Is This Your Card? How Michael Chabon Uses Suspense in Literary Fiction
A study of how Michael Chabon uses Suspense in literary fiction to keep the reader reading and to move the story forward.
Book Readings: Bar vs. Bookstore
In:
Live Reading
Two readings: one book store, one bar. Which was better? Well, it depends on if you prefer alcohol or silence more.
The Escaping Character
In:
Character
A unique, compelling character must always possess the ability to confront — and ultimately confuse — readers’ expectations at every turn.
Storyville: Writing Horror Stories
What does it take to write a terrifying story? Every tool in your writer's toolbelt.
Ten Authors Who Write Great Dialogue
In:
Dialogue
A list of some of the best conversation-creating writers out there.
Writing with Authority: A Primer
In:
Narrator
A few simple tips to bolster narrative authority in your writing.
Keeping it Real: A Rough Guide to Using Real People As Fictional Characters
By Cath Murphy
In:
Character
Ebeneezer Scrooge, Tintin and Alice in Wonderland are all said to be based on real people. Is using your boss or neighbor as a ready made character a stroke of genius, or a fast route to a lawsuit?
The Third Character: A (Very) Rough Guide to Settings
By Cath Murphy
In:
Character
Choosing the right setting for your fiction can be as tricky as giving a turtle a haircut. Here's my Rough Guide to what I think of as the 'third character'.
The Heavy Hand of Didacticism
In:
Literary Devices
Why overwriting and needless instruction have a habit of killing a story every time.
Figurative Language, and Stuff Like That
Add depth to your writing with a Figurative Language Well.
Splat Goes the Hero: Visceral Horror
By Jack Ketchum
Jack Ketchum on violence, pain, and the importance of not looking away.
The Spiraling Narrative
In:
Theme
Plots shouldn't unfold with cause-and-effect insomuch as careful repetitions of symbolism and theme. Here's one way you can do this without forcing the story to wear symbolism on it sleeve.
The First Draft
By Max Barry
In:
Rewriting
Max Barry shares his love/hate relationship with re-writing, and the importance of getting feedback on your initial drafts.
World Book and Copyright Day –The Best Holiday You Never Heard Of
In:
Research
Books are the best! So let's celebrate them today--a day marked by literary history!
Three Comma Rules You Need to Learn Now! NO MORE EXCUSES!
In:
Grammar
There's comes a point in every writer's life when the excuses for not learning how to use commas correctly simply run out. This is that time. Learn these. Right now. Or else.
Storyville: Revealing Character
Here are some tips on how to reveal character through showing, not telling.
The Problems of the Disassembled Narrative
In:
Structure
Just because it's popular for writers to create stories with non-linear narratives, it doesn't mean it's always a good idea. More often than not, in fact, it's a recipe for disaster.
My First (Kinda, Sorta) Book Signing
By Keith Rawson
In:
Live Reading
Keith Rawson talks up his recent author appearances with Johnny Shaw, Joe Lansdale, Owen Laukkanen, and James Sallis.
App-tacular: Writing on Phones, Smart Phones, and Tablets
In:
Plot
We're moving on from the land of computers to writing on tablets and smart phones. Here are a few ways that writing is happening with these new implements.
Path to Publication Part 4: Mea Culpa
By Rob Hart
In:
Rewriting
Looks like I got a little ahead of myself...
Sentence, INTERRUPTED! - Five Ways to Interrupt Yourself (Grammatically)
In:
Grammar
Commas, parentheses, and dashes are just a few ways to interrupt a perfectly good sentence.
Write Or Go Home
In:
Character, Dialogue, Grammar, Narrator, Plot, POV, Research, Rewriting, Setting, Structure, Theme, Vocabulary, Voice
Essays from the doctor himself, Stephen Graham Jones. Stephen is a critically acclaimed author and instructor here at LitReactor. When not contributing craft essays, he also writes for our Magazine.
Writing Powerful Descriptions
Why the best descriptions are the ones that are easily understood, yet leave a lasting impression on readers’ minds.
Short Shorts: Extremely brief prose forms plus LitReactor’s first Short Shorts Contest!
In:
Plot
Learn all about how to write the shortest stories possible, plus enter your own 10 word/2 sentence short short for a chance to win some LitReactor swag. Short short = Win win!
False Starts, Dead Ends and Bad Beginnings: A Guide to Successful Storytelling Patterns
In:
Literary Devices
Why failing to establish clear narrative patterns or ignoring a story’s natural capacity to surprise can render an otherwise compelling work into an instant dud.
