only strengthen your writing career and author brand, but also your bank account.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: How Various Media Can Change You as a Writer

Influence can come from any medium, not just the one you are working in.
Richard Thomas

Storyville: Hate From Love—Complex Emotions in Characterization

In: Character
In order to truly hate, you must love first, so write your characters with this complex relationship in mind.

Writing Advice for Non-Writers

In: Rewriting
So you have to write something. Maybe it's the first thing you've written since high school. Don't worry, it's not that hard. We'll get through it together.
Thomas Kendall

"The Autodidacts": Thomas Kendall On Writing Without An Outline

In: Structure
Fortunately, your source is infinitely replenishable: On writing without an outline, out of an image you don’t understand, towards a beauty you’re not sure exists.