Writing Tips
What Else? – How Research Makes Meaning
Since all the essays in my new collection, Shelter and Storm: At Home in the Driftless, incorporate facts I learned from asking experts, reading scholarly works, or rooting around in…
Read MoreSubplots in Fiction: How to Use Them to Deepen Your Story
Maybe you’re drafting your first novel, or just finished. Or maybe you’re in the early stages, working from a novel outline you’re excited about. Regardless of where you are in…
Read MoreSound Devices in Poetry and Literature
Although literature exists on the page, poetry and prose are both sonic artforms, each enhanced by the use of sound devices. Indeed, poems and stories used to be developed as…
Read MoreSymbolism in Literature: What Symbolism Is, and How to Use It In Your Writing
Symbolism describes the use of concrete images to convey abstract ideas. Because this literary device is widely open to interpretation, and because many readers form different relationships to concrete objects,…
Read MoreHow to Write a Love Poem
Love poems have tried to capture the essence of love since the dawn of poetry itself. Because love is a highly personal and variable experience, no two love poets will…
Read MoreThe Importance of Word Choice in Writing
All strong writers have something in common: they understand the value of word choice in writing. Strong word choice uses vocabulary and language to maximum effect, creating clear moods and…
Read MoreWhat is the Oxford Comma? Examples and How to Use It
Anyone who’s been on the internet or listened to Vampire Weekend has heard of the oxford comma. This small, specific punctuation mark has received outsized attention and a meme-like status,…
Read MoreWhat is Free Writing? + Prompts to Elevate Your Writing Process
If you’re trying to write but can’t get the words flowing, free writing can jumpstart the writing process. Free writing is a no-pressure method of simply getting words on the…
Read MoreCreative Writing Classes for Adults: Everything to Know Before You Enroll
There are hundreds of creative writing classes for adults, both online and in a city near you. Adult learners looking to work on their writing skills will find no shortage…
Read MoreHow to Write Flash Fiction Stories
Like a lightning strike, flash fiction stories can be over in an instant—radically altering the terrain of the reader’s imagination. These bite-sized stories take a lot of style, skill, and…
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