Courage: The Missing Element in Most Fiction
In a post on Writer Unboxed, Donald Maass examines an intangible element that the best manuscripts embody, which he calls the Eighth Element. "The...
Can You See the Rain Forest for the Rhizomes?
In a post on Writer Unboxed, Barbara Linn Probst examines two approaches to story: rain forests and rhizomes. "A rhizome is a root system," she...
Make Your Peace with Revisions
In a post on Lit Hub, Sorayya Khan says revising might not be our favorite aspect of writing, but we should all make peace...
Yes, You Should Use Your Difficulties in Your Writing
In a new post, C.S. Lakin offers advice for writing about difficult emotional experiences, either in memoirs or fictionalized in your novel. "While no...
What Do Writers Owe Social Causes?
In an essay for Lit Hub, A. Natasha Joukovsky says that writers aren't obligated to resolve the world's woes with their fiction, but in...
Writing Purpose-Driven Fiction
During an interview with DIY MFA, Carol Van Den Hende talks about finding purpose and her new book Orchid Blooming. During the podcast, they...
Gillian Flynn: Write For Yourself, Not the Market:
In a post on ScreenCraft, Shanee Edwards shares excerpts from an interview with Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl, Sharp Objects). Some highlights include:
Write for...
In Praise of Unlikeable Characters
In a new post, Mary Carroll Moore offers advice on writing unsympathetic characters.
Everyone has bad days, but these characters tend to have more bad...
When Memoir is Too Revealing, Try Fiction
In a guest post on Jane Friedman's blog, Jennifer Browdy says that switching from memoir to fiction can help you write about painful true...
Can Fiction Get Too Close to Life?
In a post on his Substack blog, George Saunders writes about the ethical considerations you should make when using the experiences of a family...
