Rules are for Learning, Violations are for Veterans
In a post on Lit Hub, Adam White explains why he makes rules for his writing students and then breaks them in his own...
Don’t Settle for Being Second Rate
In a new post, Kristen Lamb says that writers should always strive for mastery of their craft. "There’s an insidious belief that what constitutes...
Is Happily Ever After So Bad?
In an essay for Lit Hub, Sarah McCoy says we need happily ever after endings. "Our communal obsession with fairytale endings transcends generations, geography,...
Can Discovery Replace Conflict at the Heart of Your Story?
While stories need conflict, writers don't have to rely on adversarial relationships to make their stories work. In a post on the SFWA blog,...
Your Ideas About Writing are Less Important than Your Characters’
In an essay for Lit Hub, Colin Barrett says big ideas about the meaning of writing and art are less important than getting to...
Find the Simplicity at the Heart of Your Complex Story
In a post on Writer Unboxed, Donald Maass says that novelists don't have to choose between high concept simplicity and literary complexity. "Simple story concepts spin...
Continuous Learning Isn’t Just for Writing Skills
In a post on Lit Hub, Adriana Trigiani says taking a class can help you dive deeper into the world of your novel. Trigiani's...
The Enduring Appeal of Frankenstein
We all hope to write a book that captures the world's imagination, perhaps even beyond our lifespan. But that's easier dreamed than done. In a...
Yes, You Should Write That Sex Scene
Many writers don't include sex scenes in their stories, because they feel their genre doesn't support them or to avoid alienating a specific part...
Do You Give Your Writing the Time and Consideration It Needs?
"If I had a chance now with every book I wrote, every page would be a little different," says Ocean Vuong in an interview...
