A hot trend in publishing right now is retelling. From the poetry of stars to the chords of the dreamland, even in the echo of tales once told, inspiration is everywhere. Whatever inky thoughts decorate the several hundred pages is a unique journey of fresh perspective. But sometimes a pair of novel glasses are put… Read more »
A good friend once asked me who my favorite literary character was and why. I immediately responded with Mary Katherine (Merricat) Blackwood from We Have Always Lived in the Castle. As I described Merricat—destructive, chaotic, manipulative—my friend interrupted to ask why I liked her. Clearly someone with so many negative qualities was the villain of… Read more »
Hi, writers! I am so excited to debut my new column focusing on the craft of poetry. Let’s dive right in! Line breaks were one of the biggest challenges I faced when I first started writing poetry—knowing when to break a line, when to use short lines vs. long lines, and, perhaps most importantly, the… Read more »
I was working on my WIP recently. I have my project set up where each scene has its own file, which organizes things nicely, but also lets me easily see which scenes are coming up next. When I get to the end of one scene, I often look at the next scene and think, “Oh… Read more »
Many people dream of becoming an author but there’s one pesky thing that stands in their way: writing the book. In your head, it all seemed so easy. You envisioned grabbing a cup of freshly brewed coffee, sitting down at your laptop, and writing 10,000 words on a rainy afternoon. But in reality, sometimes when… Read more »
Parts I and II of this article dealt with ideas for writing a plot twist. You can check our Parts I and II, here and here. Part III will take you through the mechanics, the nuts and bolts of making it happen. By following the mechanics of writing plot twists and paying attention to the… Read more »
When it comes to reading, as many as one in five children struggle with word formation, memorization, and recognition—also known as dyslexia. It’s a common learning difference and accounts for nearly 80% of all children receiving special education services. Trouble reading due to dyslexia is in no way an indication of intelligence level or even… Read more »
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. One in five U.S. adults live with mental illness, yet it is still a taboo topic in our personal and professional lives. Those with mental illness are often driven to live with their suffering in silence for fear of damaging their relationships and credibility. I have lived with mental… Read more »
Did you know that the month of May is International Short Story Month? I didn’t! In May 2010, International Short Story Month was first organized as a way to celebrate short stories in all their glory from writing to reading and everything in between. It was inspired by National Poetry Month in April, which we… Read more »
Anytime you share your creative endeavors with people, you open yourself up to being judged. As a writer, when I expose my words to the public eye, I’m vulnerable to other people’s opinions, which can be scary and exciting at the same time. When I was younger, I was never the class clown, or quick… Read more »
