The Dreaded R-Word: The Goods and Evils of Rhetoric
In:
Grammar
Seems like "rhetoric" is always in the news lately. And it's never good. But why?
Self-Editing For Dummies
In:
Rewriting
You want to edit your own writing. Here's how to get started.
Advice From A Literary Character: Bridget Jones
In:
Character
One of your favorite literary characters takes on life's big questions.
Jessica Jones vs. Sansa Stark: Rape Culture in Entertainment, and Why We Should Talk About It
By Leah Rhyne
Trigger warning: We are going to talk about rape, and our reactions to the loss of innocence vs. the thirst for revenge.
How Backstory Almost Totally Fucked Up the Star Wars Franchise: A Lesson for Writers
By Cath Murphy
In:
Character
The Star Wars prequels almost killed the Star Wars franchise and it wasn't just because of Hayden Christensen's acting. The toxic element was an overdose of backstory.
NaNoWriMo Hangover: 8 Steps to Recovery
In:
Rewriting
You've just completed NaNoWriMo and have a messy first draft to show for it. Now what?
American Horror Backstory: The Use of Flashbacks in "AHS: Hotel"
In:
Character
This FX TV series may not always concern itself with plot, but it always loves its characters. But how much is too much?
Book Launches, Portland Style
By Suzy Vitello
In:
Live Reading
Suzy Vitello, aka "the den mom," knows how to throw a great book party. After all, she was taught by the master of the literary festivus, Chuck Palahniuk. Need some ideas for your own launch? Read on.
Five Ray Bradbury Stories That Tell Us Everything We Need to Know About Writing.
In:
Structure
No writer stalked the inherent tensions in fiction with more guts and style than Ray Bradbury. Here are five lessons in conflict from the master of wonder.
5 Easy Ways to Make Your Writing Gender-Neutral
In:
Grammar
It's actually not that hard to write more inclusively, but it's more important now than ever to TRY.
Everybody Hates You: Using Empathy to Write Realistic Characters
In:
Character
If you want any chance of writing believable characters and stories worth reading, then being able to empathize with all of your characters must be your top priority.
Storyville: How to Write Flash Fiction
Tips and tricks for writing powerful flash fiction.
Writing the Unknown Setting: 8 Tips on Conducting a Research Trip for your WIP
What happens if you need to set a story in a place you've never seen? Melissa F. Olson, author of the Boundary Magic series, walks you through how to plan a location research trip.
Storyville: Playing With Point of View
In:
POV
Perspective and point of view in fiction is often slippery and elusive.
Five Situations Horror Characters Get Themselves Into (and What Would Happen in Real Life)
Among the lessons you will learn: Karma's a bitch, don't piss off serial killers, and never under any circumstances enter a basement.
Polishing the All-Important First Fives
In:
Rewriting
Focusing on the first five pages, sentences, or even words of your manuscript can help you get noticed amid the piles of slush.
4 Things the Wild Success of 'Mr. Robot' Can Teach Us About Writing
By Cath Murphy
In:
Character
'Mr. Robot' has transformed its parent network USA from sad loser to crowing superstar. How? With superb writing. Here's what we can learn from its success.
Fiction Shmiction: The Complex Question of Writing as Activism
By Robbie Blair
In:
Theme
If we're all creating a broader social narrative and constructing damaging roles, does that mean we should portray the world as it should be rather than as it is? Tough question. Let's unpackage it.
12 Productive Ways to be Unproductive
In:
Research
Procrastination doesn’t have to be a complete waste of time. Instead, it can be only sort of a waste of time.
5 Old School Writing Rules That Need To Retire
In:
Grammar
The article in which I call out my Alma Mater for being stodgy ol’ hypocrites.
What Every Successful Novel Opening Must Do: Myth vs. Reality
In:
Structure
It's no secret that agents, editors, and their assistants are looking for any reason to reject a manuscript in the first few pages. But what does it really take to get readers hooked?
6 Books That Would Make Great Reality TV Shows
In:
Character
These books could easily jump off the page and onto your screens.
The Problem with Rape's Portrayal in Fiction
By Robbie Blair
In:
Character
Rape is a sensitive topic that deserve a complex portrayal, but major trends in media and fiction fail to reach that complexity—and often cause a lot of damage.
10 Author Tips for Con Appearances
In:
Live Reading
Tips and advice for a pleasant convention experience.
Turning a Phrase: How to Write Historical Dialogue
In:
Dialogue
When done correctly, historical dialogue can be used as a tool to add polish and an air of authenticity. Done incorrectly, it can completely eject a reader from the story.
