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
By Robbie Blair
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
By Robbie Blair
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.
Seven Badass Authors And Their Potentially Deadly Research Methods
In:
Research
New rule: You can't call the research for your book "grueling" unless it involves a gun to your head, beatings from Hells Angels members, feigning madness, or eating someone in the jungles of Peru.
Storyville: Story Dissection - Maker of Flight
Richard dissects another of his short stories, this time, the contest winning, "Maker of Flight."
10 Words You Literally Didn’t Know You Were Getting Wrong
In:
Grammar
Thanks to Joe Biden's mega-gaffe last month at the DNC, we were reminded that "literally" literally means you are being "literal". Here are a few more words you might want to revisit.
The Art of the Content Edit: 10 Ways To Make Sure You're Doing It Right
By Rob Hart
The proofreading phase is when a book gets pretty--but the content edit is when you really bring the story home. Here's how to do it right.
Getting Over It, Getting It Out: On Embracing A Bad First Draft
Let's face it: the first draft of anything is going to be awful. That's okay. In fact, here's why it's encouraged.
The Secret Lives Of Little Words
What's that word doing there? When it comes to spoken language, nothing is accidental. Linguists are working on finding meaning in every 'oh,' 'um,' 'well,' and 'okay.' The results might surprise you.
Storyville: Narrative Hooks
Writing a great narrative hook isn't easy, but it's one way to grab your audience and never let them go.
Why I Volunteer for Writing Festivals like Wordstock (and Why You Should, Too)
In:
Workshop
Volunteering for Wordstock keeps me sane. You should try it!
Art and the Aphorism
In:
Literary Devices, Phrases
Love them or hate them, writers can learn a lot about sentence structure and wordplay by experimenting with the timeless artform of the aphorism.
Storyville: Writing About Sex
How do you write a good sex scene? By utilizing the right language, all five senses, and empathetic characters, you can seduce the reader into living the moment.
What's Your Style?: Style Guides and How to Use Them
In:
Grammar
Whether you are actually going back to school this fall, or you just need an excuse to go to the bookstore, we have compiled a list of the most well known style guides and how to use them.
Storyville: The Horror of Editing and Revision
It's been said that the difference between a good writer and a great writer is editing. So let's hop to it.
Clause I Said So: A Refresher Course On Sentence Types
In:
Grammar
Take it back to your high school English class with a refresher on clause types.
