When it's Okay to be Uncertain
In:
Literary Devices
A look at when uncertainty can make fiction stronger.
Don't Go Back: Avoid Spinning Your Wheels on Old Stories
In:
Rewriting
While it's tempting to revisit old stories that never quite got off the ground, it can be harmful to your progress as a writer.
The Three Times Your Novel is Finished
In:
Rewriting
Ask an author how long it took them to write a book, and the answer is always different. Here are three times a novel is finished, and how they each relate to author mindset.
Hurdles and a Pyramid: Plotting Your Short Story
By Joshua Isard
In:
Structure
Make Freytag's Pyramid work for you, not the other way around.
Writing the Crime Scene: Blood
By Repo Kempt
In:
Research
A guide to writing realistic crime and horror fiction when your manuscript involves blood.
Research Isn't Writing
In:
Research
Research is important, but you don't want to become a researcher. Learn how to research as a writer instead of writing as a researcher.
The Second-Draft Slump: How to Get Through Edits
In:
Rewriting
The first draft always feels like the hardest part to finish...until you start the second draft. Get through the second-draft slump with these tips.
How to Hide Exposition Through Action
In:
Literary Devices
"Show, don't tell," they say. But telling is necessary. It's just a matter of doing it right. Hide your exposition through action.
The Two Lukes: Comparing and Contrasting 'Dark Empire' and 'The Last Jedi'
By Bart Bishop
In:
Character
A look back at the portrayal of Luke Skywalker in 'Dark Empire' as compared to 'The Last Jedi.'
The 12 Steps for Struggling Writers
If these steps can help alcoholics stay sober, maybe they can also help struggling writers.
5 Reasons Why You Should Write a Screenplay
Writers of prose would do well to follow the methods of screenwriters to help immerse readers in their story.
10 Easy Ways to Improve Your First Chapter Right Now
By Repo Kempt
In:
Rewriting
Learn how to identify and fix common problems in your opening chapter.
So You Want To Write About The Cold
By Peter Derk
In:
Setting
Want to make a reader shiver? Here are a few tips.
Why Microsoft Word's New Grammar and Style Corrections Suck
By Peter Derk
In:
Grammar
Why is the new Microsoft Word trying to boss me around?
Why Coming of Age Crime Stories Work So Well
In:
Theme
The movie adaptation of 'The November Criminals' reminds us that coming of age crime stories are the best kinds of stories.
Write Who You Don’t Know?
By Kat Hausler
In:
Character
'Retrograde' author Kat Hausler ponders the question: Should you base your characters on people you know? Well, yes and no...
The Birth of Jace Salome
In:
Character
Barker sets his protagonist down in a world peppered predominantly with men; men who bulge with maleness and refuse to stop spraying their eau de testosterone everywhere.
Storyville: Horror Story vs. Horror Novel
How do you know if your horror project is a story, novella, or novel? Some quick tips.
Storyville: Activities to Feed Your Dark Creative Soul Around Halloween
A few ideas on how to tap into your inner darkness, as we approach Halloween.
Anatomy of a Mini Flash Novel Experiment: Angel Dust
By Alex Behr
"Planet Grim" Author Alex Behr turns prompts into experimental prose.
Using The *Big* Words: Five Tips On Making Jargon And Tech Work For Your Writing, Rather Than Against It
By Mike Cooper
In:
Research, Vocabulary
With his new heist novel "The Downside" on shelves now, Mike Cooper offers some tips on how to prevent tech-heavy prose from making your story screech to a halt.
The Inauthenticity of a Fuckless World
In:
Vocabulary
People curse. If your stories don't curse too, how authentic are you being to the world you are creating?
10 Easy Edits to Improve Your Manuscript Right Now
By Repo Kempt
In:
Rewriting
A list of ten simple edits that can immediately improve whatever writing you're working on.
This Can't Be: Realism and Genre vs. Reality
In:
Literary Devices
How current trends in realism and genre have failed to prepare us for our disheartening reality.
