Storytelling: This Ain't Church
In:
Theme
Always be passionate about what you believe, but write in a way that give readers the benefit of the doubt.
Tackling the Issue of Consent in Fiction
In:
Character
This article offers authors strategies for exploring the darker side of sex with safety and consent in mind.
8 Writing and Researching Tools You Might be Ignoring
In:
Research
When it comes to writing and research, some really useful tools are hiding in plain sight. Here's a list of my favorites.
Storyville: Pacing and Depth in Short Fiction vs. Novels
In:
Setting
Thoughts on the differences between novels and short stories, specifically when it comes to pacing and depth.
Be Childish Because It’s Robert McCloskey’s Birthday
In:
Voice
Timeless literature begins with the youngest readers.
Reality in Fiction: The Invisible Signature of Your Favorite Authors
The role of real events in fictional stories is an unavoidable aspect of an author's signature voice—and even the authors themselves don't know where the line between the two is drawn.
Donald Maas and The Emotional Craft of Fiction Writing
By Cina Pelayo
Take your readers on an emotional journey that will stay with them even after the final page is turned.
What Reviewing Nonfiction Taught Me About Writing Fiction
Reviewing nonfiction taught me a few tricks that helped improve my approach to writing fiction.
Tweak Those Boring, Stereotypical White Dude Characters
By Peter Derk
In:
Character
I hate to say it in this context, but you can do better.
Storyville: Letting Film Unblock, Inspire, and Add Depth to Your Fiction
In:
Research
Tips on how film can help unblock, inspire, and add depth to your fiction.
How to Approach the Second Draft of Your Novel-in-Making
In:
Rewriting
As C.J. Cherryh wrote, “It is perfectly okay to write garbage — as long as you edit brilliantly.” Here are five tips on how to approach the second draft of your novel-in-making.
Beyond the Comfort Zone: Writing Outside Your Box
By BH Shepherd
In:
Poetry
An exploration of how writing in unfamiliar genres and formats can help you grow as a writer.
Stop Being Lazy and Write Different Types of Characters
Stereotypes are played out. It's time to get REAL and write people the way they actually are.
Storyville: How Travel Can Inform Your Writing
In:
Research
Tips on how travel can inform your fiction.
13 Reasons Why Your Novel Sucks At Diversity
In:
Character
A list of thirteen egregious offenses committed while creating diverse stories, coupled with solutions writers can adopt to approach race or any other minority status with sensitivity and respect.
Revisiting Old Works-in-Progress: 5 Ways to Make the Most Out of It
In:
Rewriting
Just because a story is old doesn’t automatically mean that it’s terrible. Here are five tips on how to make the most of an ancient manuscript that you might have once forgotten in a drawer somewhere.
The Top Three Things Your Character Needs
By Cina Pelayo
In:
Character
Want to write memorable characters? You're going to want to give them these.
So You Want to Write Women
In:
Character
Writing women sounds easy... until you have to make them realistic. How does an author craft female characters that real women can relate to?
Two Truths and One Lie: How to Use Real Experience to Write a Story
In:
Structure
Formulating a three-act structure by recycling traumatic memories.
Storyville: Living Vicariously Through Our Fiction
Some thoughts on how and why we live through our stories and protagonists.
Is It Really Such A Bad Thing To Give The Audience What They Want?
Fan service is seen as a four-letter word, but that doesn't mean it's actually a curse.
Writing a Novel With Save the Cat!
By Cina Pelayo
The Cat has had its way with the screenplay, and now it has turned its sights on novels.
What Joy Williams and Denis Johnson Can Teach Us About the Art of First Sentences
By Elle Nash
Some lessons from two masters of the sentence.
5 Lessons Fiction Writers Can Learn From Video Games
If you're a writer who likes games and needed an excuse to play more, here it is.
How to Write Edgy Fiction Without Being Obnoxious
In:
Abstracts
Edgy fiction is difficult to pull off - and requires a depth and understanding of history, literature, and yourself. It's not about repeating what's been done before. It's about expanding it.
