I celebrated the spring equinox yesterday while light snow fell (not at all sarcastically). It’s spring in northeastern Ontario. What else should I expect?
However you greeted spring, celebrate with some informal writerly learnings!

Kelsey Allagood says, for better creativity, spring clean your brain. Then, Marcie Geffner explains why we don’t need “heroines.” Desmond Hall is tunnelling into POV and perspective in this month’s Desmond’s Drops. Next, Julie Gerstenblatt considers the fabric of language, or what to wear on book tour. Writer Unboxed
How to condense your novel. Shaelin Writes
Jeanette the Writer explains how to find a book editor. Then, Tammy Lough helps you get noticed on social media. Whitney Cubbison is becoming a writer after spending a career writing. DIY MFA
The most powerful art you’ll ever make. Tale Foundry
Lori Freeland discusses piecing together the perfect scene. Then, Joseph R. Lallo is getting unstuck/finding a new rut. Eldred Bird shows you how to distinguish between history vs. legend when writing about the past. Writers in the Storm
The pitfalls of friendship – The Banshees of Innisherin. The Take
Oliver Fox shows you how to write horror. Helping Writers Become Authors
Nicki Howell explains why fear is a terrible friend…and how to crush it. Live, Write, Thrive
Roz Morris: once more with feeling – some notes about description. Nail Your Novel
2022-2023 Munro Beattie Lecture with Waubgeshig Rice: Anishnaabe history and writing the future. Carleton University Department of English
Joanna Penn offers some writing tips on setting and sense of place. The Creative Penn
Daphne Gray-Grant shows you how to survive editing. Then, Adriana Barton explains how to write a hybrid memoir. Tiffany Yates Martin discusses picking a point of view for your story. Jane Friedman
Jami Gold is making a long story about character arcs short. Writers Helping Writers
Over on her own site, Jami wonders, can short stories still have character arcs?
Nathan Bransford explains how to self-edit your novel.
This story will crush your hopes and dreams. Tale Foundry
September C. Fawkes shares five keys to a satisfying denouement. My Story Doctor
Rayne Hall explains how to write a short story spinoff from your novel. Fiction University
Writing lessons I wish I’d learned earlier (AKA how to stop worrying). Shaelin Writes
Tiffany Yates Martin says, do less than your best. Fox Print Editorial
Chris Winkle says Wolf Pack is about werewolves with nothing to do. Then, Oren Ashkenazi analyzes six stories with poorly designed factions. Mythcreants
Jonathan Migneault: reflections on the INCO superstack. Why is this in tipsday? Because the Sudbury Writers’ Guild is asking for submissions to their new stack anthology 🙂 CBC
Jan Grue considers the disabled villain and why sensitivity readers can’t kill off this ugly trope. The Guardian
Thank you for spending some time with me. I hope you found something to support your current work(s) in progress.
Until Thursday, keep staying safe and well!
Lots of great ideas from these sources. I read the article by Rayne Hall at Fiction University last week, which motivated me to write a prequel to my novel, The Garden of Second Chances. When I finish revising, I’ll use it on my website.
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