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mfa creative writing programs

Creative Writing Programs: Finding the Right Fit for Your Learning

Creative writing programs give writers the knowledge and confidence they need to write effectively. It used to be that the MFA was the primary avenue for career-oriented writers to develop their craft, but now, with the internet, there are so many programs for writing out there. What are the best writing programs for you? This…

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How to bless others

How to Bless Others

In this article, we’ll discuss how to bless people with words. This article isn’t religious, and it looks at blessing in a general sense. We’ll offer 7 simple steps to formally offer blessings (if, for example, you need to speak at a wedding). Above all, we’ll start to notice where in your writing and communication…

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nick carraway unreliable narrator

What is an Unreliable Narrator?: Penning the Prevaricating Protagonist

When you can’t trust the person who’s telling you a story, we typically refer to them as an unreliable narrator. An unreliable narrator is someone whose account of the story cannot be depended upon, either because they are lying to you, lying to themselves, or because they have a skewed perspective on the story (and…

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From Our Instructors

best gifts for writers

The 45 Best Gifts for Writers in Your Life

Professional authors chime in on gift ideas for writers—both during the holidays and any time of year. If you’re looking for the best gifts for writers in your life, look no further. There are lots of great gifts for creative writers—you just need to get in a writer’s head. With the help of some lovely…

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How to Write a Podcast Script: A Step-by-Step Guide

Want more advice on how to write a podcast script? Check out Cara Stevens’ Zoom webinar How to Start a Podcast. Cara J. Stevens is an author, editor, podcaster and book coach. She has written more than 80 books for young readers based on video games, pop-culture trends, and beloved characters including Pokémon Go, Terraria, and…

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The body and soul of your memoir | memoir writing course

Writing About Real People

Sneak Peek: This essay is excerpted from some of the materials I’ll be sharing in my class, “The Body and Soul of Your Memoir: Shape, Focus, and Write Your Memoir” at Writers.com starting June 4. When my memoir, The Sky Begins At Your Feet: A Memoir on Cancer, Community and Coming Home to the Body,…

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Character Development

Writing with Confidence

Writing Prompts

Jump-start your creativity with our writing prompts. Check back regularly for new prompts!

Show and Tell

Write a story or poem about an object with a lot of nostalgic value for you/the narrator. Do not, at any point, tell the reader explicitly what this object is.

Forgive and Forget

Write a story or poem about a time when you had to forget something to maintain a friendship or relationship.

Trash Day

Collect pieces of “junk writing”—spam emails, credit card advertisements, roadside billboards, bumper stickers, etc. Then, write a story or poem that uses all of the junk writing you collected.