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.
Storyville: Critical Analysis—An Essential Part of Your Process
How to apply critical analysis to your own writing.
A Brief Stroll Down the Corridors of Dark Academia and Its Romantic Roots
In:
Theme
It’s easy to view these aesthetics as trends of small consequence, but it’s more interesting to watch their evolution against the scope of other romantic movements.
Storyville: How to Ask For, and Give, Book Blurbs
In:
Research
Tips and tricks for navigating the world of book blurbs.
Happy Birthday To Georgette Heyer, the Salty Godmother of Regency Romance
In:
Setting
Heyer said of her own writing in the 1940s, “I think to myself I ought to be shot for writing such nonsense," but her self-deprecation undermined her wit and substantial body of bestselling work.
Big Bugs and Dead Astronauts: The Joys of a Non-Human Narrator
In:
Narrator
Fresh ideas can be learned from books told from a different perspective.
How to Write Authentic Fiction
In:
Abstracts
How to write authentic fiction that resonates with other people.
Freelance Copywriting Nearly Killed My Voice as A Writer
In:
Voice
What you write matters. Getting paid is not enough.
Storyville: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Scene Breaks
In:
Structure
Some tips on inserting scene breaks into your short stories.
Storyville: Story Dissection — "In His House"
In:
POV
Richard dissects his epistolary horror story, "In His House."
Storyville: Evaluating Your Work in Progress—As Author, Editor, and Reader
In:
Rewriting
It's crucial that you can read your writing as the audience, an author, AND an editor.
