By Isabella Maldonado As a writer, I often find myself navigating the delicate balance between logical complexity and emotional depth. My stories are filled with intricate codes, riddles, and mysteries, while also delving into deeply emotional themes of betrayal, redemption, and resilience. To...
ZJ Czupor's On Tour with Dead Writers brings us clues to a mystery author each second Tuesday of the month. Dust off your investigative skills and send your answer to mysteryminutecontest@gmail.com by the 20th of the month. You may not know this author's name, but you'll certainly recognize his...
By Lisa Black As an experimental time-saver, I asked ChatGTP to write me a 500 word blog on ‘the five favorite villains from books.’ I didn’t specify whose favorites or give any other instructions. Minus its flowery prose and possibly speciesist comment on how ‘true evil is not always found in the...
By Alex Kava Most fiction writers sprinkle in real-life bits and pieces. Sometimes it’s from our own experiences. We might use locales we know. Throw in landmarks and even have our characters stop by our favorite café or coffee shop. It gives our fiction a sense of authenticity. And if we’re...
By Isabella Maldonado Ah, the elusive flow state—that magical realm where words pour out like a perfectly brewed cup of coffee, smooth and invigorating. It's the writer's equivalent of a unicorn: often discussed, rarely seen, and when you do catch a glimpse, it's nothing short of enchanting. If...
By Alex Kava Mark Twain’s private writing study as it is today, relocatedon Elmira College’s campus in New York. Ask full-time writers where they write—not how or when, but where—and many will name a specific place that’s unique to us. That place might be a local coffee shop or a favorite...
Dispatches from the Desk By Tracy Clark I’ve heard stories of writers stopping two-thirds into a novel and shredding the whole thing because they weren’t happy with what they’d written. I’ve heard stories of writers who have finished an entire book, submitted it, and then asking their editor to...
By Alex Kava Writing a novel is a solitary endeavor, but sometimes it helps to hear how other authors deal with the same challenges. Plus, we all could use a little inspiration once in a while. Here are five of my favorite podcasts offering conversations, information and a whole lot of...
By Tracy Clark I just checked my latest manuscript for Pepper. I’m good! Remember the old ‘70s TV show Police Woman? It starred Angie Dickinson as Det. Pepper Anderson? I do. In fact, I remember it every time I sit down to write, because there are some things I have to remember not to do, thanks...
By Jessica Thompson When reading a book, watching a movie, listening to a story, or even playing a game, most people focus on the characters or plot, but the third big ingredient is your setting. What is the setting? Google says it is the place or type of surroundings where something is positioned...
