Writing.Com Newsletter Archives: Short Stories

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Sun, Oct 26, 2025

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Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

Enter your story of 300 words or less.

Heard With New Ears

My first and only attempt at poetry

Noticing Newbies

A warm welcome to our newbies; come meet new and not-so-new members of Writing.Com!

The Writer's Cramp

Write the best poem or story in 24 hours or less and win 10K GPS!

BY ONLINE AUTHORS

Evolution of Love 2

As the first blog entry got exhausted. My second book

Pray to The Lord: The Almighty Is Great!

The Lord watches over us with love, mercy, and grace - a religious poem.

iMAGES

Images used in items around my port.

Poetic Traditions Winners Roll Of Honour

Awarded Winning Poems in previous rounds.

READ A NEWBIE

Boredom

Short description of how I feel about boredom

The Whisper

Do we listen to our inner voices, what they try to say? They come with a purpose.

The Stone Confidants

This poem personifies the walls as silent, eternal listeners and keepers of human secrets.

First Hunt

A humorous memoir on a first time hunting experience set in Western Pennsylvania.

BY ONLINE AUTHORS

The Uninvited

Journey Through Genres

ANGEL-WITCH Bingo Closed. See you 2026!

WDC 's 25th Birthday Week--Annual Angel-Witch Bingo: Sept 1-7

Poetic Traditions Winners Roll Of Honour

Awarded Winning Poems in previous rounds.

iMAGES

Images used in items around my port.

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Writing.Com Newsletter Archives: Short Stories

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#13394:	October 22, 2025	by Shannon
Fact or Fiction We've all heard the term "Fake News," but deception doesn't just apply to news outlets. Can you tell the truth from a lie?

#13402:	October 15, 2025	by Jayne 🕸️ 🕷️
Start Late. Leave Early. Start your story after the setup. Leave before the dust settles. What’s a story that sticks around in your brain because it left something unsaid or unresolved?

#13384:	October 08, 2025	by Legerdemaim
Horror / Scary Month A few suggestions to manage your horror / scary writing. What are your favorite horror / scary features?

#13369:	October 01, 2025	by W.D.Wilcox
Story Ideas Getting an idea for a short story What was your best idea for a short story?

#13361:	September 24, 2025	by McScaredyclaws wolf
Hooked from the First Line Practical tips to craft short stories that hook readers and leave lasting impact. Can you name a character from your first short story?

#13353:	September 17, 2025	by Jayne 🕸️ 🕷️
Don’t Toss the Scraps! Your story fragments need a home. Do you have any unused story scenes that live rent-free in your head?

#13336:	September 10, 2025	by Legerdemaim
Short Stories and Poems An article about storoems. Have you used poetry to tell a short story?

#13318:	September 03, 2025	by W.D.Wilcox
Short Story Ideas Coming up with new and imaginative ideas. From where do you get your story ideas?

#13307:	August 27, 2025	by Shannon
A Writer's Guide to Creative Ideas Finding inspiration as a short story writer can feel like chasing lightning... Do you ask yourself "what if?"

#13292:	August 13, 2025	by Legerdemaim
Just Hangin' A newsletter touching on the topic of cliffhangers and endings. What is your advice for writing a good short story?

#13276:	August 06, 2025	by W.D.Wilcox
Short Stories Are Tall Tales Why short stories are important. Why aren't short stories tall?

#13266:	July 30, 2025	by Dawn Embers
How to End the Words: Tense A look at the difference between using past and present tense when writing short stories. What are your thoughts on using present tense for a story, instead of past tense?

#13254:	July 23, 2025	by Jayne 🕸️ 🕷️
What You're Doing (still) Matters. Not everything you make needs to be for sale. Doing things for fun is still worthwhile! Other than writing, what’s a hobby you love, even if you’re “not good at it” by anyone else’s standards?

#13249:	July 16, 2025	by Legerdemaim
Dark Days We all have them, so do our characters. How do you describe dark days?

#13221:	July 09, 2025	by W.D.Wilcox
Short Stories Are Short Writing short stories. Do your shorts have shorts?

#13212:	July 02, 2025	by Shannon
Principles and Concepts Fundamental rules and guidelines that help writers create effective, impactful stories. Do you have a favorite rule or guideline?

#13202:	June 25, 2025	by Jayne 🕸️ 🕷️
The Art of the Last Line Endings matter as much as beginnings! What’s a last line you’ve never forgotten? What made it stick with you?

#13192:	June 18, 2025	by Legerdemaim
Cheaters I mean reader glasses. The magnifying type. Do you find it hard to cut extraneous characters?

#13170:	June 11, 2025	by W.D.Wilcox
What Makes A Short Story...Short How to write a short story Do you like writing short stories, and why?

#13165:	June 04, 2025	by Dawn Embers
Stories from Personal Experience or Not Some thoughts on how the write what you know might be taken too seriously at times. Do you write from personal experience or use something else?

#13153:	May 28, 2025	by Jayne 🕸️ 🕷️
Stories Without Setting Sometimes, skipping the scenery sharpens tension, voice, or meaning. What’s the most vivid story you’ve read that barely described where it happened?

#13145:	May 21, 2025	by Legerdemaim
It's All About The Feels Some suggestions for enhancing your story. Do you enhance the 'feel' of the story as you write or in edit?

#13126:	May 14, 2025	by W.D.Wilcox
Writing The Short Story Twist How to write a short story twist. Do your short stories have a twist?

#13118:	May 07, 2025	by Shannon
Persevere, Produce, & Publish in 2025 Where to Submit Your Short Stories: Markets You Shouldn't Miss n/a

#13112:	April 30, 2025	by Jayne 🕸️ 🕷️
One Prompt, Infinite Possibilities There's No Such Thing as a Boring Prompt What’s the most unexpected story you’ve ever spun from a prompt?

#13098:	April 23, 2025	by Legerdemaim
Names and Numbers What's the actual length of a short story? I asked Google. What is your typical story size? Why do you enjoy that size?

#13077:	April 16, 2025	by W.D.Wilcox
At The Beginning: The Opening Writing a catchy first paragraph Do you consider the beginning of a story as important as the ending?

#13067:	April 09, 2025	by Annette
Two Main Characters Stories can be more lively when told through the experiences of more than one character. Have you tried writing a short story with two main characters?

#13062:	April 02, 2025	by Jayne 🕸️ 🕷️
Plot? Vibes? Chaos? It's Up to You! Help shape future short story newsletters! What topics intrigue you most? (Suggestions inside!) What’s the weirdest short story concept you’ve ever come up with? Did it work?

#13052:	March 26, 2025	by Legerdemaim
How Many? A brief write about word counts. Do you watch your word count as you write?

#13032:	March 19, 2025	by W.D.Wilcox
Short Stories Are Short How to write a short story Why do you write short stories?

#13023:	March 12, 2025	by Shannon
Anatomy of a Crime n/a

#13016:	March 05, 2025	by Jayne 🕸️ 🕷️
Punchlines and Pathos Blending Comedy Into Serious Themes Do you have a favourite author who knows how to add some levity to serious stories?

#13006:	February 26, 2025	by Legerdemaim
Contest Prompts A comment on contest prompts and inspiration. Do you like prompts? What type?

#12995:	February 19, 2025	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
If only they could talk to me... Trying to understand punctuation and how to use it. What form of punctuation is the most difficult for you to understand how to use?

#12983:	February 12, 2025	by Jeff-o'-lantern 🎃
Vignettes The difference between short stories and vignettes. Do you consider vignettes different from short stories? Why or why not?

#12954:	February 05, 2025	by Annette
Companion Animals Pets come in many sizes and types. Have you given your characters pets to make them relatable?

#12960:	January 29, 2025	by Legerdemaim
Personification An article on giving human traits to animals or objects. What are some of your favorite personifications?

#12950:	January 22, 2025	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Let's Talk About It Dialogue and how to keep it real. Give us a dialogue tag for this sentence to set a tone: "That's not what I said."

#12933:	January 15, 2025	by Shannon
Homophones: Theirye're, Problem Solved! Homophones seem like small potatoes in the grand scheme, but improper usage can negatively impact your writing. Do you have a favorite? :-)

#12925:	January 08, 2025	by Dawn Embers
Should the Reader "Like" the Character A look at the likability of the main character and whether it's important for certain genres in particular. How important is it for the reader to like your character?

#12919:	January 01, 2025	by Legerdemaim
Prompts and Ideas A newsletter about a couple cool WDC tools. Do you use the Writing Prompts or Ideanary?

#12907:	December 25, 2024	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Finding the Inspiration to Write Feeling uninspired to write? Try some of these tips... Where/How do you find the inspiration to write?

#12896:	December 18, 2024	by Dawn Embers
Checking Out the Competition by Reading Looking into other entries in competitions and stuff already published in places you want to submit can be helpful. Do you read other entries or check out things written in publications where you want to submit?

#12878:	December 11, 2024	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
The Boys won't like it An experience with third and fourth graders that served as an eye opener Do gender-based dos and don'ts continue to rule?

#12874:	December 04, 2024	by Legerdemaim
What Are They Doing? In the chaos, take time to observe. How do you refresh the 'imagination bank'?

#12864:	November 27, 2024	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
In Three Acts Tips for writing a short story by breaking it up into three acts. Share a link to the most recent short story you've written.

#12847:	November 20, 2024	by Shannon
Enter Contests to Improve Your Writing “A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build towards it.” ~ Edgar Allan Poe Do you have a favorite writing contest that's ongoing or one that you've participated in?

#12834:	November 13, 2024	by Annette
Five Questions for Character Naming They can't all be Mary Sue and Gary Stu. What is your go-to method for naming characters?

#12829:	November 06, 2024	by Legerdemaim
Are You Afraid? Meet your fears. What is your biggest fear when making your work public?

#12817:	October 30, 2024	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Trouble Spots in Writing A short chat about grammar. What aspect of grammar do you tend to struggle with?

#12785:	October 16, 2024	by Annette
Talk About Talking Dialogue is a powerful storytelling tool. Let's do it the correct way. Why can't the queen, the president, and the prime minster agree on commas?

#12774:	October 09, 2024	by Legerdemaim
Ack! I'm Bleeding! Comparing horror makeup to building a short story. How do you construct your story?

#12769:	October 02, 2024	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Words You Can Use! A collection of interesting, yet somewhat obscure words. What's your favorite word?

#12755:	September 25, 2024	by Shannon
Rearrange, Rephrase, Revise "It is perfectly okay to write garbage as long as you edit brilliantly." ~ C.J. Cherryh Do you use a checklist or similar tool to edit your work?

#12740:	September 18, 2024	by Annette
Freytag versus Three Acts The theatrical vantage point and three act structure want your attention. Is an upside down V? Is it a pyramid? Is it a triangle? Or is it a rope with knots?

#12732:	September 11, 2024	by Legerdemaim
What's Next? The birthday party is over, what's next? Are you preparing for a busy upcoming holiday season?

#12728:	September 04, 2024	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
The Key Elements of a Short Story Every short story needs these... Have you read a Short Story on WdC that you loved? Share it here!

#12711:	August 28, 2024	by Dawn Embers
Cast Size (characters) in Short Fiction A little discussion on the word count space taken up by additional characters? Do you limit the number of characters that you introduce in short stories?

#12690:	August 21, 2024	by Annette
Plotting the Short Story Forward, backward, back and forth - the structure is flexible. How do you prefer to structure your short stories?

#12691:	August 14, 2024	by Legerdemaim
Gender Reveal An article about gender inclusiveness and sensitivity. Have you changed your style of writing to be more inclusive?

#12675:	August 07, 2024	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Literary Terms and Devices Because understanding leads to proper usage. Is there a literary device you have trouble understanding?

#12661:	July 31, 2024	by Shannon
The Controversial Oxford Comma "You know you're a language nerd when you have a strong opinion about serial commas." ~Internet meme, c. 2012 How do you feel about the Oxford comma?

#12610:	July 24, 2024	by Annette
Good Dialogue There are writing teachers who say that it's impossible to teach dialogue. What tools and tricks do you use to make dialogue in your stories appear natural?

#12645:	July 17, 2024	by Legerdemaim
You Do You A newsletter on personal content. Do you review content you're not personally fond of?

#12635:	July 10, 2024	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
He Said, She Said More on dialogue, Part 2 How much do you depend on dialogue to characterize your characters when writing?

#12615:	June 26, 2024	by Dawn Embers
Online Appearances for Static Items Taking a look at how the story will appear written on WDC on laptops, tablets and even cell phones. Do you use the standard WDC text or do you make changes when creating an item on here?

#12605:	June 19, 2024	by Legerdemaim
R U Kidding Me? A short editorial on cell phones. What kind of technology do you use in your stories?

#12589:	June 12, 2024	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Understanding Dialogue What is it and how do we use it? When you write a 'dialogue only' story, how do you differentiate between speakers?

#12576:	June 05, 2024	by Shannon
The Bell Jar "Hurt people hurt people." ~ Charles Eads n/a

#12565:	May 22, 2024	by Legerdemaim
What A Story Needs A newsletter on structure. What are some of your typical character triggers?

#12554:	May 15, 2024	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Really Short, Short Stories! How do they do it? Tips for writing mini-stories - 150 words or less! Do you enjoy reading/writing micro-stories?

#12539:	May 08, 2024	by Annette
Emotional Fiction Writing All the actions and things to see are spelled out but what exactly are our characters feeling? Which emotion do you think you write well? Which emotion would you like to write better?

#12523:	April 24, 2024	by Legerdemaim
When In Pain Pain can effect your brain function. Give it some thought. How do you show pain or depression in your writing?

#12513:	April 17, 2024	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
All About Capitalization A chat regarding the rules about capitalization. Question: What’s the difference between a cat and a comma? {dropnote:"Answer"}One has claws at the end of its paws, and the other is a pause at the end of a clause.

#12498:	April 10, 2024	by Shannon
Dear Boss "Dear Boss, I keep on hearing the police have caught me but they wont fix me just yet." ~ Jack the Ripper Do you think there's enough originality in the world of storytelling?

#12490:	April 03, 2024	by Dawn Embers
Make it Fit - Decisions in Story Writing Taking a look at some elements in story writing that require making decisions in order to not write a novel. How do you decide what elements to put into a story when there is a limited amount of space/words allowed?

#12466:	March 20, 2024	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Character Mapping How to keep your facts straight in a lengthy piece. How do you keep character details straight? An outline, flashcards, post-it notes, or something else?

#12455:	March 13, 2024	by Ja-Ja-JINX
Punctuating Dialogue Correctly Enhance your story with proper dialogue. Do you have trouble writing properly punctuated dialogue?

#12440:	February 28, 2024	by Legerdemaim
Make It Relevant A newsletter about relevant details to the story's era. For historical writing, do you research the details?

#12427:	February 21, 2024	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Formatting and Why It's Important Because it's important, we are gonna rehash this. Do you need any help understanding formatting within WdC? Let us know so that someone can reach out and assist you.

#12406:	February 14, 2024	by Shannon
To Be or Not to Be "Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time." ~ Maya Angelou n/a

#12391:	February 07, 2024	by Annette
Word Count Short stories frequently have a word count limit. Have you ever been disqualified from a contest because you forgot to add a word count? Or because you went under or over the limit?

#12382:	January 31, 2024	by Legerdemaim
Lethologica It's about that thing on the tip of your tongue. What little tricks do you use to remember something?

#12377:	January 24, 2024	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Writing Tips Basic Writing Tips - though they may seem simple, they're a good reminder! Do you have a writing tip to share with us?

#12351:	January 10, 2024	by Annette
Writing.Com Time There is only one Universal Time on this site. Do you know what Writing.Com midnight is in your timezone?

#12348:	January 03, 2024	by Legerdemaim
Let It Snow A newsletter about the many words for snow. Do you find joy in finding just the right word to describe something?

#12333:	December 27, 2023	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Grammar Stuff, Part One Well, grab a cuppa something, and let's talk grammar. Correct this sentence: "Lances parents decided that he could go but he could only stay an hour."

#12323:	December 20, 2023	by Shannon
Blessed Is the Season "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." ~ Charles Dickens, "A Christmas Carol" n/a

#12294:	December 13, 2023	by Annette
So Many Stories To Tell Even when you think you're out of stories, you still have more to tell. Do you know the many places that can get you to write more stories?

#12307:	December 06, 2023	by Legerdemaim
What's Your Finger Doing? A newsletter about staying in touch. What inspires you during the holiday season?

#12298:	November 29, 2023	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
A Writer's Notebook What is it and what do you put in it? Do you keep a 'writer's notebook? What sorts of things do jot down in yours?

#12262:	November 22, 2023	by Annette
A Simple Tale When simple doesn't mean boring or pointless. Do you prefer stories that are realistic or all fiction?

#12257:	November 15, 2023	by Annette
Get to the Point In a fast-paced world, even fiction has sped up. How soon do you think is too late to rope the reader in?

#12268:	November 08, 2023	by Legerdemaim
Royal Order of Adverbs All hail the queens! Do you consciously think of word order when writing?

#12248:	November 01, 2023	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Let's talk about genres! Yes, again! A few genre definitions to help you list your items correctly. With regard to The Quill Awards, do you understand why genres are important?

#12233:	October 25, 2023	by Shannon
Kindle Creativity “Don’t wait for inspiration. It comes while working." - Henri Matisse What do you do when your creative well runs dry?

#12221:	October 18, 2023	by Gaby
I'd Like To Be Engaged - Without A Ring Writing a short story can be a challenge in more ways than one. What captivates your attention fully where you can't walk away from a story?

#12218:	October 11, 2023	by Legerdemaim
Short Story World Building A few suggestions for world-building in shorts. What tips do you have for short story world-building?

#12203:	October 04, 2023	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
30 Short Stories in 30 Days A different approach to NaNoWriMo What's the average word count for your short stories?

#12126:	September 27, 2023	by Annette
Put the Cart Before the Horse The site is packed with good, solid, relevant advice for writers. Do you have an article or essay about the writing craft that would be helpful to the whole writing community?

#12189:	September 20, 2023	by Dawn Embers
Things to Prepare for Writing A quick glance at some things to prepare or consider when getting ready to write. How do you prepare to write a story?

#12175:	September 13, 2023	by Legerdemaim
Greetings! A brief article about the handshake. Tell me a fun greeting you've written!

#12162:	September 06, 2023	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Will you fall for it? Suggestions on incorporating the autumn season into your stories. Do you incorporate the season into your stories?

#12146:	August 30, 2023	by Shannon
Life Is Just a Fantasy "Fantasy mirrors desire. Imagination reshapes it." ~Mason Cooley n/a

#12122:	August 23, 2023	by Annette
Describing Characters Show us what they do instead of telling us what they look like. How do you incorporate descriptions of characters into your stories?

#12133:	August 16, 2023	by Legerdemaim
Extra, Extra! A newsletter on character editing. Do you end up adding more to your short stories or trimming them?

#12104:	August 09, 2023	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Gut Punch Ideas on how to provoke emotions from your readers. Is there a scene from a book that has stuck with you for a long time?

#12082:	August 02, 2023	by Annette
Bits and Pieces First sentences, ideas, dusty journals, and digital notes ... How many short stories did you start and never finish?

#12083:	July 26, 2023	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
The Vignette Vignettes are sometimes confused with short stories and flash fiction. Have you tried your hand at writing these?

#12077:	July 19, 2023	by Legerdemaim
Junky Jargon A few words about jargon. What "fuzzwords" do you see or dislike?

#12066:	July 12, 2023	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Inspire me! PLEASE! Ugh, my muse has left me high and dry! Because I know I'm not the only one struggling, please share how you overcome the dreaded 'writer's block'.

#12049:	July 05, 2023	by Shannon
The Power of Language "Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic." ~ J.K. Rowling n/a

#12035:	June 28, 2023	by Gaby
Challenge Yourself If you ever get a comment that you should expand your short story, then it means you did a pretty good job with it. What are some of your challenges when writing a short story?

#12030:	June 21, 2023	by Legerdemaim
Snack Attack! A newsletter about fueling your mind. What is your snack choice? Is it healthy?

#12010:	June 14, 2023	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
The Whole Truth Writing a non-fiction short story about yourself! Have you written an autobiographical short story? If so, please share the link!

#12004:	June 07, 2023	by 🐕GeminiGem🎁
Snack Attack A short story can be a useful tool to draw a reader to your novel. Have you ever read a short story that lead you to reading a novel or series of novels?

#11989:	May 31, 2023	by Annette
Classic Story Character Types Archetypes and other ~types appear similar but are not the same. Is there a stereotypical cliché that you like to use in your stories?

#11983:	May 24, 2023	by Legerdemaim
Geek Pride A newsletter on geek pride. What kind of geek are you?

#11963:	May 17, 2023	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
What's in a Title? Tips and formulas for selecting a title. Do you judge a story/book by its title?

#11951:	May 10, 2023	by Shannon
Science Fact “Everything is becoming science fiction." ~ J. G. Ballard What's something that's science fiction right now that will be real in the foreseeable future?

#11939:	May 03, 2023	by 🐕GeminiGem🎁
I'm Calling You Out Are word count limits really that limiting? What is an ideal word count limit when entering a contest.

#11933:	April 26, 2023	by Legerdemaim
Cousin It Genealogy in your writing. How do you get information into your story without an info dump?

#11913:	April 19, 2023	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
April Showers bring May Short Stories! Sometimes our writing and productivity can be influenced by external things like the weather. Does the weather affect your ability to write, or what you write?

#11905:	April 12, 2023	by Jayne 🕸️ 🕷️
Unlocking the Potential of Short Stories A Dive Into Five Captivating Tales What's your favorite short story? Why?

#11882:	April 05, 2023	by Annette
Spring Into Writing Fresh air, blue sky, nature bursting with life all around. Does spring awakening make you feel like writing more or less?

#11886:	March 29, 2023	by Legerdemaim
Fanfiction Some resource links regarding publishing fanfiction. Do you write fanfiction? What characters do you admire?

#11874:	March 22, 2023	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
I'd like you to meet... A few ways to introduce new characters into a story. What unique ways have you used to introduce new characters in your stories?

#11857:	March 15, 2023	by Shannon
This Day In History "History will be kind to me for I intend to write it." ~ Winston Churchill How has history inspired your stories? Share your creative ideas based on memorable dates!

#11830:	March 08, 2023	by Annette
Right-Hand Man Trope The second in command to the leader can help you tell a short story. Have you ever thought of making the second in command the main character?

#11841:	March 01, 2023	by Legerdemaim
Interactives A newsletter on interactives. Do you like finding ways to add interesting content to interactives? Which are some of your favorites?

#11819:	February 22, 2023	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
It was a dark and stormy night... Creating memorable beginnings to hook the reader. What is the first line from your favorite story or book? (Please give us the title and author, too.)

#11814:	February 15, 2023	by Dawn Embers
Expectation or Tradition Expectation or Tradition: Which is it? Does your character do something because it is expected or out of tradition?

#11777:	February 08, 2023	by Annette
Short Story, Preface, or First Chapter? Some short stories grow too big for the confines of low word count restrictions. Have you written any short stories that were really the first chapter of a novel?

#11790:	February 01, 2023	by Legerdemaim
Am I Good Enough? How we measure up against others. Do you compare your writing to other authors?

#11773:	January 25, 2023	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Show me so that I can see and feel it! "Show, don't tell." It's either been said to you or you've said it to someone else. How would you rewrite "The traffic was bad." to show, rather than tell?

#11758:	January 18, 2023	by Shannon
Murder in a Small Town "I have too great a soul to die like a criminal." ~ John Wilkes Booth n/a

#11748:	January 11, 2023	by 🐕GeminiGem🎁
What's Your Name? Things to think about when picking a character's name. How do you come up with names for your characters?

#11743:	January 04, 2023	by Legerdemaim
So Many Short Stories Time to clean house and publish! Have you considered creating/publishing an anthology?

#11713:	December 28, 2022	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
And the beat goes on... A closer look at dialogue and how to use 'action beats'. In your opinion, in what ways does dialogue help your readers get to know or connect with your characters?

#11700:	December 21, 2022	by Annette
The Longest Night Only one day? Not the Romans! They celebrated Saturnalia from December 17 through December 24. What kind of stories do you come up with when the night is long and the day is cold?

#11699:	December 14, 2022	by Annette
by: Artificial Intelligence Art is no longer the creation of humans alone. Machines can do that for us. Are you going to let a robot tell you how to think, love, and live?

#11668:	November 30, 2022	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Say That Again... Try these more specific adjectives to spice up your work. What are your favorite adjectives?

#11670:	November 23, 2022	by Shannon
Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction "Truth is not only stranger than fiction, it is more interesting." ~William Randolph Hearst n/a

#11655:	November 16, 2022	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
In the thick of it! If you're participating in NaNo - keep going! Here are some helpful tips! What motivates you to keep writing and complete your NaNo project?

#11654:	November 09, 2022	by Legerdemaim
Character Inspiration Let other characters inspire you, don't steal them. Do you add attributes to your characters in edit?

#11626:	November 02, 2022	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Let's Get Writing! Some tips to help get you writing and maybe even writing better. What are you currently working on?

#11634:	October 26, 2022	by Dawn Embers
The Idea of a Residency Some consideration on the option of taking time away for a writing residency and the challenge of applying. Would you consider or apply for a writing residency?

#11610:	October 19, 2022	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Me, Myself and Eye What we see and how we respond What's the first thing you notice when you open your front door?

#11609:	October 12, 2022	by Legerdemaim
Suspense An article on adding suspense to your mystery. How would you describe a favorite scary scene?

#11586:	October 05, 2022	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
A Short Story Cycle If you think you can't write a book, consider a short story cycle (a.k.a. a composite novel)! What is your favorite 'short story collection'?

#11577:	September 28, 2022	by Shannon
Tell Me Lies, Tell Me Sweet Little Lies "Don't lie about anything, ever. Lying leads to Hell." ~ Jordan Peterson How do you feel about telling lies?

#11532:	September 21, 2022	by Annette
Very Short Short Stories Short, shorter, micro fiction! Can you tell a whole story in just a few words?

#11560:	September 14, 2022	by Legerdemaim
Itch, Scratch, Itch A newsletter on forensic science and flaky skin. Where do you leave your clues to the mystery?

#11535:	September 07, 2022	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Planning Your Writing Whether you're a plotter or a pantser, here are some tips to consider! When you're writing a short story, how much time do you spend on planning; if any?

#11520:	August 31, 2022	by Annette
Just A Glance Short stories thrive on a limited plot that uses exact details. Do you enjoy reading stories where you are dropped into the plot and expected to accept it the way you find it?

#11497:	August 24, 2022	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
The One Essential Element What has to be there. Complete the statement: 'No short story can be without ---"

#11517:	August 17, 2022	by Legerdemaim
So Much Conflict Keeping your conflict clear in your short story. What type of conflict do you favor in your short stories?

#11495:	August 10, 2022	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Once Upon a Time... A few tips on writing fairy tales. What's your favorite fairy tale?

#11487:	August 03, 2022	by Shannon
Is Seeing Still Believing? In the 1990s, academic researchers developed a terrifying technology with tragic real-life consequences. How will your character respond when faced with false accusations and damning evidence?

#11420:	July 27, 2022	by Annette
Revise! The first draft is not perfect. You must proofread, edit, and revise it. How many times and how much should you change your story until you can call it finished?

#11464:	July 20, 2022	by Legerdemaim
Puce! Does anyone know what color puce is? Let's talk about description. What are some of the best descriptions you've written?

#11454:	July 13, 2022	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
The Benefits of Writing Short Stories Four reasons why writing a short story can help make you a better writer. What do you think is the best way to improve writing skills?

#11439:	July 06, 2022	by Jeff-o'-lantern 🎃
Experimentation Using short fiction as a test kitchen for new things. Have you ever used short fiction to attempt something new with your writing?

#11410:	June 29, 2022	by Annette
The End For sale: Baby shoes, never worn. Do you prefer open endings or a definitive outcome?

#11427:	June 22, 2022	by Legerdemaim
Can I Put The Body In A Glad Bag? A few comments about name brands in your stories. Where do you hide your bodies? The dead ones, I mean.

#11403:	June 15, 2022	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Types of Drama There are four different types of Drama and understanding them may help you with your next story. Which do you prefer writing: comedy, tragedy, tragicomedy, or melodrama?

#11395:	June 08, 2022	by Shannon
What If? "Maybe life is random, but I doubt it." ~ Steven Tyler Do you ever wonder... "What if?"

#11373:	May 25, 2022	by Legerdemaim
Who Are We? A newsletter about trying something new. Have you tried unfamiliar genres? What happened?

#11357:	May 18, 2022	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
The 5 Elements of a Short Story A short explanation of the 5 elements of a short story. Which element of story writing do you tend to struggle with?

#11350:	May 11, 2022	by Annette
Author Filtering She looked at him when he saw the dog noticing the treat. Have you ever counted how often your characters look at or see something in your stories?

#11335:	April 27, 2022	by Legerdemaim
Keep It Simple A word or two about keeping a short story simple. What details or features do you add or delete when editing a short story?

#11315:	April 20, 2022	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
First, Let's Brainstorm! Some things to consider before you start writing your next short story. How much planning goes into your short stories?

#11307:	April 13, 2022	by Shannon
Anamnesis Plunder your abundant memory cache What experiences have you written about?

#11289:	March 30, 2022	by Legerdemaim
The Art of the Pick Up Line A newsletter on dialog. What tools do you use to start dialog between characters?

#11258:	March 23, 2022	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Riveting Openings Tips for writing a first paragraph that will keep the reader locked in. Have you read a great short story by another WdC author this week? Please, share the link below!

#11248:	March 16, 2022	by Annette
Do Whatever Works Overcoming the blank page is the single hardest task a writer faces. What is your secret to get started writing? Will you share it? Please?

#11214:	February 16, 2022	by Shannon
Alternate History "History is a set of lies agreed upon." ~ Napoleon Bonaparte If you could change one historical event, what would it be and why?

#11205:	February 09, 2022	by Madam♥Dracula♥Adore lol♥
Short Stories: An Occurence on Owl Creek This issue will look at the life and works of Ambrose Bierce Does suspense help a short story out?

#11195:	February 02, 2022	by Legerdemaim
Who Is Your Character? A newsletter about character development. What questions do you ask your character to get to know them?

#11130:	December 22, 2021	by Shannon
Secret Rooms and Hidden Tunnels "The greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places." Roald Dahl Are you good at keeping secrets?

#11113:	December 08, 2021	by Legerdemaim
Don't Stress Coping during this busy season. How do you keep your stress level down?

#11078:	November 17, 2021	by Madam♥Dracula♥Adore lol♥
Short Stories - The Tell Tale Heart This issue will look a one of the best short stories from one of the best fiction writers Edgar Allen Poe Who can know the heart?

#11069:	November 10, 2021	by Legerdemaim
Who Has Time To Write? People watching can enhance your writing. Do you use body language to show your character's emotions? How did you show that?

#11040:	October 27, 2021	by Shannon
Stories From Around the Internet Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction What's an unexpected place where you've found inspiration?

#11027:	October 20, 2021	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Which story do you tell? Sharing stories of my collection of post-marks, I have to choose which one to tell, based on my audience. Personal or universal, which has more impact?

#11024:	October 13, 2021	by Legerdemaim
Fiction about Non-Fiction A few questions about writing a story based on history. How do you meld history and fiction in your writing?

#10953:	September 29, 2021	by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕
Armed with Words Words have the ability to bring out strong reactions. What word(s) brings out a reaction from you?

#10987:	September 22, 2021	by Annette
Be Dramatic Already! Lack of drama kills stories. Do you dare letting it rip in your stories?

#10979:	September 15, 2021	by Legerdemaim
Creepies Hey Google - some passive research can end up in your stories. How did something odd end up in your story?

#10960:	September 01, 2021	by Shannon
Fearless Writing with Émile Zola "I am charmed to observe that my brother journalists possess the sensitive nerves of young girls." ~ Émile Zola n/a

#10948:	August 25, 2021	by Warped Sanity
Info-dumps The dreaded info-dump Have you been guilty of the info-dump in your short story writing?

#10937:	August 18, 2021	by Legerdemaim
Stories Where You Find Them Finding inspiration in blogs. Do you read blogs and what do you take away from them?

#10904:	August 04, 2021	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Perspectives, Re-discovered I re-discovered 'perspectives' while doing some reviewing. Who were you when the incident occurred?

#10847:	July 28, 2021	by Annette
Cultural Hangups The short story might be American, but telling stories that are short is international. Do you dare challenge the established "hero's journey" in your short stories?

#10890:	July 21, 2021	by Legerdemaim
Don't Let Brief Be Too Brief It's about the brief description. How do you use your Brief Description area? How do you choose keywords to expand your audience?

#10864:	July 07, 2021	by Shannon
What Scares You? "My 'fear' is my substance, and probably the best part of me." ~ Franz Kafka ...

#10833:	June 30, 2021	by Annette
First Word Homer modeled it thousands of years ago. Do you think the first word of a story is important?

#10848:	June 23, 2021	by Legerdemaim
Show, Don't Tell - Again A comment on a basic rule of Show, don't Tell. How do you discover a "tell" in your writing?

#10803:	June 09, 2021	by Nutty Puppy Mummy Mwah-ha-ha
Boosting Creativity A newsletter aimed at helping writers of short stories to find inspiration. Do you build your stories around a character, or a plot?

#10792:	June 02, 2021	by Annette
Summer Stories The long days of summer with kids home from school are upon us. Is summer really all flowers and sunshine?

#10790:	May 26, 2021	by Legerdemaim
Luck is Your Lady A newsletter with copyright advice. Do you feel it is important to get permission for using copyrighted work?

#10758:	May 12, 2021	by Shannon
Odds and Ends "A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build towards it." ~ Edgar Allan Poe n/a

#10708:	May 05, 2021	by Annette
Workshop Writing with dedicated reviewers makes a difference. Would you like to join a short story writing workshop?

#10742:	April 28, 2021	by Legerdemaim
Building Character A newsletter about building characters when you have spare time. Do you have any ready-made characters in your head?

#10697:	April 07, 2021	by Nutty Puppy Mummy Mwah-ha-ha
Finding The Right Words A newsletter about the things we can do to keep our short stories succinct and within word limits. What are your top tips for keeping it brief?

#10694:	March 31, 2021	by Legerdemaim
The Word - The Beautiful Word Advice on purple prose. What are some favorite phrases you've written?

#10665:	March 17, 2021	by Shannon
16 Personalities "I am what is mine. Personality is the original personal property." ~ Norman O. Brown n/a

#10659:	March 10, 2021	by Kate - Writing & Reading
Tell the Story by Showing Me They call us storytellers for a reason How do you tell with words, that which you wish to show?

#10647:	March 03, 2021	by Legerdemaim
Just A Quickie Some clues about writing a short story. How many characters do you allow in a short story?

#10613:	February 17, 2021	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
The Unspoken Story The said - and the unsaid Does everything have to be expressly stated?

#10607:	February 10, 2021	by Dawn Embers
Macro and Micro Editing A look at big picture edits compared to focusing on the smaller details. How do you approach editing?

#10598:	February 03, 2021	by Legerdemaim
Make Your Own Story A brief editorial on outlines. What do you do with distracting characters?

#10569:	January 20, 2021	by Shannon
Ridiculous Rules and Regulations "The essence of tyranny is the enforcement of stupid laws." ~ Edmund Burke n/a

#10552:	January 13, 2021	by Annette
Ten Small Steps Write a short story in ten easy steps. What's your short story formula?

#10551:	January 06, 2021	by Legerdemaim
The Fog A little bit about brain fog and how to help. Do you experience brain fog? What are some of your solutions?

#10527:	December 23, 2020	by Dawn Embers
Setting the Scene in a Story A look at the struggle between setting the scene for a reader and telling too much instead of showing. How do you set the scene in a short story without doing an over tell?

#10466:	December 16, 2020	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
You got from where to where? Leaping further than expected, to go beyond mere surprise. What is your middle name?

#10511:	December 09, 2020	by Legerdemaim
Finding Creativity Within Small ball your work until you find some energy. What do you do when you don't feel like writing?

#10481:	November 25, 2020	by Shannon
Grateful for Being “Let all your thinks be thanks.” ~ W.H. Auden n/a

#10473:	November 18, 2020	by Annette
That Short Story That Stays For Long Some stories are so engaging that they stay with us and feed our imagination for a long time. Have you read a short story that you would like to see turned into a series of novels?

#10465:	November 11, 2020	by Legerdemaim
Level Up! A newsletter on improving your dialog. What do you need to work on?

#10437:	October 28, 2020	by Annette
No Beginning & No Ending There are different views on what makes a short story. Do you prefer short stories with a distinct plot, or those that are a slice of life?

#10420:	October 21, 2020	by Annette
From Idea to Finished Story Use your own idea or follow a prompt. It's all good as long as you write a short story every now and then. How many hours, days, or weeks do you take to write a complete short story?

#10421:	October 14, 2020	by Legerdemaim
Do Your Thing Be inspired and write! How do you distill your writing?

#10387:	September 30, 2020	by Shannon
Centuries of Beastly Occurrences "Clearly, animals know more than we think, and think a great deal more than we know." ~ Irene M. Pepperberg n/a

#10379:	September 23, 2020	by Dawn Embers
Editing Tips: Weak Words A look at some of the weak words that find their way into stories and how to diminish them. What are the weak words you often find in your stories? Do you rely on any in particular?

#10372:	September 16, 2020	by Legerdemaim
Name That Tune! Some thoughts on musical inspiration. Has music inspired something in your writing?

#10347:	September 02, 2020	by Annette
Earn With Short Stories It is very possible to monetize your short stories. Short Stories can pay?

#10331:	August 26, 2020	by Annette
Tell Me A Story Even if you think you can't - you can come up with something! Ever wonder about being able to tell stories?

#10330:	August 19, 2020	by Legerdemaim
Biodiversity and Natural Selection An idea regarding a new species among us. Do we have to travel to another planet or universe to create something new?

#10302:	August 05, 2020	by Shannon
Operation Underground Railroad Save the Children n/a

#10293:	July 29, 2020	by Dawn Embers
Going Short? Don't Skimp on the Story Considering the build of a short story through a comparison in large and small houses. How do you keep the story big while keeping in a shorter word count?

#10287:	July 22, 2020	by Legerdemaim
Don't let Brief be too Brief! Making the best use of the "brief description" field. How do you use your Brief Description area? How do you choose keywords to expand your audience?

#10261:	July 08, 2020	by Kate - Writing & Reading
The Storyteller Telling the tale in first person isn't always a story of me When writing or reading a story in first person-how do you keep the reader's voice from co-opting the character's voice?

#10244:	July 01, 2020	by Annette
Songs Tell Stories Music tells stories in words and melodies. What does singer-songwriter even mean?

#10242:	June 24, 2020	by Legerdemaim
Dream On! A little information on dreaming and dreams. What dreams do you remember?

#10232:	June 17, 2020	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Shaping Character in Words A followup from last month's editorial; shaping characters through their words and actions! What are your challenges around shaping character flaws?

#10210:	June 10, 2020	by Shannon
A History of Riots in America "Can we all get along?" ~ Rodney King n/a

#10198:	May 27, 2020	by Legerdemaim
The Art of Dying Some thoughts on how to write about death. What are some of your favorite death scenes?

#10189:	May 20, 2020	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Character Mistakes & Motivations How do you demonstrate character growth? One way is through your characters' mistakes. What are some of your favorite mistakes your characters have made?

#10163:	May 13, 2020	by Annette
Short Shots The site-sponsored contests have the highest prizes Why are you not writing for Short Shots?

#10151:	May 06, 2020	by Annette
Golden Silence They say silence is golden. Wouldn't you rather just say what you want?

#10153:	April 29, 2020	by Legerdemaim
A Blessing in Disguise A newsletter about idioms. What idioms do you commonly use?

#10138:	April 22, 2020	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Creativity in Chaos What to do when you're sharing your space, or working more alone than before. How are you coping with shelter in place?

#10118:	April 15, 2020	by Shannon
Conspiracy Theories "Is something still considered a conspiracy if it's played out right under our noses?" ~ Moby What do you think?

#10114:	April 08, 2020	by Gaby
Bittersweet Reads Differences between reading and writing short stories. What do you like/dislike about short stories?

#10100:	April 01, 2020	by Legerdemaim
Anne Frank Just a little comparison of "shelter in place". What are you doing to stay occupied in quarantine?

#10091:	March 25, 2020	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Sheltering in Place Some thoughts on weathering the days to come. What have you done for yourself recently, just for yourself and your own amusement?

#10079:	March 18, 2020	by Annette
In a Few Words Short stories benefit from strong words. How verbose are you when you're telling a short story?

#10067:	March 11, 2020	by Gaby
Celebrating Women In today's world, women's achievements are acknowledged and celebrated more often than ever before. Who is the one woman you look up to in your life?

#10058:	March 04, 2020	by Legerdemaim
Your Personal Twist About interjecting your personal experience into your stories. Do you find it hard or easy to interject your personal experiences into stories?

#9996:	February 26, 2020	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Identifying Growth Opportunities There's always room to improve your work--how do you self-diagnose things that you can do better? What are some of the flaws you've identified in your own work? How do you work to improve on them?

#10021:	February 19, 2020	by Shannon
For the Love of Writing “Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” ~ Louis L’Amour Do you ever dread writing, as if it's a chore?

#10011:	February 12, 2020	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Happy Birthday, Dad! Narrating how his senior-group celebrated my Dad's eighty-fifth birthday. How much inside information do you give away?

#10007:	February 05, 2020	by Legerdemaim
Hey! Hey you! This newsletter's topic is about networking in our community. How do you network on WDC? Did it give you a positive experience?

#9978:	January 22, 2020	by Storm Machine
From a Certain Point of View The opinions we hold change our stories for better or for worse. Does your point of view change your story?

#9958:	January 15, 2020	by Annette
Reviewing the Short Story Writing a good review is real work. Do you wonder how to review short stories and give good, useful feedback?

#9955:	January 08, 2020	by Legerdemaim
Challenge Yourself Try new genres! Do you write genre mashups?

#9942:	January 01, 2020	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
New Year, New Habits? Some ideas for common writer resolutions! What are your writing related resolutions for the year?

#9927:	December 25, 2019	by Shannon
Random Acts of Kindness “Be the reason someone smiles, the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.” ~ Roy Bennett n/a

#9860:	December 18, 2019	by Annette
Limitations of Short Stories There is only so much you can put into a short story. Why aren't short stories mini novels?

#9916:	December 11, 2019	by Legerdemaim
It's A New Year! A newsletter regarding your writing habits. How do you streamline your writing time?

#9900:	December 04, 2019	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
When There is Nothing in the Tank Working your way out of a writing slump is not an impossible task! Here are some thoughts on what to do. What do you like to do to refill the well when your writing is in a slump?

#9885:	November 27, 2019	by Shannon
Think, Believe, Heal? "Our life is shaped by our mind, for we become what we think." ~ Buddha n/a

#9878:	November 20, 2019	by Kate - Writing & Reading
Telling the Story It need not be 'telling' to tell the story Would you rather listen to a story where the narrator is part of the story, or one where the narrator is behind the scenes? Can the two exist with the same story?

#9872:	November 13, 2019	by Legerdemaim
Review Me! A newsletter with advice on plugging your item. What is your edit weakness?

#9851:	November 06, 2019	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Writing Your Way In Starting a story with no idea what happens next? It's easier than it sounds! What's your favorite way to start writing?

#9832:	October 30, 2019	by Shannon
Roko's Basilisk “We will be to robots what dogs are to humans, and I’m rooting for the machines.” ~ Claude Shannon n/a

#9825:	October 23, 2019	by Dawn Embers
Word Economy A look at how brevity can affect quality for different story lengths. How do you consider word economy when writing stories?

#9818:	October 16, 2019	by Legerdemaim
Seasons Change How weather affects your story. What is your favorite season?

#9805:	October 09, 2019	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Multiple Paths How do you determine what is the right way to end your story? What's a story whose ending seems really perfect to you?

#9784:	October 02, 2019	by Shannon
Mass Psychogenic Illness “Guilt and hysteria. And at the bottom of it all, like an evil dragon, lies Fear.” ~ Henry Miller n/a

#9779:	September 25, 2019	by Dawn Embers
Character or Story, Which Came First A question of story and character in preparation for writing stories. Which came first for you: the general story idea or the main character?

#9754:	September 11, 2019	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Choices, Choices What do your character's choices have to do with the shape of your story? Everything! What are some of your favorite character's decision moments?

#9741:	September 04, 2019	by Shannon
Birthday Blessings "Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence." ~ Colin Powell n/a

#9732:	August 28, 2019	by Dawn Embers
Take a Story and Rewrite It A look at the topic of rewriting; aka second, third and fourth drafts. What is your rewriting process or ritual?

#9722:	August 21, 2019	by Legerdemaim
Are you looking at me? A little info on espoinage. What techniques do you use to add intrigue to your story?

#9686:	August 07, 2019	by Shannon
Blackstone's Formulation "It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.” ~ Sir William Blackstone n/a

#9681:	July 31, 2019	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Using letters to give information We hardly write them any more, but they're a useful storytelling tool. What did you tell your pen-pal?

#9672:	July 24, 2019	by Legerdemaim
Ack! I'm Bleeding! A few words about building your story. What steps do you take to create a story? Do you make outlines or are you the slap and dash type of writer?

#9630:	July 10, 2019	by Shannon
The Hero's Journey "Don't forget, you are the hero of your own story." ~ Greg Boyle n/a

#9634:	July 03, 2019	by Kate - Writing & Reading
More than one voice speaking Multiple points of view in a short story How do we keep multiple points of view in a short story from feeling like a case of multiple personalities?

#9626:	June 26, 2019	by Legerdemaim
In The News Some of my secret resources for ideas. Shhhhh! Do videos inspire you? Which are your favorites?

#9611:	June 19, 2019	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Experiencing a Story Different Ways There are lots of ways to reimagine classic works and find new ways to enjoy them. What are some of your favorite classic works? Do you like new tellings of those stories?

#9555:	June 12, 2019	by Shannon
Our Orwellian Reality "When we shift our perception, our experience changes." ~ Lindsay Wagner n/a

#9576:	June 05, 2019	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
The Genius of Gallico Why my all-time favourite author is my all-time favourite author, Do you have a love-hate appreciation of your favourite author?

#9574:	May 29, 2019	by Legerdemaim
Nibbles How do you consume short stories now? A short newsletter on how I find some nibbles to read. How many short stories have you read where you'd love to read or write more for the characters?

#9502:	May 15, 2019	by Shannon
Fear, Self-Sabotage, and You "Be afraid. Be very afraid." ~ The Fly What are your greatest fears?

#9535:	May 08, 2019	by Kate - Writing & Reading
I Hear Voice(s) Who's telling the story If a story is based on a personal reality, does it need to be told in first person to be 'real' ~ why or why not?

#9522:	May 01, 2019	by Legerdemaim
Short Stories and Poems A few words about poetry and their stories within. Have you used poetry to tell a short story?

#9512:	April 24, 2019	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Master Studies A technique in the art world that I'm working with in fiction--studying others' works and trying to figure them out. What are your favorite techniques for using what comes naturally to you as a writer?

#9450:	April 17, 2019	by Shannon
The Man Who Wasn't There Curious Cases of Commuting Characters n/a

#9483:	April 10, 2019	by Kate - Writing & Reading
The Short - and Shorter - of the Tale Short stories come in a variety of sizes - let's try them on How short can a story be to be a real story?

#9475:	April 03, 2019	by Legerdemaim
Quick! Hide the evidence! Be it under the porch, in a construction site, or grandma's backyard - where do you hide the evidence? Where do you hide the evidence?

#9461:	March 27, 2019	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Working with Prompts Do you have trouble working with story prompts for contests and anthology calls? Here are some ideas. Do you like story prompts? Why or why not?

#9442:	March 20, 2019	by Shannon
The Epitome of Evil "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist." ~ from the film The Usual Suspects n/a

#9432:	March 13, 2019	by Dawn Embers
Continue to Learn as a Writer A brief discussion on how we can keep learning as writers on the site and in the craft. What do you want to learn next?

#9422:	March 06, 2019	by Legerdemaim
Eight Seconds What can possibly happen in eight second? What methods do you use to control pacing in your writing?

#9407:	February 27, 2019	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Thinking About Character Motivation Some observations on how to go about building characters that interest your audience! What are some of your favorite characters? What do you like best about them?

#9387:	February 20, 2019	by Shannon
Trust No One Truth is stranger than fiction n/a

#9378:	February 13, 2019	by Kate - Writing & Reading
Battle of the Bulge The challenge of cutting the fat while keeping the flavor How can a short story have as much impact as a novel or epic poem?

#9374:	February 06, 2019	by Legerdemaim
The Long and Short of 'IT' Capturing ideas and hanging on to them. Kind of like Ghostbusters, but more wily. Is your mind sparkling clear or a host for dust monsters?

#9360:	January 30, 2019	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
The Three-Stage Rocket Here's a methodology for lyric storytelling that might up your short story game as well. Have you ever tried to apply different methods of writing to your short stories?

#9335:	January 23, 2019	by Shannon
Secrets and Lies Like real people, our characters have secrets and tell lies about who they are. Are your characters completely honest about themselves and their history?

#9325:	January 16, 2019	by Annette
Your Cup of Tea The best length for a short story is ... How long does it take you to sip a cup of tea?

#9323:	January 09, 2019	by Legerdemaim
Santa! I know him! An issue about family anecdotes squirming their way into your stories. Does it happen to you?

#9310:	January 02, 2019	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Fanfiction: Inspiration and Practice! Fanfiction is complicated, but here's an argument in favor of fanfiction to practice storytelling and inspire yourself! Have you ever written any fanfiction? Have you ever read a fanfiction story--or one you suspect might be?

#9294:	December 26, 2018	by Shannon
Making Memories Fiction Fodder: Family, friends,and festivities n/a

#9280:	December 19, 2018	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
What's the Focus? What your character focuses on is what the story is about. Which part of the noise does your character listen to?

#9279:	December 12, 2018	by Legerdemaim
Name that Tune! A newsletter about lyrics and their creative influence. Has music inspired something in your writing?

#9264:	December 05, 2018	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Room to Grow Crafting your best work can take time--how does your writing evolve over time? Have you noticed any interesting or unusual things about your writing that changed over time? What's remained the same?

#9229:	November 28, 2018	by Shannon
From DNA to OMG "When you give your DNA, you give up not only your own genetic privacy, but that of your entire family." ~ Tiffany Li n/a

#9230:	November 21, 2018	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
The Nature of the Beast A visit to a posh retirement home and the undercurrents I felt there Can you mitigate the essential nature of a situation?

#9226:	November 14, 2018	by Legerdemaim
Whatcha Cookin'? The structure of a story can be much like a recipe. Or a recipe for disaster. Do you follow a formula for your short stories?

#9213:	November 07, 2018	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Developmental or Line Edits? When you sell a short story, what happens next? EDITING! Here are some common types of edits you may encounter. Do you know the difference between different types of edits? Do you have experience with any particular type of editing?

#9186:	October 31, 2018	by Shannon
Things That Go Bump in the Night Is fear itself really the only thing we have to fear? n/a

#9187:	October 24, 2018	by Kate - Writing & Reading
The Story Behind the Story You can show the story behind the story by telling the story How can telling a story be the same as showing a story?

#9171:	October 17, 2018	by Legerdemaim
Is It Too Much? It's horror / scary month. When does the horror become too much? Can details be too graphic in your short story?

#9168:	October 10, 2018	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Plot Elaborations How do you build plots? It is easier (and harder) than you might expect. What are some of your favorite short story plots? What do you like about them?

#9148:	October 03, 2018	by Shannon
The Dark Side Convicts and Crime Stories n/a

#9086:	September 26, 2018	by Annette
Titles Make your title mean something. Why titles?

#9123:	September 19, 2018	by Legerdemaim
Finding Creativity Within When you're in a slump, hang in there. You're waiting for a story to be born. What do you do when you don't feel like writing?

#9100:	September 05, 2018	by Shannon
The Fairness Factor "The universe is not fair and it is never going to be fair." ~ Daniel Keys Moran n/a

#9070:	August 29, 2018	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Talk to the Teased We need to raise sensitivity ... and decrease it, too, depending on whom we're talking to. Meet Arundhati Venkatesh. What's the response to "Hey, Fatso"?

#9057:	August 22, 2018	by Legerdemaim
Your Passion Inspiration and what makes us write. What passions inspire you to write?

#9055:	August 15, 2018	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Elements of Story Structure in Brief How do you use the key elements of storytelling to build good stories? What are some of the things you like best about your favorite stories? What makes those elements appeal to you?

#9038:	August 08, 2018	by Shannon
People are Strange "The world is a strange and wonderful place." ~ Laurie Anderson n/a

#9023:	July 25, 2018	by Legerdemaim
Picking Up Pieces The caretaking of your character's emotions. Has personal tragedy affected your writing?

#9007:	July 18, 2018	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Ah, Details, Details Some thoughts on story detail and worldbuilding! What are some good types of worldbuilding in your short stories?

#8995:	July 11, 2018	by Shannon
Inspiration, Please! "Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go." ~ E. L. Doctorow n/a

#8986:	July 04, 2018	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Stories of Independence The Citizens' Archive of India shares living history -- each personal story contributing to the larger picture. Does living history fascinate you?

#8979:	June 27, 2018	by Legerdemaim
Finding a New Source A newsletter about finding new ideas. Where do you find story inspirations?

#8967:	June 20, 2018	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Challenges with Creativity it can be hard to always be on your "A" game as a writer--here are some things I've gone through with creative burnout. Have you ever stopped writing? What brought you back to the writing process?

#8922:	June 13, 2018	by Shannon
The Body Farm "Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome." ~ Isaac Asimov n/a

#8935:	June 06, 2018	by Kate - Writing & Reading
A dribble, a drabble, a flash of fiction Writing a complete story in brief Can you really craft a very short story that's not an anecdote or comment? Why or Why Not?

#8932:	May 30, 2018	by Legerdemaim
Adventure Time! We find inspiration everywhere, even in our travels. Do you write and save character notes and emotion studies? How do you use them in your writing?

#8918:	May 23, 2018	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Cover Letters for Short Story Submission Ever wondered what you need to include--or omit--in a cover letter for a short story? Ever wondered what you need to include--or omit--in a cover letter for a short story?

#8873:	May 16, 2018	by Shannon
Medieval Animal Trials "You can always tell about somebody by the way they put their hands on an animal." ~ Betty White n/a

#8891:	May 09, 2018	by Dawn Embers
Enter Contests and Follow Rules Talk of contests on the site that need entries but also a reminder to follow their rules. Is there a contest you want to enter or have you entered one recently?

#8884:	May 02, 2018	by Legerdemaim
Tic Tic Tic A newsletter about creating suspense and action. How do you keep action moving in your stories?

#8870:	April 25, 2018	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
A Day in the Life of an Anthology Editor A brief look inside what actually happens to that story you've submitted to an anthology! Ever wondered what happens to that story you've submitted to an anthology?

#8815:	April 18, 2018	by Shannon
What Is Courage? "Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall." ~ Ray Bradbury n/a

#8829:	April 11, 2018	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Mindbooking: Memories Past and Current Recent use of technology has led me to do some thinking about making stories of memories. A Mindbook, so to speak.. What does your Mindbook contain?

#8841:	April 04, 2018	by Legerdemaim
Remember the Alamo! A newsletter topic on using history in our story writing. Have you used a moment in history in your stories?

#8826:	March 28, 2018	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
The Power of Doubt Sometimes there is no reasoning with yourself as a writer, and that's only the half of it. What do you do then? What do you do when you are completely out of ideas?

#8775:	March 21, 2018	by Shannon
Start with Why Understanding The Golden Circle n/a

#8798:	March 14, 2018	by Kate - Writing & Reading
The Storyteller The storyteller does not tell a story Can a story told in first person be about someone else?

#8796:	March 07, 2018	by Legerdemaim
Memories Memories are like a paint job....curious? Read on! How do you use character memories as a tool? In flashbacks? How else?

#8783:	February 28, 2018	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Finding the Right Story Sparks Sometimes you have a good idea--and no idea what to do with it yet! Have you ever had to pick at a story idea several times to get at what it's really about before you were happy with it?

#8730:	February 21, 2018	by Shannon
Winchester: Fact vs. Fiction The real story behind San José's Winchester Mystery House n/a

#8756:	February 14, 2018	by Kate - Writing & Reading
Working Out Best intentions great start then muddle the middle If you don't trim the middle, how do you reach the end?

#8757:	February 14, 2018	by Kate - Writing & Reading
Working Out Best intentions great start then muddle the middle If you don't trim the middle, how do you reach the end?

#8750:	February 07, 2018	by Legerdemaim
The Fear of Writing Hate bugs? Not fond of heights? How about showing your writing to others? A newsletter about confronting fear. What is your biggest fear when making your work public?

#8738:	January 31, 2018	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
The Power of Seeing Yourself A little bit of memoir about how one little short story had a big impact on me. Have you ever encountered a short story that changed your life? What was it?

#8689:	January 24, 2018	by Shannon
Get Inspired Searching for that spark of creativity n/a

#8704:	January 17, 2018	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Storyfying an Incident Something happened? Anything at all? Make a story of it! Did anything happen today?

#8703:	January 10, 2018	by Legerdemaim
Dead Bodies? A short newsletter on trademark names and brands. Where do you hide your bodies? The dead ones, I mean.

#8631:	December 27, 2017	by Shannon
Christmahanukwanzaakah Peace and holiday blessings to you and yours n/a

#8657:	December 20, 2017	by Annette
Winter Winter is here. Why is it that the mention of winter causes so much emotion?

#8653:	December 13, 2017	by Legerdemaim
Objects Telling Your Story Keeping adjectives under control. What tips do you have for trimming adjectives from writing?

#8637:	December 06, 2017	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
The "Rules", Part Three Continuing our exploration of the "Rules" of writing! What about "success"? What successes (and failures) have you experienced in your writing?

#8584:	November 29, 2017	by Shannon
About a Guy Why the character study is so compelling n/a

#8613:	November 22, 2017	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
No Evidence of Onions Is creating conflict all about pulling back, or pushing forward? When do you do the big reveal?

#8608:	November 15, 2017	by Legerdemaim
Short Stories - Burn Out A short newsletter on how to build stamina in writing and how to fight burn out. What do you do to build writing stamina?

#8595:	November 08, 2017	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
The "Rules", Part Two No, I don't actually believe in "Rules," relax! This issue: how to identify and minimize passive voice and past tense! What are some Rules of Writing you don't like to follow? Why?

#8543:	November 01, 2017	by Shannon
The Story Within Viewing images with a writer's eye n/a

#8565:	October 25, 2017	by Annette
Short Stories versus NaNoWriMo Short stories can be a stepping stone to NaNoWriMo success. How can short stories help with NaNoWriMo?

#8559:	October 18, 2017	by Legerdemaim
What Happens to the Novella? Your short story ended up long, or your novel wrapped up early and the story is finished. An article about the novella. What do you do with a story that ends up novella-sized?

#8494:	October 04, 2017	by Shannon
Fall Into Fiction Colder weather means more time to write, right? n/a

#8511:	September 27, 2017	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Everyday life ... a story? What is usual for one culture may be material for a story, for another. How often have you overtaken a cow, while driving to work?

#8515:	September 20, 2017	by Legerdemaim
Settings...Where, again? Knowing all the details of your story is important, but do you need to give them all to your reader? Have you ever been distracted by a bad detail in a story?

#8502:	September 13, 2017	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
The "Rules", Part One Ever feel like you don't know "the rules" of writing? Worry not, no one really does... What's a writing "rule" you don't understand or want to know more about?

#8451:	September 06, 2017	by Shannon
Points of Minutiae The truth about forensic analysis n/a

#8461:	August 30, 2017	by Annette
Free Your Mind of Cant A clear head is a creative head. Cant got you all feeling like you can't write?

#8466:	August 23, 2017	by Legerdemaim
Where Are They? A newsletter discussing the loss of the short story. Do you skip the short story for a longer novel?

#8447:	August 16, 2017	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
A Classic Formula While it won't work for every story, there are a few quintessential plot formulas that can produce quality results. Have you ever used a formula plot? How did it work for you?

#8394:	August 09, 2017	by Shannon
Total Solar Eclipse Eclipse excitement and a state of imminent emergency n/a

#8418:	August 02, 2017	by Dawn Embers
A Focus on the Numbers: Word Counting A glance on the topic of keeping track of the words when writing short stories. Do you focus on the word count while writing or worry more about that in rewrites and edits?

#8414:	July 26, 2017	by Legerdemaim
Embracing Other Cultures The internet makes it possible to share much about your life. We can all learn more about on another. Do you have a special cultural dish to share?

#8343:	July 12, 2017	by Shannon
The Components of Story "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." ~ Maya Angelou n/a

#8377:	July 05, 2017	by Kate - Writing & Reading
The First Person is Not Aways Me A story in first person need not be that of the narrator Do you prefer hearing a story told by the narrator or about the narrator regardless who the storyteller is?

#8368:	June 28, 2017	by Legerdemaim
The Great Outdoors Vacation pictures are fun to share and are a great inspiration. Do you share your trip photos on the internet? Why or why not?

#8352:	June 21, 2017	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Repurposing Structure and Form How can we benefit from limiting factors on our writing? How can we benefit from limiting factors on our writing?

#8298:	June 14, 2017	by Shannon
The Architect How the sixteen personality types help you create more realistic characters n/a

#8322:	June 07, 2017	by Kate - Writing & Reading
Nouns and Verbs Stand Their Own ! Vivid nouns and verbs don't need, and rarely want, add-ons Is there a genre of writing you believe would suffer without augmented nouns and verbs?

#8331:	May 31, 2017	by Legerdemaim
Food Porn Do you love to look at pictures of delicious food? Here's why. Do you enjoy food photos? How do you feel about food photos shared on social media?

#8249:	May 17, 2017	by Shannon
A History of Madness How a jaunt through the annals of history can inspire your muse n/a

#8275:	May 10, 2017	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Turning Disadvantages Around There's an 'aha' moment when a disadvantage becomes an advantage! (Warning: Harry Potter examples and spoilers!) How well is the blessing disguised?

#8272:	May 03, 2017	by Legerdemaim
Fables and Short Stories Using the construction of a fable as a template for your short story. What is your favorite way to use anecdotes?

#8260:	April 26, 2017	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Story Components--or Just Details? Is that new idea you're working on the full idea of a story, or is it merely a cool premise, setting or detail? When you develop your ideas for a short story, how do you decide what to focus on?

#8197:	April 19, 2017	by Shannon
Web of Lies Deceit, duplicity, and other disingenuous, dastardly deeds. n/a

#8230:	April 12, 2017	by Kate - Writing & Reading
A Matter of Perspective(s) Short stories can be told with effect by more than one character. How many characters can effectively share their perspective in a short story?

#8224:	April 05, 2017	by Legerdemaim
The Pulse A quick newsletter about keeping your eye on the activity at WDC. What do you look at when you first log in?

#8208:	March 29, 2017	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Character Entanglement One of the easiest ways to advance your story skills is to make sure your characters need each other. How do you make sure your characters are in conflict with each other or that they have conflicting needs?

#8148:	March 22, 2017	by Shannon
The Watcher "We cruise around and see what you guys are doing, and end up putting it in books." ~ Stephen King n/a

#8178:	March 15, 2017	by Andy~hating university
The path we follow We rely on a story's narrator leading us from A to B to C. But what happens when the narrator doesn't know the route? Have you ever read a story where you wondered about the reliability of the narrator?

#8165:	March 08, 2017	by Legerdemaim
Dust What's in your dust? A newsletter about a source of inspiration. What silly thing has inspired one of your stories?

#8157:	March 01, 2017	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Inspiration and Focus What inspired you to start writing, anyway? When the river is dry, sometimes you need to run back to the wellspring. How do you use your influences to create something new? What are the elements that inspired you to begin writing shorts?

#8105:	February 22, 2017	by Shannon
The Horror "There's no purer feeling in the world than being scared." ~ Stephen Graham Jones n/a

#8127:	February 15, 2017	by Annette
A B D C E When D should come before C and why. Has the editor forgotten how the alphabet goes?

#8125:	February 08, 2017	by Legerdemaim
Checking Into Rehab A newsletter about using old fragments for new ideas. Would you consider rehab?

#8054:	January 25, 2017	by Shannon
Like a Boss Dream. Decide. Direction. Dare. Determination. Discipline. Deadline? n/a

#8056:	January 18, 2017	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
The Impact of the Short Story It packs a little punch, but a powerful one. A discussion on why and how the short story has an impact. Why and how is a short story so memorable?

#8078:	January 11, 2017	by Legerdemaim
Brains....brains! Even zombies have two sides to their brain...don't they? What side of the brain do you favor?

#8006:	December 28, 2016	by Shannon
Looking Forward to 2017 "I don't know where I'm going from here, but I promise it won't be boring." ~ David Bowie n/a

#8034:	December 21, 2016	by Dawn Embers
When to Write/Submit Holiday Stories A look at timing when it comes to holiday stories. When we want to write and submit for certain holidays. When do you write and submit holiday stories? Are you writing one now?

#8031:	December 14, 2016	by Legerdemaim
Writer-Arachnophobia A newsletter about a method of brainstorming. How do you brainstorm ideas? Do you plan your story carefully or wing it by the seat of your pants?

#8018:	December 07, 2016	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Collaborative Writing Working with a partner can be frustrating, but also rewarding! Have you ever collaborated with another writer or creator on a project?

#7944:	November 30, 2016	by Shannon
Don't Fear the Reaper "We are living on the brink of the apocalypse, but the world is asleep." ~ Joel C. Rosenberg n/a

#7985:	November 23, 2016	by Gaby
Shorts Practice may not make perfect but it may make it better! How often do you enter the Official Contests?

#7981:	November 16, 2016	by Legerdemaim
Are you a Frog? A quick newsletter about creating characters from real life people you know. Are you a Nobody or a Frog?

#7961:	November 09, 2016	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Description as a Writing Tool Make the best use of your descriptions to help your reader be immersed in your story! What sort of descriptions do you like as a reader? How about as a writer? Are they different for you?

#7918:	November 02, 2016	by Shannon
Reading, Reviewing, and Rating The scary side of posting content online. This edition includes trinkets! n/a

#7936:	October 26, 2016	by Gaby
Short but Sweet Don't overthink when writing a short story - make it exceptionally good! How often does your short story turn into a full blown novel?

#7927:	October 19, 2016	by Legerdemaim
NotNoNaNoWriMo What to do if your novel doesn't cut the mustard. Have you submitted your short stories to a publisher?

#7892:	October 05, 2016	by Shannon
Trinkets WDC's newest and most addicting feature has finally arrived! n/a

#7879:	September 28, 2016	by Annette
Inciting Incident Get right into it! How much word count can you waste with exposition in a short story?

#7889:	September 21, 2016	by Legerdemaim
No Hexes, Please An introduction to an action / adventure series on the occult. Do you have an occult topic suggestion to add?

#7864:	September 14, 2016	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Significant Objects Using different elements to reinforce story development. How do you use the material significance of objects in your stories?

#7840:	September 07, 2016	by Shannon
Story Starters Why wait for a light at the end of the tunnel when you can switch on a lamp? n/a

#7829:	August 31, 2016	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Face Looking. Sharing Stories in Person Reviving an almost-forgotten art. Wouldn't it be nice to be at grandma's knee again?

#7826:	August 24, 2016	by Legerdemaim
Upstaged! A newsletter about keeping secondary characters in their role. Have you had a secondary character run off with your plot line?

#7815:	August 17, 2016	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Using Details to Build Characterization How do we build good characters without spelling out their life stories? What are some small, specific details that might entice you to read more about a character?

#7786:	August 10, 2016	by Shannon
Map Your Course “All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.” ~ Earl Nightingale n/a

#7774:	August 03, 2016	by Annette
You Had To Be There The writer is responsible for telling the story. Is it ever okay to tell a reader "You had to be there."?

#7775:	July 27, 2016	by Legerdemaim
Your Epitaph This newsletter is about inserting unusual things into your writing to change the tempo or add humor to your story. What do you use to break tension in your stories?

#7762:	July 20, 2016	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Story Lengths How long IS a 'short story,' really? There is actually a correct answer -- but it varies! Do you know how to distinguish Microfiction from Flash, a short story from a novelette? And what is a novella, anyway?

#7742:	July 13, 2016	by Shannon
Introverts, Extroverts, and You “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” ~ Aristotle n/a

#7733:	July 06, 2016	by Kate - Writing & Reading
A Question of Perspective Short stories may have multiple perspectives with one point of view If a tale depicts the action of more than one person, is it necessarily related from multiple points of view?

#7715:	June 29, 2016	by Legerdemaim
What Happened? After he plummeted to the ground, my imagination would not let go. Does the news inspire you? Even stories of bad things happening?

#7709:	June 22, 2016	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
The Subtle Art of Manipulation Authors have the responsibility, nay, the authority (grin) to manipulate the reader's emotions. How do you get your readers invested in your characters and story-- and keep them that way?

#7689:	June 15, 2016	by Shannon
Transgressions and Taboos Are you a fearless writer? n/a

#7682:	June 08, 2016	by Dawn Embers
Is June-August a Time for Short Stories? A question of writing focus during the months of June, July and August in relation to novels versus short stories. Are you going to focus on short stories in June-August?

#7675:	June 01, 2016	by Legerdemaim
Wearing Red Not seeing red, wearing red. What color is your shirt? Not your hat, your shirt... This month's question: What other terms do you know for disposable characters?

#7655:	May 25, 2016	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
What Size is Your Story? Here's one method to project the potential size of your story, if you're not sure how to estimate something beforehand! Do you have a lot of trouble with your stories outgrowing your original expectations? Here's one way to break it down.

#7617:	May 18, 2016	by Shannon
A Reluctant Hero "After twenty-two years of trying to break into the [publishing] industry, I’m creating my own." ~ Keith C. Blackmore n/a

#7638:	May 11, 2016	by Kate - Writing & Reading
Perspective(s) The myth of multiple points of view in short stories? Are there multiple points of view in short stories, or is it a question of perception?

#7630:	May 04, 2016	by Legerdemaim
The Bare Branches When all you have is a bunch of sticks and leaves, and you need to make a story. What's your editing style?

#7607:	April 27, 2016	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Idea Generation Find ways to create using the materials all around you-- media, nature, reality... What methods do you like to use to find your inspiration for short stories?

#7593:	April 20, 2016	by Shannon
Earth Abides "We are living on the brink of the apocalypse, but the world is asleep." ~ Joel C. Rosenberg n/a

#7578:	April 13, 2016	by Annette
Complete Your Short Story Unfinished stories are drafts or chapters, not short stories. Are you writing short stories or chapters?

#7577:	April 06, 2016	by Legerdemaim
The Sky Is Falling A newsletter with suggestions for writing a post-apocalyptic story. What three things do you need during the apocalypse?

#7563:	March 30, 2016	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Finding Your Community On Writing.Com and elsewhere, it can be necessary -- and genuinely helpful -- to find a social niche for your writing. What are some of the best and worst writing group moments you've had?

#7541:	March 23, 2016	by Shannon
Writing Creatively “The scariest moment is always just before you start.” ~ Stephen King n/a

#7535:	March 16, 2016	by Elle
Fact is stranger than fiction Sometimes we need look no further than real life for inspiration for truly interesting stories... Sometimes the truth needs no embellishments...

#7528:	March 09, 2016	by Legerdemaim
Keep Checking Looking for places to submit your work is an ongoing task. Don't give up! What are your resources for submitting work?

#7507:	March 02, 2016	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition Using repeating words, elements, or themes can enhance meaning in a short story. How have you used repetition to invoke more meaning in your stories?

#7490:	February 24, 2016	by Shannon
The Faces of a Stranger "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." ~ Jack London n/a

#7487:	February 17, 2016	by Dawn Embers
The Influence of Conflict on Genre A look at how the conflict of a story can influence or indicate a specific genre. How does the conflict in your story relate to the chosen genre?

#7475:	February 10, 2016	by Legerdemaim
Using Lyrics or Song Titles A little advice about using song lyrics, poetry or song titles in your fiction. Can you put your character's favorite song lyrics in your story?

#7461:	February 03, 2016	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
What's the Deal with Cover Letters? Clear and simple ways to tackle something that flummoxes even some practiced fiction writers-- the cover letter! Are you intimidated by the process of writing cover letters for your short stories? Why or why not?

#7435:	January 27, 2016	by Shannon
Meet UK Horror Master Iain Rob Wright “I used to think all the monsters in my life were made up.” ~ Iain Rob Wright, "The Picture Frame" n/a

#7430:	January 20, 2016	by Annette
Short Stories Mean Freedom! Short story writing to the rescue for your creativity. Do you feel pressured by deadlines and word counts?

#7424:	January 13, 2016	by Legerdemaim
Love, In a Knot A newsletter about little tokens or icons slipped into your story. Do you know how to tie a knot? Can you make a monkey fist? Wonder why I'm asking these questions?

#7412:	January 06, 2016	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Using SMART Goals To Build Your New Year Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Relevant. Time-based. But what does that actually MEAN for your writing progress? How do you make sure 2016 is your most productive year yet? What goals can you set to help you to be successful?

#7389:	December 30, 2015	by Shannon
MK-Ultra: The CIA's Mind-Control Program "If you don't control your mind, someone else will." ~ John Allston n/a

#7386:	December 23, 2015	by 🦄🏳️‍🌈Sapph
Holiday Inspirations The holidays are an inspiration for stories but are you falling into the common story rut? What's inspiring about the holidays can lead to some uninteresting stories. How can we break out of the holiday norm?

#7375:	December 16, 2015	by Legerdemaim
Managing Time Watching good intentions blow across the lawn like tinsel from a tree at the curb. How are you managing to find time to write over the holidays?

#7363:	December 09, 2015	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Achievement is Relative Goals change over time. Have you re-evaluated your progress lately? What were your writing goals in 2015 and how can you improve on them for the coming year?

#7334:	December 02, 2015	by Shannon
Dead and Buried "Let's talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs." ~ William Shakespeare, "King Richard II" n/a

#7342:	November 25, 2015	by Dawn Embers
Characters That Are Thankful A little look at the things characters can appreciate and show thanks for in their stories. What are your characters thankful for in their life/story?

#7327:	November 18, 2015	by Dawn Embers
Try a Collection with a Common Thread A ramble about options when it comes to writing a collection of stories. Would you write a collection of stories with same main characters or just set things in the same world?

#7316:	November 11, 2015	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
A Post-Script on Impostor Syndrome Some thoughts on last month's topic in follow-up: squelching self-doubts. Do you feel alone when you are writing?

#7298:	November 04, 2015	by Shannon
A Rose by Any Other Name What matters is what something is, not what it is called. n/a

#7297:	October 28, 2015	by 🦄🏳️‍🌈Sapph
Get Visual: Mindmaps Part two of my series on getting visual with short stories: creating and using mindmaps Can you get your mind in order enough to create a mindmap for a story?

#7279:	October 21, 2015	by 🦄🏳️‍🌈Sapph
Get Visual: Storyboards Sometimes the best way to plan a story is to do it without all the words. Storyboards are for visual media but what if we could work with them to write even better stories?

#7267:	October 14, 2015	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Good Enough "Who am I kidding?" and other self-defeating stuff we ask ourselves. How do you battle Impostor Syndrome?

#7246:	October 07, 2015	by Shannon
Ego Trip "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18 n/a

#7243:	September 30, 2015	by Gaby
Cliffhanger The art of writing a story yet not finishing it How do you end your short stories?

#7217:	September 16, 2015	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Self Confidence Being confident in one's work is among the keys to a writer's success, at any stage in one's career. Feeling confidence as a writer can be a challenge. What can you do to charge up or affirm yourself?

#7195:	September 09, 2015	by Shannon
The Green-Eyed Monster "Jealousy is the tie that binds, and binds, and binds." ~ Helen Rowland n/a

#7193:	September 02, 2015	by Dawn Embers
Is it a Scene or a Story? A look at the slight differences between a scene, a story and which one I enter in contests. Do you write a full short story or do you end up entering a scene in a contest?

#7182:	August 26, 2015	by Legerdemaim
Tweet This How the craziness of social media can be inspiring. Aren't you amazed by those funny photoshopped pictures that everyone likes to share?

#7168:	August 19, 2015	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Tones of Inspiration Music, from a writer's perspective. What music inspires you to write? What music, lyrics or instrumental arrangements included, inspires your short fiction?

#7145:	August 12, 2015	by Shannon
Soul Eater "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." ~ Randall Terry n/a

#7140:	August 05, 2015	by Dawn Embers
The Great Title Quest A look at titles for short stories and possible sources of inspiration for the vexing necessity. What sources of inspiration do you use for your titles?

#7122:	July 29, 2015	by Legerdemaim
From A Wayside in Indiana The workings of a rest stop or people watching with a burger and fries. Let's surf Roadside America! Where do you get your story ideas? I reveal one of mine.

#7110:	July 22, 2015	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Random Prompts and Generators Using words, images and more to boost imagination. What random sources inspire your writing?

#7096:	July 15, 2015	by Shannon
Imaginary Lover "Where there's smoke, there's fire. Where there's you, there's desire." ~ Unknown n/a

#7092:	July 08, 2015	by 🦄🏳️‍🌈Sapph
Realistic Characterization Are your characters fully thought out or are they one dimensional? How can you make them more realistic? What makes a character more than one dimensional and how can you add that depth?

#7081:	July 01, 2015	by Legerdemaim
Research! A little info on what research will do to help your writing. Want to keep your reader engaged in your story?

#7064:	June 24, 2015	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Making Time If you want to do this in the long term, you have to make the time for it! Do you make enough time for your writing-- and why or why not?

#7044:	June 17, 2015	by Shannon
E is for Envy "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." ~ Proverbs 14:30 n/a

#7006:	June 10, 2015	by Annette
Try Everything At Least Once Short stories are the perfect medium to try out a little bit of many different things. What's on your writer's bucket list?

#7031:	June 03, 2015	by Legerdemaim
We Read Short Shorts My thoughts on one of the great things about shorts stories Do short stories leave you wanting more?

#7017:	May 27, 2015	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Context Clues and You How do you use the information given to the reader to build your world? How do you draw the reader into the world? What clues do you use to get them thinking? How much do you trust the reader?

#6994:	May 20, 2015	by Shannon
Unbreak My Heart "No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear." ~ C.S. Lewis n/a

#6984:	May 13, 2015	by Annette
For sale: Baby shoes, Never worn. The truth behind Hemingway's shortest novel. n/a

#6976:	May 06, 2015	by Legerdemaim
Happily Ever After Instead of the pumpkin coach, how about a dose of reality? n/a

#6962:	April 29, 2015	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Cut Your Clutter! Tightening written drafts is all about cutting the clutter! Fish out words that don't amplify your writing. n/a

#6939:	April 22, 2015	by Shannon
My Last Nerve "I don't usually lose my temper, but if I get angry, it's true--I'm scary." ~ Eva Mendes n/a

#6928:	April 15, 2015	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Slice of Life - a story? Does a story have to have a formal beginning, a defined middle and an obvious end? n/a

#6927:	April 08, 2015	by Legerdemaim
Breaking Eggs Or assembling a better story. What you wrote is good, what do you do with it now? n/a

#6926:	April 08, 2015	by Legerdemaim
Breaking Eggs Or assembling a better story. What you wrote is good, what do you do with it now? n/a

#6907:	April 01, 2015	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
What's Enough Detail? Long enough to cover the topic at hand and short enough to "keep it interesting." n/a

#6889:	March 25, 2015	by Shannon
Shackled and Chained Everyone fears something, but how do you write about it in a convincing, sympathetic way? n/a

#6879:	March 18, 2015	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Who? Where? Characters in situations! Plots can arise from the who and the where, if you add the why, the what, the what if and the how. n/a

#6877:	March 11, 2015	by Legerdemaim
I Need a Stunt Double In our world of hurry up and wait, where do we find time for creativity? n/a

#6860:	March 04, 2015	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Character Competence? How competent our characters are in their daily lives will affect the rest of your story. n/a

#6842:	February 25, 2015	by Shannon
Yada Yada Yada Advice can be daunting n/a

#6839:	February 18, 2015	by 🦄🏳️‍🌈Sapph
Are you showing or telling? Are you showing us a story or are you just telling us? n/a

#6826:	February 11, 2015	by Legerdemaim
Real Life Creep Do you use things from your real life to enhance your short story writing? n/a

#6811:	February 04, 2015	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
What's the Point of It? Not every story needs to have a deep, long-reaching morality to it, but you do need a reason for your reader to read it. n/a

#6791:	January 28, 2015	by Shannon
That Guy "So the writer who breeds more words than he needs is making a chore for the reader who reads." ~ Dr. Seuss n/a

#6779:	January 21, 2015	by A Non-Existent User
God is in the details A look at how to improve your short stories by considering the details. n/a

#6775:	January 14, 2015	by Legerdemaim
Common Errors We all make them. What is important, is learning from them. n/a

#6759:	January 07, 2015	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Opening Hooks How do you snag a reader? Well... Some thoughts on getting -- and keeping -- a reader's attention. n/a

#6737:	December 31, 2014	by Shannon
What's Your Platform? The art of self-promotion n/a

#6709:	December 24, 2014	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Lessons learnt from reality TV! Like it or hate it, reality TV teaches many lessons about storytelling! n/a

#6725:	December 17, 2014	by Legerdemaim
Twas The Night Before Kids Went To Sleep A little newsletter about writing for children. They're small, not stupid. n/a

#6705:	December 10, 2014	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
In It Alone, Together Do you have friends or colleagues you can talk to about your writing, in real life or online? n/a

#6684:	December 03, 2014	by Shannon
Collaborative Writing Leapfrogging your way across the finish line n/a

#6663:	November 26, 2014	by Annette
Where Are You? Extensive and over-accurate location descriptions can harm your story. n/a

#6653:	November 12, 2014	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
An Editor's Eye What do editors look for, anyway? Every story is different, but some have a distinct advantage. n/a

#6636:	November 05, 2014	by Shannon
1,667 Words "Normal people can produce extraordinary things by simply refusing to leave a blank page blank." ~ Chris Baty n/a

#6629:	October 29, 2014	by 🦄🏳️‍🌈Sapph
Where's the story? A short story is not complete without those key elements that actually make it a story. n/a

#6622:	October 22, 2014	by Legerdemaim
Hints and Foreshadowing This newsletter is no red herring, it really talks about foreshadowing. n/a

#6602:	October 15, 2014	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Cut, Snip, Slash, Stitch Excellence is a continual effort, and kind of an unending process... But how much is enough? n/a

#6584:	October 08, 2014	by Shannon
Say It Ain't So-So Don't settle for mediocre; strive for extraordinary n/a

#6578:	October 01, 2014	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
The Basics -- with Kids' Stories Kids' stories to help unblock 'plot', 'character' and 'setting' blocks! n/a

#6570:	September 24, 2014	by Legerdemaim
Storing Emotions Save emotional feelings to use in later writing. n/a

#6554:	September 17, 2014	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Top of the Heap So, how do you get to the top of the pile? (Spoiler alert: there is no one true answer...) n/a

#6533:	September 10, 2014	by Shannon
It's Raining Men Rugby, the rain, Rambo, and you n/a

#6514:	September 03, 2014	by Annette
Short Story or Chapter? Novel chapters make poor short stories. n/a

#6522:	August 27, 2014	by Legerdemaim
Birthday Week A prompt idea for birthday week contests. n/a

#6503:	August 20, 2014	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
If It Might Fit, You Ought to Submit! The submissions process can be daunting, even for seasoned writers. The odds of failure are high. Why, then, persist? n/a

#6482:	August 13, 2014	by Shannon
GC1F2XN "We never seek things for themselves. What we seek is the very seeking of things." ~ Blaise Pascal n/a

#6477:	August 06, 2014	by Dawn Embers
Word Counts May Vary A look at some variations in word count and why they may or may not matter. n/a

#6458:	July 30, 2014	by Legerdemaim
Always Improving I'm always looking for advice to improve my writing. Are you? n/a

#6444:	July 23, 2014	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
The Circular Nature of History If history repeats itself, what does fiction do? Using nonfiction to fuel storytelling. n/a

#6429:	July 16, 2014	by Shannon
The Trickster "A company of wolves is better than a company of wolves in sheep's clothing." ~ Anthony Liccione n/a

#6417:	July 09, 2014	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Pictures that give a new perspective A picture paints a thousand words ... and a sketch tweaks what the picture says! n/a

#6404:	July 02, 2014	by Legerdemaim
What's Your Hook? How do you begin a story? n/a

#6399:	June 25, 2014	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Kishōtenketsu While it's a difficult approach for short stories, kishōtenketsu is an alternative view on conflict-driven plot. n/a

#6376:	June 18, 2014	by Shannon
The Ally Thank you for being a friend n/a

#6350:	June 11, 2014	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Meeting Your Favourite Author ... or not Sometimes, I wonder if I'd really like to meet my favourite authors ... n/a

#6361:	June 04, 2014	by Legerdemaim
What's That? In the Background? A newsletter about what is happening outside the limelight of your scenes. n/a

#6343:	May 28, 2014	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Context Matters (Even the context in which you read this sentence.) Use context and contrast to improve your character construction. n/a

#6325:	May 21, 2014	by Shannon
The Shadow Welcome to the dark side n/a

#6280:	May 14, 2014	by Annette
Real Short Stories Would Edgar Allan Poe read your short story? n/a

#6308:	May 07, 2014	by Legerdemaim
The Long and Short of IT What is IT? What can be done about IT? n/a

#6298:	April 30, 2014	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Worth It? What makes a story worth the reader's time? It's different for every author (and reader) but some patterns emerge. n/a

#6272:	April 23, 2014	by Shannon
The Shapeshifter The next archetype in Vogler's "The Writer's Journey." n/a

#6263:	April 16, 2014	by Annette
Defining the Short Story How do I know when my story is a short story? n/a

#6257:	April 09, 2014	by Legerdemaim
Stories are like Bananas What to do with a fresh green banana? You can substitute plantains in this newsletter, that's fine. n/a

#6240:	April 02, 2014	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
The Next Step How does implementing critique really work? Make the most of the reviews you receive. n/a

#6222:	March 26, 2014	by Shannon
The Herald "Herald characters issue challenges and announce the coming of significant change." ~ Christopher Vogler n/a

#6160:	March 19, 2014	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Free Write - But there are some rules! Free-writing is a great way to spark off ideas or unblock a block. Done with the guidelines in mind, it's even better! n/a

#6209:	March 12, 2014	by Legerdemaim
That Comma I have problems, one is my tendency to sprinkle commas in my writing, like croutons on a salad. n/a

#6199:	March 05, 2014	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Meta-Problems in Storytelling Is the story you're telling worth the time it takes to tell it? One of the harder parts of self editing... n/a

#6173:	February 26, 2014	by Shannon
The Threshold Guardian At the gateway to adventure, the Threshold Guardian awaits n/a

#6171:	February 19, 2014	by Storm Machine
Fear of Failure A protagonist needs to fail for a story to succeed. n/a

#6158:	February 12, 2014	by Legerdemaim
Make it Believable Every story must have a little human element for humans to believe it. n/a

#6146:	February 05, 2014	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
The Land of No Story Sometimes, it turns out, you've set out to write something that doesn't end up being a full story. What can you do? n/a

#6124:	January 29, 2014	by Shannon
M is for Mentor "Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction." ~ John Crosby n/a

#6116:	January 22, 2014	by Dawn Embers
You Sent the Story Where? Short story submission is a big stage and here are some tips on how to keep track. n/a

#6105:	January 15, 2014	by Legerdemaim
Three Simple Elements A story should have a beginning, a middle and an end. Simple, right? n/a

#6092:	January 08, 2014	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Room for Improvement What have you done this past year as a writer? Where do you see yourself this coming year? n/a

#6071:	January 01, 2014	by Shannon
I Need a Hero Archetypes, character arc, and the Hero's Journey n/a

#6067:	December 25, 2013	by McScaredyclaws wolf
Short Story Development Characters are the most important component of any narrative. Without them, there would be no story. n/a

#6055:	December 18, 2013	by Legerdemaim
A Year in Review This isn't about resolutions about going to the gym or losing weight. This is about your reviewing. n/a

#6041:	December 11, 2013	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
That "Show, Don't Tell" Thing Again It's not what you think it is: some thoughts on a common and easily-misinterpreted piece of writing advice. n/a

#6027:	December 04, 2013	by Shannon
Gimme Five When it comes to writer's block, all I need is five minutes alone with Google n/a

#6012:	November 27, 2013	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Art Vocabulary - In Writing Thinking up some explanations for terms normally used in art, as they might possibly apply to writing. n/a

#6011:	November 20, 2013	by Legerdemaim
Digging in the Loo Would an archaeologist find anything interesting in your outhouse? An article on finding prompts in everyday reading. n/a

#5993:	November 13, 2013	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Self Editing Quick Tips Things to look for in your short stories, when you're in a hurry! n/a

#5969:	November 06, 2013	by Shannon
Physiologically Speaking Writing convincing, emotionally-charged scenes n/a

#5963:	October 30, 2013	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Writers as Readers. Do writers read differently? n/a

#5959:	October 23, 2013	by Legerdemaim
Meeting your Word Count Have you ever had a reviewer tell you they want to know more of your story? n/a

#5948:	October 16, 2013	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
What's the Holdup? Why "waiting for inspiration" is not a great plan. Find ways to write yourself out of a funk. n/a

#5932:	October 09, 2013	by Shannon
Once Upon a Time When it comes to story ideas, sometimes you have to think outside the box n/a

#5923:	October 02, 2013	by 🦄🏳️‍🌈Sapph
Music as a Tool Music can be used to get your mind into a story, set the mood, keep you writing, or inspire the whole thing. n/a

#5911:	September 25, 2013	by Legerdemaim
Wham! What's That Sound? No, it's not the British musical duo. It's onomatopoeia. n/a

#5892:	September 18, 2013	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Check Your Facts! Be confident in your writing by knowing what you're talking about, and research your details for best results. n/a

#5876:	September 11, 2013	by Shannon
Alternate Endings A writing exercise n/a

#5867:	September 04, 2013	by Dawn Embers
Set a Goal and Write a Story The short story newsletter discussing how goal making can help a writer make progress. n/a

#5859:	August 28, 2013	by Legerdemaim
Wat? Oh, hai! LOL! A newsletter about practicing good grammar. n/a

#5848:	August 21, 2013	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Under the Microfiction-Scope Tiny stories can have a huge impact! Try your hand at microfiction. You may just surprise yourself with the results. n/a

#5830:	August 14, 2013	by Shannon
A Day in the Country Inspiration lurks right outside your door n/a

#5821:	August 07, 2013	by 🦄🏳️‍🌈Sapph
Adding Experience Writing from experience can add a more personal touch in a story that shines through to your readers. n/a

#5813:	July 31, 2013	by Legerdemaim
Objects Telling Your Story Adjectives can be a help, or multiply like cockroaches under the refrigerator. n/a

#5803:	July 24, 2013	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
What Are Your Stakes? Simply put, what do your characters have --or want-- that's worth fighting for? There's always something... n/a

#5776:	July 17, 2013	by Shannon
Making a List, Checking It Twice How lists can stimulate and inspire your muse n/a

#5768:	July 10, 2013	by A Non-Existent User
Pushing Ourselves as Writers. A look at short stories as inspiration for longer pieces. n/a

#5760:	July 03, 2013	by Legerdemaim
EEK! A spider! It can have many legs, if you wish. The body can be small and evil or big and sexy. What it can do is help you write. n/a

#5750:	June 26, 2013	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Where DOES the Time Go? Little things can add up to big changes in your writing. Be proactive and use your time wisely! n/a

#5732:	June 19, 2013	by Shannon
Knock on Wood Tempting fate and other superstitions n/a

#5726:	June 12, 2013	by Dawn Embers
The "Care" in Character A look at the benefit of empathy for a reader when it comes to short story main characters. n/a

#5714:	June 05, 2013	by Legerdemaim
Overabundant Description Do you have too many adverbs and adjectives coating your story like hot sauce on wings? n/a

#5700:	May 29, 2013	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Pushing Past the Prompt What happens when the contest is over, anyway? You have all this material left over that could be refined... n/a

#5679:	May 22, 2013	by Shannon
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words How photographs kindle creativity n/a

#5671:	May 15, 2013	by McScaredyclaws wolf
Setting the Mood A writer reveals a setting by describing details of that time and place.The mood makes you feel as if you are there. n/a

#5662:	May 08, 2013	by Legerdemaim
Fantasy Traits A quick way to describe a character and save word count. n/a

#5650:	May 01, 2013	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Character Tics Being authentic without being grotesque; thoughts on creating lifelike characters with all kinds of problems. n/a

#5630:	April 24, 2013	by Shannon
Truly, Madly, Deeply How adverbs and adjectives weigh down your manuscript n/a

#5628:	April 17, 2013	by NanoWriMo2018 Into the Earth
Tackling the Revision Monster Tips on revising your short stories n/a

#5618:	April 10, 2013	by Legerdemaim
Inspiration From Music It's not all hound dogs and pickup trucks. n/a

#5604:	April 03, 2013	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Learning How to be Critiqued There's not really a wrong way, but here are some thoughts on how to maximize what you get from the reviewing process. n/a

#5573:	March 27, 2013	by Shannon
Crisis Acute What you can learn from a 1949 sci-fi classic n/a

#5582:	March 20, 2013	by NanoWriMo2018 Into the Earth
Step One: Eat the Soup Sometimes, getting started is the hardest part to writing your short story. n/a

#5567:	March 13, 2013	by Legerdemaim
Trying a New Tool Are all the tools in your toolbox rusty and antiquated? Are you stuck in your comfortable rut? n/a

#5550:	March 06, 2013	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Unpacking Some thoughts on order and chaos. n/a

#5530:	February 26, 2013	by Shannon
Let the Pains Begin Sometimes we must hit rock bottom n/a

#5492:	February 19, 2013	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Who is speaking please? And why? What does dialogue do, in a story? n/a

#5518:	February 12, 2013	by Legerdemaim
Finding Your Passion Make your writing come alive when you write about your passions. n/a

#5505:	February 05, 2013	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Reverse Outlining Hear me out: sometimes you can outline your story later! Outlining in reverse can help you revise in a new light. n/a

#5483:	January 29, 2013	by Shannon
Born Free "Disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind." n/a

#5459:	January 22, 2013	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Make Your Character Tick with Readers Something learnt from the 'interview and introduce' technique. n/a

#5470:	January 15, 2013	by Legerdemaim
The Flu Blues Taking a look at your goals for this year. n/a

#5457:	January 08, 2013	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Taking Stock of the Trunk What's in your trunk? Take a look here. n/a

#5438:	January 01, 2013	by Shannon
Out With the Old, In With the New As 2012 ends, 2013 offers limitless possibilities n/a

#5428:	December 25, 2012	by Kate - Writing & Reading
Exorcise that Sagging Middle Remove the excess baggage, the weight of words which add no shape, movement, or immediacy n/a

#5421:	December 18, 2012	by Legerdemaim
Happy New Year! Okay, I'm a little early. But I have a few things you might want to think about before you make your resolutions. n/a

#5412:	December 11, 2012	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Unresolved Sometimes even our beliefs and ideals are fiction. And that's okay. n/a

#5391:	December 04, 2012	by Shannon
God Is in the Details If writing is worth doing, it's worth doing right n/a

#5389:	November 27, 2012	by Crys-not really here
Flash Fiction What is flash fiction? n/a

#5378:	November 20, 2012	by Legerdemaim
And The Winner Is... Comments about your supporting characters. n/a

#5369:	November 13, 2012	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Down the Middle Midstory lag woes-- we all have them. n/a

#5346:	November 06, 2012	by Shannon
Teensy Tiny Tricks that Titillate How using various tools and techniques can spice up your writing n/a

#5345:	October 31, 2012	by McScaredyclaws wolf
Writing Tips for Scary Stories Writing Scary stories can be fun and takes some work, but it's worth it once you have your imagination run wild. n/a

#5331:	October 24, 2012	by Legerdemaim
Do You Have a Sweet Tooth? Create a short story cake and satisfy everyone's cravings. n/a

#5319:	October 17, 2012	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
The Last Word Why are endings so challenging? They ought to be the easiest part! n/a

#5297:	October 10, 2012	by Shannon
Gone but Not Forgotten Be a witness to your place and time by writing personal essays and memoirs n/a

#5281:	September 26, 2012	by Legerdemaim
How Short is Short? It's a matter of perspective, isn't it? n/a

#5265:	September 19, 2012	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Does Genre Matter? Of course it does. (Or does it? Sigh.) Some thoughts on genre and deconstruction, and what it means for short fiction. n/a

#5237:	September 12, 2012	by Shannon
Sticks and Stones Why it's so important to choose our words carefully n/a

#5241:	September 05, 2012	by Kate - Writing & Reading
Short Stories - A Battle of Words Why ad-verbs when verbs say it best >O< or ad-jectives to nouns? n/a

#5235:	August 29, 2012	by Legerdemaim
Tweet! Can social media be an inspiration or just a distraction? n/a

#5226:	August 22, 2012	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Building Up Details An exploration on how to feather in details in your short stories. n/a

#5204:	August 15, 2012	by Shannon
My Launderette How an encounter in a laundromat inspired one of my favorite stories n/a

#5193:	August 08, 2012	by Jeff-o'-lantern 🎃
No Wasted Space Making every word in your short story count. n/a

#5186:	August 01, 2012	by Legerdemaim
Seeing Double! A tip on wrapping up your story. n/a

#5176:	July 25, 2012	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Reviewing as a Writing Exercise Things to look for in your reviews that help you become a better writer. n/a

#5150:	July 18, 2012	by Shannon
Now What? What to do with your stories after you've perfected them n/a

#5148:	July 11, 2012	by McScaredyclaws wolf
Get to know your Characters A few helpful tips on how to know your characters like you know your friends. n/a

#5128:	July 04, 2012	by Legerdemaim
That Uncle Henry! Ever wonder about that bald spot on the back of his head? Read more about using anecdotes or family for characters. n/a

#5126:	June 27, 2012	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Grammar and Dialect Speech in writing is something to consider for style and setting in your short stories. n/a

#5100:	June 20, 2012	by Shannon
On This Day How to use this day in history to jump-start your writing n/a

#5097:	June 13, 2012	by McScaredyclaws wolf
Writing Dialogue that Speaks A Guide to Writing Realistic Dialogue n/a

#5079:	June 06, 2012	by Legerdemaim
Take a Vacation! Take a vacation. Whether you have an adventure or not, try writing something new. n/a

#5068:	May 30, 2012	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Digging Into Character with Questions... Meaningful short stories have emotional impact. Use pointed questions to get meaningful answers that spur your stories. n/a

#5051:	May 23, 2012	by Shannon
Bump in the Night Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me n/a

#5040:	May 16, 2012	by Shannon
I Object! How attending a court proceeding might inspire your muse n/a

#5028:	May 09, 2012	by Legerdemaim
These Three Things What three things can you check in edit to make your short story stronger? Find out here. n/a

#5026:	May 02, 2012	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Experiments in Antagonism Compelling villains can be challenging-- here are some thoughts on how to create layered enemies on a (word) budget. n/a

#5005:	April 25, 2012	by Shannon
All I Have To Do Is Dream Using dreams to power your story n/a

#5001:	April 18, 2012	by McScaredyclaws wolf
What is in a name? Choose your characters name wisely. Think about their personalities and try to find a name that captures the character. n/a

#4989:	April 11, 2012	by Legerdemaim
Who is your Antagonist? Will Dudley Do-Right save the day? Or will Snidely Whiplash finally get the girl? Tune in and see. n/a

#4973:	April 04, 2012	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Shared Universes Writing connected stories and using existing worlds in fiction writing. n/a

#4953:	March 28, 2012	by Shannon
Spirit Is a Fragile Thing "Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up." ~ Jesse Jackson n/a

#4932:	March 21, 2012	by Shannon
Chance Encounters How meeting a stranger can inspire your muse n/a

#4928:	March 14, 2012	by Legerdemaim
Get Cookin'! A quick recipe for a good short story. n/a

#4923:	March 07, 2012	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
The Scenic Route Using short stories as part of a larger collected body of work; using characters from a larger universe in short works. n/a

#4902:	February 29, 2012	by Shannon
Shut Up and Write Why Natalie Goldberg's "Writing Practice" should become yours n/a

#4892:	February 22, 2012	by Kate - Writing & Reading
Battle of the Bulge Jelly Rolls, muffin tops, or good old beer bellies add bulk but not substance to your short story ~ so work it off >o< n/a

#4874:	February 15, 2012	by Legerdemaim
Can You Hear Me Now? First, select what ears you'd like - then pick your nose. n/a

#4868:	February 08, 2012	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Fiction as Catharsis. How reality and fiction intersect for us as writers. n/a

#4836:	February 01, 2012	by Shannon
Modus Operandi How your character's passion motivates and inspires his actions n/a

#4841:	January 25, 2012	by Kate - Writing & Reading
I hear a voice ~ but who's? Writing fiction in first person viewpoint actively relates what I or my character do, see, hear, perceive n/a

#4832:	January 18, 2012	by Legerdemaim
Can You Name That Tune? Does music inspire you? n/a

#4821:	January 11, 2012	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Tying It All Together No string required! Finding ways to bring disparate elements into unity in short fiction. n/a

#4797:	January 04, 2012	by Shannon
In the Beginning How your introductory paragraph can make or break your story n/a

#4787:	December 27, 2011	by Shannon
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother How our plight affects those who love us most n/a

#4779:	December 20, 2011	by Legerdemaim
A Semi-Resolution It's not dieting or getting more exercise, but it is about doing something for yourself next year. n/a

#4770:	December 13, 2011	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Inspiration as an Exercise Sharing some thoughts I had after reading a book about art and creativity; using artistic reference and ideas. n/a

#4748:	December 06, 2011	by Shannon
It Must Be a Full Moon How our own superstitious beliefs, distinguishing traits, and quirky mannerisms are reflected in our characters n/a

#4728:	November 29, 2011	by Shannon
Something Old, Something New Every item has a story. All you have to do is listen. n/a

#4736:	November 22, 2011	by Legerdemaim
You're Toast! Are your NaNoWriMo characters getting a little too familiar? n/a

#4722:	November 15, 2011	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Showing, Telling, and You Some great places to inject description, details, and dialogue to add bulk and content to your stories. n/a

#4699:	November 08, 2011	by Shannon
The Midnight Disease Coined by Edgar Allen Poe, "The Midnight Disease" (A.K.A. hypergraphia) is an overwhelming compulsion to write n/a

#4698:	November 02, 2011	by ~WhoMe???~
Back to the Basics Freytag's Pyramid back to the basics. n/a

#4686:	October 26, 2011	by Legerdemaim
Mixing It Up Not recipes, genres. An alien in bionic chaps? It's an idea... n/a

#4676:	October 19, 2011	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Minimalism It's a style thing! Less can be more... n/a

#4654:	October 12, 2011	by Shannon
Extra! Extra! Read All About It! Writer's block? Pick up your local newspaper n/a

#4652:	October 05, 2011	by Jeff-o'-lantern 🎃
What You Can Learn From Other Genres Different genres can provide you with different writing skills to improve your work. n/a

#4632:	September 28, 2011	by Legerdemaim
Making It Memorable Does your story stand out among other contest entries? No? You might need to add a cannibal. n/a

#4625:	September 21, 2011	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Format and Function how restrictive formats can force you to work creatively to find a solution... through writing! n/a

#4598:	September 14, 2011	by Shannon
"Call 911 cuz you just stopped my heart" How a family dinner and a packet of Splenda® inspired my creativity n/a

#4605:	September 07, 2011	by Jeff-o'-lantern 🎃
Birthdays, Bar Mitzvahs & Black Friday How single day events can be ideal settings for a short story. n/a

#4587:	August 31, 2011	by Legerdemaim
I'm Nobody! Who are you? Emily was a nobody too. n/a

#4580:	August 24, 2011	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Be a Contender Write stories that are competitive no matter where you submit them. n/a

#4557:	August 17, 2011	by Shannon
Murder in the Grove An afternoon with J.A. Jance leaves a lasting impression n/a

#4554:	August 10, 2011	by Jeff-o'-lantern 🎃
Streamlined Storytelling The importance of focusing on the main narrative in a short story. n/a

#4539:	August 03, 2011	by Legerdemaim
Being Upstaged The puppy had everyone's attention. Is that what you want? n/a

#4523:	July 27, 2011	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Idols and Inspirations Musings on influences and ideas... where did that idea come from, anyway? n/a

#4507:	July 20, 2011	by Shannon
I Ate Lunch With Rambo How an afternoon with author David Morrell changed my writing life forever n/a

#4502:	July 13, 2011	by Ben Langhinrichs
Finding Inspiration Knowing when to write and when to stop n/a

#4489:	July 06, 2011	by Legerdemaim
Have You Read the Fine Print? A few tidbits about entering writing contests. n/a

#4478:	June 29, 2011	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Content Condensation Tips on editing with word count in mind... n/a

#4458:	June 22, 2011	by Shannon
Copyrights and Trademarks If someone else wrote it, photographed it, painted it, translated it, recorded it, or drew it, it's copyrighted n/a

#4455:	June 15, 2011	by Ben Langhinrichs
Planning ahead... or not There isn't a right way to write a short story, but there are reasons to try something new. n/a

#4442:	June 08, 2011	by Legerdemaim
High-speed Duct Tape What doesn't it fix? n/a

#4431:	June 01, 2011	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Plotting to a Conclusion Finding a means to an ending for your story... n/a

#4409:	May 25, 2011	by Shannon
And the Winner Is ... How entering contests gets your name out there AND makes you a better writer n/a

#4398:	May 18, 2011	by Ben Langhinrichs
Am I an Unreliable Narrator? First person does not always mean truthful. n/a

#4393:	May 11, 2011	by Legerdemaim
Perspective My view from the other side of the uterus. n/a

#4378:	May 04, 2011	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
More Dialogue on Dialogue A few tips and pointers for correcting wayward dialogue for short story authors and reviewers. n/a

#4366:	April 27, 2011	by Shannon
Who'd've Strunk It? Though 90+ years have passed, "The Elements of Style" is STILL the definitive guide to clean, concise, crisp writing. n/a

#4350:	April 20, 2011	by Ben Langhinrichs
This would make a GREAT novel Pitfalls of writing a novel based on your beloved short story. n/a

#4341:	April 13, 2011	by Legerdemaim
The Sound of Silence One would think silence is...well, silent. n/a

#4330:	April 06, 2011	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Dialogue as a Story Medium Of all the dynamics which move a story forward, dialogue is the most direct. n/a

#4307:	March 30, 2011	by Shannon
My Five Sense Worth How Sight, Smell, Hearing, Taste, and Touch Form Our Memories and Shape Our Lives n/a

#4302:	March 23, 2011	by Ben Langhinrichs
Worlds of Wonder Through the eyes of a child, even when writing for adults. n/a

#4287:	March 16, 2011	by Legerdemaim
Where Can I Put the Dead Body? An answer to the age-old question - Can I Put the Dead Body in a Glad Trash Bag? n/a

#4282:	March 09, 2011	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Character Components Building believable, compelling characters is tricky in a short story. Some tips to make the best use of a small space! n/a

#4258:	March 02, 2011	by Shannon
Breakdowns and Breakthroughs How the most painful challenges are often the most rewarding n/a

#4255:	February 23, 2011	by Ben Langhinrichs
A Sense of Place Describe a place with no visual clues to see how strong the emotional connection can be for your reader. n/a

#4242:	February 16, 2011	by Legerdemaim
Eons ago, in a dark cavern in the sea... How setting is important to your story. n/a

#4230:	February 09, 2011	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Pieces of Something Greater Sometimes a vignette is just a vignette... n/a

#4217:	February 02, 2011	by Shannon
Perception Is Reality or, "Who the heck ARE you, anyway?" n/a

#4204:	January 26, 2011	by Ben Langhinrichs
The Ending Comes Before the Beginning Planning your story will ensure you're not just wandering about in the woods. n/a

#4194:	January 19, 2011	by Legerdemaim
What A Character! Where do you get your character ideas? n/a

#4182:	January 12, 2011	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Resolutions of the "Ending" Kind... Some of my favorite writers have said the hardest part of writing is knowing when to end a story... n/a

#4159:	January 05, 2011	by Shannon
Same Old Lang Syne A story about love, loss, regret, and new beginnings n/a

#4158:	December 28, 2010	by Ben Langhinrichs
Benefit of Brevity There are burdens to the brevity of a short story, but there are benefits as well. n/a

#4143:	December 21, 2010	by Legerdemaim
Holiday Stress Turn holiday stress and family arguments into fodder for your stories. n/a

#4128:	December 14, 2010	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
The Direct Line While a short story can have its twists and turns, the ultimate story movement should be straightforward. n/a

#4114:	December 07, 2010	by Shannon
Conspiracy Theory Just Because You're Paranoid Doesn't Mean They're Not Out To Get You n/a

#4104:	November 30, 2010	by Ben Langhinrichs
Are we there yet? When to end. Knowing when to end your story is as important as knowing when to start it. n/a

#4094:	November 23, 2010	by Legerdemaim
Review Honesty Do you tell the truth in a tactful way when you review? n/a

#4080:	November 16, 2010	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Make Me Care... About Your Character! The best stories are character driven, but character alone won't carry a story-- good characters need compelling plots! n/a

#4062:	November 09, 2010	by Shannon
So, what did you think of my story? How to be brutally honest without being brutal. n/a

#4056:	November 03, 2010	by Ben Langhinrichs
Writing Stories to be Read Aloud Writing for children can teach us how to be better writers for any age. n/a

#4043:	October 27, 2010	by Legerdemaim
Finding Time to Write What if you didn't enter NaNoWriMo but want to challenge yourself? n/a

#4031:	October 20, 2010	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Holding the Line Short fiction relies on tension for consistency-- here are a few tips for maintaining the tension in your writing. n/a

#4012:	October 13, 2010	by Shannon
"My Name Is Roger, and I'm an addict." How personal demons humanize your characters and endear them to your readers n/a

#4003:	October 06, 2010	by Ben Langhinrichs
Those in Front of the Curtain Ignore your audience at your peril. n/a

#3991:	September 29, 2010	by Legerdemaim
Titles How would you refer to the Dalai Lama? Would you greet him, "hey, Holy Dude!"? n/a

#3981:	September 22, 2010	by Jay's debut novel is out now!
Push Button, Receive Message One reason many writers love the short story medium: it's an easy way to communicate an idea and get feedback on it. n/a

#3929:	September 15, 2010	by Shannon
Never Forget How Kübler-Ross's Five Stages of Grief empowers us (and our characters) to understand and accept our own mortality n/a

#3958:	September 08, 2010	by Ben Langhinrichs
Publishing Stories in the 21st Century Being a "published author" is a trickier concept than it once was. n/a

#3947:	September 01, 2010	by Legerdemaim
What did he say? Using the vernacular of a particular region or era can lend authenticity to your story. n/a

#3935:	August 25, 2010	by Storm Machine
Epiphany Characters and events work together to make a short story. n/a

#3876:	August 18, 2010	by Shannon
This Little Piggy Went to Market How to market your stories and eliminate unnecessary rejections n/a

#3905:	August 11, 2010	by Ben Langhinrichs
Too Much Backstory in the Front If you fill your first few paragraphs with backstory, you may empty out your audience n/a

#3895:	August 04, 2010	by Legerdemaim
Anatomy of a Lie How can you tell someone is lying? This article exposes liars. n/a

#3874:	July 28, 2010	by Crys-not really here
I'm a Fiction Writer? Since When? It never hurts to try something new with your writing. n/a

#3849:	July 21, 2010	by Shannon
That Which Does Not Kill Us How tragedy makes us stronger people ... and better writers n/a

#3857:	July 14, 2010	by Ben Langhinrichs
Suspending Disbelief What readers will and won't believe. n/a

#3841:	July 07, 2010	by Legerdemaim
The Short Trip to Edit What do you do with the short contest entries in your porfolio? n/a

#3829:	June 30, 2010	by Kate - Writing & Reading
I hear voices ~ telling a story ~ whose? First person point of view doesn't have to be all about me ~ let's explore this versatile, often challenging, viewpoint. n/a

#3770:	June 23, 2010	by Shannon
Mind Your P's and Q's How profiling your protagonist produces quality prose prone to leaving your competition quaking in their Quarks n/a

#3804:	June 16, 2010	by Ben Langhinrichs
Abraham Lincoln's Doctor's Dog Writing about a hodgepodge of popular topics will not make your short story popular. n/a

#3791:	June 09, 2010	by Legerdemaim
Something Unusual Using something unusual to break tension or change the tempo of a story. n/a

#3772:	June 02, 2010	by Kate - Writing & Reading
Show and Tell~every story has a story A story within the story ~ add depth with effective flashbacks or some creative framing to engage your readers n/a

#3703:	May 26, 2010	by Shannon
Tell Me a Tale to Remember How reading the good, the bad, and the ugly makes you a better writer n/a

#3743:	May 19, 2010	by Ben Langhinrichs
What if Harry had been a Girl? Checking your characters, setting and plot by indirect proof. n/a

#3727:	May 12, 2010	by Legerdemaim
Finding your Muse in the Museum Surfing museum websites when you can't visit them physically can be just as rewarding. n/a

#3711:	May 05, 2010	by Storm Machine


#3679:	April 28, 2010	by Shannon
Question If someone asked you about memorable characters, which ones would come to mind? n/a

#3688:	April 21, 2010	by Ben Langhinrichs
Go Ahead, Put the Cart Before the Horse Sometimes research leads us down strange paths. Don't be afraid to follow your leads. n/a

#3672:	April 14, 2010	by Legerdemaim


#3658:	April 07, 2010	by Storm Machine


#3603:	March 31, 2010	by Shannon
Opinion vs. Conviction How do your characters react to adversity? How strongly do they feel their beliefs? n/a

#3635:	March 24, 2010	by Ben Langhinrichs
Proper Manuscript Format Following the guidelines is a must if you want your work published. n/a

#3614:	March 17, 2010	by Legerdemaim


#3597:	March 10, 2010	by Storm Machine


#3543:	March 03, 2010	by Shannon
Creating Believable Characters Dedicated to my autistic grandson, Skyler. n/a

#3577:	February 24, 2010	by Ben Langhinrichs


#3556:	February 17, 2010	by Legerdemaim


#3548:	February 10, 2010	by NanoWriMo2018 Into the Earth


#3497:	February 03, 2010	by Shannon
We the People If anyone should be championing individual freedom of thought and speech, it's us--writers. n/a

#3525:	January 27, 2010	by Ben Langhinrichs


#3510:	January 20, 2010	by Legerdemaim


#3502:	January 13, 2010	by Storm Machine


#3444:	January 06, 2010	by Shannon
Inspiration 101 Life is happening all around you. Be a vulture and steal little bites for your readers to feast upon. n/a

#3466:	December 30, 2009	by Ben Langhinrichs


#3458:	December 23, 2009	by Legerdemaim


#3438:	December 16, 2009	by THANKFUL SONALI Party Hopping!
Ramble or Run? Using Paragraphs to control the pace n/a

#3396:	December 09, 2009	by Shannon
Show Me Your Shorts "The true subject writes itself; it cannot be silenced." ~ Joyce Carol Oates n/a

#3423:	December 02, 2009	by Ben Langhinrichs


#3402:	November 25, 2009	by Legerdemaim


#3383:	November 18, 2009	by Ben Langhinrichs


#3351:	November 11, 2009	by Shannon
UhOhNaNoWriMo! You and only you determine your writing destiny, and you will never be a writer if you don't write. n/a

#3370:	November 04, 2009	by Ben Langhinrichs


#3352:	October 28, 2009	by Legerdemaim


#3342:	October 21, 2009	by Shannon
The Wisdom of Maya Angelou "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." ~ Maya Angelou n/a

#3284:	October 14, 2009	by Shannon
What's Your Motivation? Do you ever stop to wonder why people do the things they do? n/a

#3321:	October 07, 2009	by Ben Langhinrichs


#3300:	September 30, 2009	by Legerdemaim


#3283:	September 23, 2009	by esprit
Encourage, Push, and Prod I believe talent needs to be encouraged, pushed, nurtured and prodded in order to grow. n/a

#3246:	September 16, 2009	by Shannon
The D&D How do your characters affect each other, and more importantly, how do they affect the reader? n/a

#3268:	September 09, 2009	by Ben Langhinrichs


#3248:	September 02, 2009	by Legerdemaim


#3235:	August 26, 2009	by Shannon
King Me! "If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that." ~ Stephen King n/a

#3184:	August 19, 2009	by Shannon
What Do I Care? What compels people to turn the page? n/a

#3214:	August 12, 2009	by Ben Langhinrichs


#3160:	August 05, 2009	by Legerdemaim


#3187:	July 29, 2009	by esprit
Overwriting is a Good Thing Your creativity is working, don't stifle it by forcing perfection too soon. Focus on the story, not the editing. n/a

#3131:	July 22, 2009	by Shannon
The Gift of a Good Book "Easy reading is damn hard writing." ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne n/a

#3138:	July 15, 2009	by esprit
Writing Tips From The Experts We all know writing well is not easy, so tips are always welcome. n/a

#3153:	July 08, 2009	by Legerdemaim


#3140:	July 01, 2009	by Adriana Noir


#3082:	June 24, 2009	by Shannon
What's In Your Toolbox? n/a

#3115:	June 17, 2009	by KimChi
The Rhetoric of Repetition Repetition isn't always bad. As a rhetorical device it can foreshadow the plot or underscore important information. n/a

#3098:	June 10, 2009	by Legerdemaim


#3083:	June 03, 2009	by Just an Ordinary Boo!


#3045:	May 27, 2009	by Shannon
Shape Sorter Surprise n/a

#3063:	May 20, 2009	by KimChi
Emotional Rescue Flat, emotionless prose? Try one of these techniques and you may find the passion was there all along. n/a

#3052:	May 13, 2009	by Legerdemaim


#3032:	May 06, 2009	by Shannon
It's All About the Story n/a

#3019:	April 29, 2009	by Kate - Writing & Reading


#3014:	April 22, 2009	by KimChi
Weather or Not? The one thing you can count on is weather changing. Change is action, and action is never boring. n/a

#3000:	April 15, 2009	by Legerdemaim


#2950:	April 08, 2009	by esprit
How Do I Develop My Own Style? Style is developed, good or bad, in direct ratio to how much time is spent learning the craft of writing. n/a

#2962:	April 01, 2009	by Joy's busy haunting


#2968:	March 25, 2009	by KimChi
Character is King To create "real" characters we must go beyond appearance, to personality, and even further, into psychological makeup. n/a

#2943:	March 18, 2009	by Legerdemaim


#2925:	March 11, 2009	by Vivian


#2915:	March 04, 2009	by iKïyå§amhain


#2912:	February 25, 2009	by KimChi
Dialogue in Action Much harder than it looks, realistic dialogue emulates speech but is not an exact copy of the way we talk. n/a

#2892:	February 18, 2009	by Legerdemaim


#2883:	February 11, 2009	by Vivian


#2869:	February 04, 2009	by Nikola-Spooky Dog Mama


#2860:	January 28, 2009	by KimChi
A Great Start A great opening line unrolls a "Welcome" mat, a door ajar into fire lit walls, a warm rush of apples and cinnamon. n/a

#2838:	January 21, 2009	by Legerdemaim


#2829:	January 14, 2009	by Vivian


#2815:	January 07, 2009	by Kate - Writing & Reading


#2805:	December 31, 2008	by KimChi
A Few of my Favorite Things Use your life. Sanitize it, satirize it, fictionalize it. Teacher and muse lie within your own experiences. n/a

#2773:	December 24, 2008	by Legerdemaim


#2770:	December 17, 2008	by Vivian


#2761:	December 10, 2008	by A Non-Existent User


#2752:	December 03, 2008	by KimChi
Sense and Sensibility Set the Scene Setting is the background that holds not only what you show the reader, but also a heap of implied information. n/a

#2734:	November 26, 2008	by Legerdemaim


#2724:	November 19, 2008	by Vivian


#2710:	November 12, 2008	by Kate - Writing & Reading


#2697:	November 05, 2008	by KimChi
Classic Rock Symbols work subconsciously: the most enduring hold three interpretations: universal, cultural, and personal. n/a

#2684:	October 29, 2008	by Legerdemaim


#2669:	October 22, 2008	by Vivian


#2661:	October 15, 2008	by Kate - Writing & Reading


#2648:	October 08, 2008	by KimChi
Like an Onion Like a cake (or an onion), a short story has layers: plot, setting, characters, conflict-and the creamy icing--theme. n/a

#2635:	October 01, 2008	by Legerdemaim


#2622:	September 24, 2008	by Vivian


#2614:	September 17, 2008	by Kate - Writing & Reading


#2600:	September 10, 2008	by esprit
Writer, Know Thyself. For one heady moment you know you're brilliant and then, with just as much clarity, you know what you do is awful. n/a

#2585:	September 03, 2008	by Legerdemaim


#2563:	August 27, 2008	by Vivian


#2565:	August 20, 2008	by Kate - Writing & Reading


#2554:	August 13, 2008	by Kate - Writing & Reading


#2509:	August 06, 2008	by Legerdemaim


#2531:	July 30, 2008	by Vivian


#2523:	July 23, 2008	by Joy's busy haunting


#2503:	July 16, 2008	by A Non-Existent User


#2485:	July 09, 2008	by Legerdemaim


#2476:	July 02, 2008	by Vivian


#2399:	June 18, 2008	by iKïyå§amhain


#2438:	June 11, 2008	by Legerdemaim


#2424:	June 04, 2008	by Vivian


#2408:	May 21, 2008	by A Non-Existent User


#2387:	May 14, 2008	by Legerdemaim


#2374:	May 07, 2008	by Vivian


#2373:	April 30, 2008	by Joy's busy haunting


#2346:	April 23, 2008	by iKïyå§amhain


#2336:	April 16, 2008	by Legerdemaim


#2320:	April 09, 2008	by Vivian


#2304:	March 26, 2008	by NanoWriMo2018 Into the Earth


#2283:	March 19, 2008	by Legerdemaim


#2272:	March 12, 2008	by Vivian


#2250:	February 27, 2008	by A Non-Existent User


#2229:	February 20, 2008	by Legerdemaim


#2218:	February 13, 2008	by Vivian


#2215:	February 06, 2008	by A Non-Existent User


#2198:	January 30, 2008	by Waltz in the Lonesome October


#2183:	January 23, 2008	by Legerdemaim


#2159:	January 16, 2008	by Vivian


#2165:	January 09, 2008	by Ms Kimmie


#2148:	January 02, 2008	by Waltz in the Lonesome October


#2135:	December 26, 2007	by iKïyå§amhain


#2129:	December 19, 2007	by Ms Kimmie


#2108:	December 12, 2007	by Vivian


#2097:	December 05, 2007	by Legerdemaim


#2087:	November 28, 2007	by A Non-Existent User


#2073:	November 21, 2007	by Waltz in the Lonesome October


#2057:	November 14, 2007	by Vivian


#2048:	November 07, 2007	by Legerdemaim


#2038:	October 31, 2007	by Fyn-dragon


#2018:	October 24, 2007	by Ms Kimmie


#2006:	October 17, 2007	by Vivian


#1994:	October 10, 2007	by Legerdemaim


#1982:	October 03, 2007	by iKïyå§amhain


#1975:	September 26, 2007	by Ms Kimmie


#1950:	September 19, 2007	by Vivian


#1940:	September 12, 2007	by Legerdemaim


#1939:	September 12, 2007	by Legerdemaim


#1930:	September 05, 2007	by iKïyå§amhain


#1913:	August 29, 2007	by Ms Kimmie


#1897:	August 22, 2007	by Vivian


#1889:	August 15, 2007	by Legerdemaim


#1868:	August 08, 2007	by SHERRI GIBSON


#1855:	August 01, 2007	by iKïyå§amhain


#1843:	July 25, 2007	by Vivian


#1837:	July 18, 2007	by Legerdemaim


#1822:	July 11, 2007	by iKïyå§amhain


#1807:	July 04, 2007	by iKïyå§amhain


#1793:	June 27, 2007	by Legerdemaim


#1782:	June 20, 2007	by iKïyå§amhain


#1756:	June 13, 2007	by Vivian


#1748:	June 06, 2007	by A Non-Existent User


#1738:	May 30, 2007	by Legerdemaim


#1731:	May 23, 2007	by Sarah Rae


#1708:	May 16, 2007	by Vivian


#1698:	May 09, 2007	by iKïyå§amhain


#1688:	May 02, 2007	by Legerdemaim


#1668:	April 25, 2007	by SpookyBee


#1647:	April 18, 2007	by Vivian


#1645:	April 11, 2007	by A Non-Existent User


#1635:	April 04, 2007	by Legerdemaim


#1620:	March 28, 2007	by iKïyå§amhain


#1604:	March 21, 2007	by Vivian


#1594:	March 14, 2007	by A Non-Existent User


#1581:	March 07, 2007	by Legerdemaim


#1570:	February 28, 2007	by A Non-Existent User


#1552:	February 21, 2007	by Vivian


#1546:	February 14, 2007	by A Non-Existent User


#1529:	February 07, 2007	by Legerdemaim


#1517:	January 31, 2007	by A Non-Existent User


#1496:	January 24, 2007	by Vivian


#1423:	January 17, 2007	by A Non-Existent User


#1477:	January 10, 2007	by Legerdemaim


#1465:	January 03, 2007	by A Non-Existent User


#1449:	December 27, 2006	by Vivian


#1448:	December 20, 2006	by W.D.Wilcox


#1434:	December 13, 2006	by Mavis Moog


#1413:	December 06, 2006	by Legerdemaim


#1399:	November 29, 2006	by Vivian


#1384:	November 22, 2006	by Vivian


#1371:	November 15, 2006	by Mavis Moog


#1367:	November 08, 2006	by Legerdemaim


#1348:	November 01, 2006	by Vivian


#1342:	October 25, 2006	by Vivian


#1318:	October 18, 2006	by Mavis Moog


#1310:	October 11, 2006	by Legerdemaim


#1297:	October 04, 2006	by Vivian


#1288:	September 27, 2006	by A Non-Existent User


#1267:	September 20, 2006	by Mavis Moog


#1261:	September 13, 2006	by A Non-Existent User


#1240:	September 06, 2006	by Vivian


#1216:	August 23, 2006	by Mavis Moog


#1203:	August 16, 2006	by Legerdemaim


#1191:	August 09, 2006	by Vivian


#1174:	August 02, 2006	by InkyShadows


#1163:	July 26, 2006	by Mavis Moog


#1149:	July 19, 2006	by Legerdemaim


#1140:	July 12, 2006	by Vivian


#1134:	July 05, 2006	by Diane


#1121:	June 28, 2006	by A Non-Existent User


#1106:	June 21, 2006	by Legerdemaim


#1063:	June 14, 2006	by Vivian


#1090:	June 07, 2006	by Diane


#1062:	May 31, 2006	by Mavis Moog


#1053:	May 24, 2006	by Legerdemaim


#1035:	May 17, 2006	by Vivian


#1036:	May 10, 2006	by Diane


#1012:	May 03, 2006	by Mavis Moog


#995:	April 26, 2006	by Legerdemaim


#971:	April 19, 2006	by Vivian


#981:	April 12, 2006	by Diane


#962:	April 05, 2006	by Mavis Moog


#945:	March 29, 2006	by Legerdemaim


#902:	March 22, 2006	by Vivian


#932:	March 15, 2006	by Diane


#914:	March 08, 2006	by Mavis Moog


#891:	March 01, 2006	by Legerdemaim


#841:	February 22, 2006	by Vivian


#887:	February 15, 2006	by Diane


#871:	February 08, 2006	by Mavis Moog


#826:	February 01, 2006	by Legerdemaim


#850:	January 25, 2006	by Red Writing Hood <3


#837:	January 18, 2006	by Diane


#816:	January 11, 2006	by Mavis Moog


#799:	January 04, 2006	by Legerdemaim


#793:	December 28, 2005	by Red Writing Hood <3


#784:	December 21, 2005	by Diane


#761:	December 14, 2005	by Legerdemaim


#750:	December 07, 2005	by Mavis Moog


#746:	November 30, 2005	by Red Writing Hood <3


#737:	November 23, 2005	by Diane


#710:	November 16, 2005	by Legerdemaim


#697:	November 09, 2005	by Mavis Moog


#690:	November 02, 2005	by Red Writing Hood <3


#680:	October 26, 2005	by Diane


#662:	October 19, 2005	by Legerdemaim


#628:	October 12, 2005	by Mavis Moog


#646:	October 05, 2005	by Red Writing Hood <3


#636:	September 28, 2005	by Diane


#624:	September 21, 2005	by Legerdemaim


#605:	September 14, 2005	by Mavis Moog


#600:	September 07, 2005	by Red Writing Hood <3


#588:	August 31, 2005	by Diane


#567:	August 24, 2005	by Legerdemaim


#554:	August 17, 2005	by Mavis Moog


#548:	August 10, 2005	by Red Writing Hood <3


#539:	August 03, 2005	by Diane


#521:	July 27, 2005	by Legerdemaim


#510:	July 20, 2005	by Mavis Moog


#497:	July 13, 2005	by Red Writing Hood <3