» A Guest Author

Small Press versus Big House: How Does a Thoughtful, Ambitious Author Decide?

By JoAnneh Nagler I remember the week it happened. I was writing my first book, was two-thirds of the way through it, and I suddenly lost my nerve. Or, more accurately, I got angry—pissed off, actually. I had the suddenly-occurring realization that I could spend all this time writing my beloved book, and it was…

Issue Four Hundred Forty Two

Bringing Your Characters to Life Through the “Five Whys”

By Sarina Byron Writing is a skill that brings all of life together. It is a skill where we pour all of our experiences, observations, hopes and beliefs into creating a story and characters that we hope will outlive us. We can all conjure up an imaginary person but how do we bring that imaginary…

Issue Four Hundred Forty One

Case Study: How Claudette on the Keys Got Published

By Joanne Culley The story I’d been working on had gone through multiple evolutions, from a strictly factual account, to a blend of fact and fiction, until it had reached the point where I was calling it a novel. The story was loosely based on the lives of my grandparents, a two-piano four-hands team who…

Case Studies Issue Four Hundred Forty

Making the Jump: Transitioning to Writing for Children

By Rumbidzai Whena They say no matter how grown up we are, we will always be kids inside. So when I was offered a book contract for writing children’s books, it seemed easy; all I had to do was reach inside and think like my inner kid, right? Wrong. Staring at a blank screen made…

Issue Four Hundred Forty Eight Special Feature

How to Choose Publications for Your Poetry

By Trish Hopkinson You’ve written and revised your poetry and now you have some finished work you’d like to share with an audience. To help yourself focus on the types of markets you’d like to be published in, ask yourself what’s most important to you. Consider the following and rate each by importance. If they…

Issue Four Hundred Thirty Nine

Three Fellowships With October and November Deadlines

By Hassan Muhammad These three international fellowships are closing to submissions soon. The details are as given on their websites. AKADEMIE SCHLOSS SOLITUDE RESIDENTIAL FELLOWSHIP 2022/2023 International artists, writers, scientists, scholars, and business representatives are invited to apply in the following seven spheres: VISUAL (Visual arts and media): AURAL & PHYSICAL (Music and performing arts)…

Issue Four Hundred Thirty Nine

How to Start a Writing Podcast

By Aliya Hall Creating a podcast is one more tool authors can utilize to get their name out there, find an audience, and promote their work. Although there are many writing and fiction podcasts available already, you will still offer listeners a unique perspective — especially when you find your niche in the market. Writing-related…

Issue Four Hundred Thirty Eight Special Feature

Add spice to your writing with metaphors!

By Mina Vora If you have read Shakespeare or Dickens, you may have come across the metaphor; ‘as dead as a doornail.’ By and large, door nails are neither alive nor dead, unless you are caught in a mystical realm of elves and gnomes. But you have to agree, the metaphor evokes ideas in the…

Issue Four Hundred Thirty Seven

Creative Writing Scholarships for BIPOC Writers

By NmaHassan Muhammad The following four scholarships are open to writers who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC). The final scholarship opportunity is also open to LGBTQ+, neurodiverse writers, and writers with disabilities. All the information below is as detailed on the scholarship websites. Gotham Writers’ BIPOC Scholarship 2021 The Gotham Creative Writing…

Issue Four Hundred Thirty Seven

9 Spooky Places to Submit Your Writing this October

— By Kallie Falandays If you’re like us, the chill air has you reaching for the spookiest books on the shelf. And as the pumpkins, skeletons, and ghouls make their way out this October, you may even find them creeping into your own poems. We may not be able to gather round the fire for…

Issue Four Hundred Thirty Six Special Feature

5 Benefits of Joining a Writers’ Group and 6 Considerations When Selecting One

by Robert Villanueva Joining a writers’ group might be intimidating and finding the right one can take a little effort, but the benefits of doing so can be worth it. As founder/facilitator of The Bard’s Corner Writers’ Group in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, I have witnessed members, including myself, reap these benefits firsthand. Here are five benefits…

Issue Four Hundred Forty Seven

The Problem With Inspiration (And What to Do About It)

By Karen Hanson Stuyck Every writer knows that exhilarating moment when inspiration hits. Aha! Eureka! All those unconnected thoughts at last are woven together into a cogent—quite possibly brilliant—narrative. You dash to your computer or the closest piece of paper to capture the flood of words. After so many unsuccessful attempts, the story seems…

Issue Four Hundred Thirty Five

How to Successfully Encourage Preorders

By Aliya Hall Preorders are an integral part of the publishing process, whether you’re publishing traditionally or indie. That said, it can be a challenge to encourage readers to order your book early instead of waiting until after its release. Preorder incentives are one way to not only draw more hype around your book, but…

Issue Four Hundred Thirty Four Special Feature Uncategorized

Easy Character Creation Through 25 Core Elements

Sarina Byron Have you ever discarded manuscript after manuscript owing to a lack of that special something? Everything you write seems to be missing that special zest, that soul and you don’t know what it might be. Well, let me assure you that you are not alone. Every writer has gone through this and there…

Issue Four Hundred Thirty Three Special Feature

The Creative Unconscious in Writing

— By Clive Matson In her presentation of books for writers, Van Baalen’s choices suggest spells, enlightenment, nefarious doings, and lighthearted play. What would you think of “Cozy Mysteries,” “Steal Like an Artist,” “Beyond Fear,” “Bird by Bird,” and “Bones”? Adult versions of Dungeons and Dragons? These books deal with magic. The ones I most…

Issue Four Hundred Thirty Two

Articles by A Guest Author