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Craft and Creativity

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Profiles in Craft: Ollie Schminkey

For you, what defines good writing? For me, good writing is writing that emotionally connects with your audience. Everything is in service to that goal; fresh metaphors matterbecause they help to keep folks engaged in the poem, an effective form heightens the content and connection of the poem, etc. What craft advice is most useful to…

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On Eccentric Protagonists

Think of some of your favorite characters in literature. Chances are, they’re probably a little odd. Well-developed characters are often strange and complex, because people in real life are also strange and complex. A dash of eccentricity goes a long way in crafting memorable characters. Let’s take a closer look at how authors wield weirdness…

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Writing Creative Nonfiction as a Fiction Writer

A Fiction Writer Faces Her Creative Nonfiction Fears I primarily consider myself to be a fiction writer, but have dabbled in other forms over the years. I spent my teens and early twenties writing mostly poetry. My time spent writing and studying the craft of poetry greatly influenced my future fiction writing. Poetry taught me…

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