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What Is A Short Story? ~ guest post by Geoff Hoff

What is a Short Story? Short stories are a glorious art form. Now that I have that out of the way, let’s start talking about them behind their back.  I’ve been asked on occasion what defines a short story, and what do all short stories have in common.  The answer to that second question may seem flippant, but it is heartfelt.  The only... [Read the rest of this article]

An Essential Book for Writers – How Stories Work

No doubt, every writing instructor has their favorite books to recommend. My own bookshelf of writing related books sags from the weight of books I love. Every one of them holds a significant message for the writer and her craft, but few capture a set of basics as well as Margaret Lucke’s basic how-to for creating compelling stories. Whether... [Read the rest of this article]

The Secrets of Publishing Success – Jane Friedman’s 2009 Tough Love Guide

I believe I’ve mentioned Writer’s Digest/F + W Media Publisher & Editorial Director Jane Friedman’s blog to readers before.  Jane eats, breathes, and focuses almost all her waking hours on the publishing industry.  She attends conferences, talks to agents, meets with authors, teaches classes, reads prolifically.  She’s sitting in a place... [Read the rest of this article]

Video – My FAVORITE Must Have Book for Writers

When it comes to this writing tool, I’m a rabid proponent that EVERY writer MUST have the J.I. Rodale Synonym Finder on his or her bookshelf. You’ll see why when you watch this video. Don’t wait another minute to add this book to your Writer’s Essential Bookshelf. Frankly, I don’t know how anyone writes without a plethora... [Read the rest of this article]

Capture The Season – Fall

The days are getting shorter as summer wanes.  Have you noticed it? I like the new angles the sunlight displays as it moves back northward. Each day is a new day as I open the blind in my office. The sun casts its presence across my desk in significantly different patterns, making every day magical and different. It’s quite inspiring when you notice... [Read the rest of this article]

Use Figurative Language to Add Layers of Art to Your Writing

Patti Stafford’s article A Writer’s Expressions: Word Play and Language Usage offers a reminder and simplification of figurative language terms: - simile - metaphor - personification Using figurative language is like writing poetry.  It’s not always something that flows out easily, but takes time to imagine the images.  Use... [Read the rest of this article]

Do You Know How to Use Online Video Yet

85 Million People Can’t Be Wrong! Imagine this: If you had a video posted on YouTube last month, your potential audience was 85 Million viewers! Online Video is hot right now and it’s only getting hotter. YouTube is now the 4th most visited site on the Internet, and the 2nd most popular search engine behind Google. Several months ago, I realized... [Read the rest of this article]

Video Post – Writer’s Essential Bookshelf

How old is your dictionary? Do you even HAVE a good dictionary? Is it the one you used in college or before? Make sure you have up-to-date writing resources on your Writer’s Essential Bookshelf. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Video Post – Writer’s Essential Bookshelf", url: "http://www.yourwritelife.com/books/video-post-essential-bookshelf-dictionary/"... [Read the rest of this article]

Frank McCourt, A Teacher’s Brush with The Teacher Man

Frank McCourt in 2007 at Housing Works bookstore in New York City (photo courtesy David Shankbone) Things are a little grayer all over the world today with the passing of author Frank McCourt, on Sunday, July 19, 2009.  Angela’s Ashes, published in 1996, and the first in a series of memoirs written by McCourt, probably did more than anything in the... [Read the rest of this article]

Essential Writing Tool: DBNF

Here’s another writing tool I use all the time.  I borrowed this idea from my days as a time management consultant when I used the DBNF file for prospects who weren’t quite ready to buy. The DBNF file is the perfect solution for those times when you need to kill your lil darlings (you know… those wonderful passages of prose that... [Read the rest of this article]

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