Journal Prompts for Dreamers
Where do dreams come from? Many philosophers, psychiatrists, and other experts, as well as everyday people, have made conjectures about the sources of our night visions. But they remain a mystery. Some dreams are obvious, of course. We’ve all experienced dreams that are clearly relevant to what’s going on in our lives or dreams that…Read More
From 101 Creative Writing Exercises: The Incubator
Today’s post is an excerpt from my book, 101 Creative Writing Exercises. This is from “Chapter 11: Creativity,” and it’s called “The Incubator.” This exercise helps you process and organize your creative writing ideas. The Incubator Many creative professionals and hobbyists have found that creative ideas need time to incubate. In other words, you don’t…Read More
Storytelling: The Elements of Plot
Good storytelling includes many elements that a writer must consider. Plot and character are foremost among these elements, and for literary writers, language is high on the list as well. Some writers start with nothing more than a few key characters and let the plot develop by exploring those characters’ actions. Others practice careful and…Read More
Figurative Language in Poetry Writing
What is figurative (as opposed to literal) language? Figurative language says one thing but means another. However, figurative language does not intend to deceive. There is an expectation that figurative language will be understood and correctly interpreted by the listener or reader. We get the term “figure of speech” from figurative language. In poetry, we…Read More
What To Do When You Need Writing Motivation
Today’s post is an excerpt from Ready, Set, Write: A Guide to Creative Writing. This is from a chapter titled “Motivation,” which provides techniques for cultivating writing motivation. Writing Motivation The more inspired you feel, the more motivated you will be to write. But there’s a subtle difference between feeling inspired and being motivated. Inspiration is about…Read More
How to Conduct Credible Research for Writers
Today’s post is an excerpt from the book 10 Core Practices for Better Writing. Enjoy! “‘Research’ is a wonderful word for writers. It serves as an excuse for EVERYTHING.” — Rayne Hall Almost all writers rely on research for facts and information. Even fiction writers and memoirists, whose work is either made up from imagination…Read More
10 Tips for Submitting Your Writing and Getting Published
Your short story is finished. Your poem is polished. Your personal essay has been proofread. Now you’re ready to submit your creative writing project for publication. How do you do it? Where do you find the right publication? What materials should you send? Should you use email or snail mail? How long do you wait…Read More
Writing Resources: Perrine’s Sound and Sense
This post contains affiliate links. This is one of my favorite writing resources of all time. It is subtitled “An Introduction to Poetry,” but it’s full of concepts that can benefit any form of writing. Whether you write fiction, articles, essays, or blog posts, Perrine’s Sound and Sense will enhance the way you perceive and use language…Read More
Mysterious and Thrilling Fiction Writing Prompts
Sometimes it’s hard to start a new writing project. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by too many ideas and can’t decide which one to tackle. Or maybe you’re searching for the right idea, something to spark your imagination and inspire your next story. Fiction writing prompts are an excellent source of inspiration. They’re useful for generating new…Read More
Poetry Writing Exercises in Space and Time
Poetry is the most artistic form of writing. A poem can be concrete or abstract. It can be expressive or pensive. It can cover just about any subject imaginable. But despite what poetry can be, it is most often used as a form of emotional self-expression, especially by young and new poets. When we’re feeling…Read More
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