Writing

Hack writers get a bad reputation since their work is often quick and isn't as concerned about flow and balance. Their work is important, though, since they serve a different purpose: to ignore quality and introduce brevity to get a reaction.

Using tame or funny insults instead of the usual profanity in your writing can make your story stand out without taking anything away from it.

All the coolest characters have some kind of magical item or object, don't they?

There's a common belief that writing comes easy to good writers, but based on my own experience, this has never been true. If you think writing isn't for you just because you're having a hard time, here are seven reasons why you shouldn't give up.

Writing poems based on pictures can be a good exercise. It helps you to focus on descriptive language. It might encourage you to look up historical documents and do research. Poetry is similar to photography: both mediums try to capture a profound message in a small space.

Whether you're a brand new writer, or you've been published a dozen times already, these grants can help fund your next big project.

Many writers find it helpful to get honest feedback. Writers' groups are ideal for this purpose. Here are some guidelines to make it a positive experience for both giver and receiver.

Road trips often make for great novels. This crash course guide will help you to design a road trip for your characters to take. You want the road trip to move the plot forward. This guide is for you whether your whole book is dedicated to a road trip... or just a couple of chapters.

Every once in a while, a writer needs to come up with some delicious dinner ideas for their story. This is a place to find them.

If you are a writer who needs help brainstorming new concepts for short stories, or who needs a jumping-off point to explore fresh ideas, check out this list of eight original and detailed writing prompts!

Flash fiction is an extremely short story. Flash fiction is 1,000 words or less, but there is also microfiction (under 100 words) and a “drabble” (exactly 100 words).

The five parts that make up a story are character, plot, setting, conflict, and theme. The first of these, character, is where so much of the story hangs. The characters have conflicts that drive the plot. They live in their settings, and all these things are supported by an overall theme.

Zoom Meetup accountability and support writing groups like Shut Up and Write have given me the push I needed to get my writing back on track.

Need any wizard names for your characters that use magic?

A list of cool gothic vampire names for those who want to put a little "bite" in their lives.

If you're looking for some witch names that sound a little witchy, then you're heading in the right direction.

Writing a compelling character is difficult, but it's possibly the most essential way to get people to go from previewing your work to buying. After all, why would someone be interested in a story without a compelling character?

A few things to know about Scotch

Men's luxury suits evoke high-end brand names like Tom Form and Armani. Yet, any man of true wealth and luxury understands the world of bespoke, from Saville Row to the streets of Naples.

In this article, you'll learn how to incorporate meditation, an organized writing space, and a well-thought-out to-do list into your daily routine to achieve your most heartfelt and mindful writing that will touch and inspire others.

Do you want to keep notes on the stories you've read and don't know where to start? This article will take you through a step by step process on how I keep a personalized reading journal.

When writing a novel, short story, comic book, etc., it's very important to write characters that will worm their way into the reader's heart. Writing characters with lovable personalities, interesting life goals, and memorable traits will be sure to grasp your reader's attention.

The best novels and novellas out there have some key elements that make them resonate with a wide range of readers. Here are seven tried-and-true tricks for writing better fiction, whether you're writing romance or a sci-fi epic.

When writing a fantasy story, creating a realistic fantasy world map that will help readers see your vision is essential. In order to create your map, there are some basic scientific laws that have to be followed.

Outlining a story versus "pantsing" it—which approach is better?

If you've ever played with anagram puzzles, then you're going to have fun with this poetry exercise.

In homophonic poetry, your goal is to write either a homophonic translation or a phony translation of an existing poem written in another language. It's a fun way to get writing again if you're a bit rusty because you'll be working with material that already exists.

Relationships between fictional characters are the emotional centerpiece of a story. Here's what you need to write a good one.

Details require a fine balance that few authors have mastered. So keeping that in mind, I’ve listed seven things that I, as a reader, skip while reading a book, and I think a lot of other readers would agree with me.

Having a hard time sleeping at night? Searching for inspiration to create your own horror story from scratch? Let me introduce you the online manifestation of the horror genre—creepypasta.

Monsters, ghouls, or even scared of the dark? You name it! Know how to write a quick, short horror story with these simple tips.

This article contains useful tips and advice for beginning writers. What is stopping you from writing those stories and articles? Are roadblocks and distractions getting in the way of writing. Is fear holding you back? Try some of these ideas to get your writing started.

Magic uses all kinds of ingredients for making potions and performing spells. As a writer, it's good to have lots of options so your writing won't be the same as other stories.

Sick of using the same boring words (run, said, big, etc.) when writing? Here are a few synonyms for those tired words.

If you want to make a unique character for your story, then give them a unique character trait or mannerism.

A guide on how to craft a narrator that is appropriate for, supports, and even improves a novel's pacing, tone, and story by playing to a writer's strengths and specifically editing the narration to make it as strong as it can be.

Modern dark fantasy writer Cecelia analyses the essential elements that make up the emerging genre of "Urban Fantasy."

A brief look at whether the writing motivation site, 4thewords.com, is worth the subscription cost.

Sometimes all it takes to beat writer’s block is a spark of inspiration. I’ve compiled more than 40 such sparks in this article. Here, you’ll find a variety of romance, mystery, action, and comedy prompts to get your creative juices flowing.

A guide to creating heartfelt writing that is relatable to your reader. This guide is particularly useful for aspiring blog, ezine and magazine writers.

So you've decided to become an author and write your first novel, but where do you begin? There are so many questions and ideas rolling around in your head that you don't know where to start or what to write. Here's some help to get you started.

Fantasy is a wonderful genre, but the world and characters of many books are often littered with unintentional clichés. Here are some of them to think about avoiding.

This article lists 10 of the best creative writing prompts out there to help feed your imagination and get you writing. Whether you need to write a story for school or whether you write for pleasure, there's a prompt or exercise here for you!

Do you ever find yourself struggling to describe a character in your novels or short stories? Maybe you always have a hard time channeling your main character's inner thoughts. These helpful tips will give you insight on how to create meaningful characters.

You might be amazed at how your own writing skills develop just from entering a competition.

Want to write but feel uninspired? Here are over a hundred creative writing prompts for fiction, nonfiction, fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and more.

Here are some Halloween writing prompts to bring your creative writing to life and get past any writer's block. The 3 categories of writing prompts included here are witches, monsters, and blood.

The more unique or unusual ways you can describe colors, the better your writing will be. Don't be one of those writers that just mails a color description in.

Fanfiction has shaped me as a writer, more than creative writing classes or self-help books. Find out what lessons fanfiction has taught me, and how they made me a better writer.