This week’s batch of informal writerly learnings is loaded with writerly goodness 🙂
Stephanie Bwa Bwa shows you how to grow your email list (and your influence). Later in the week, Helena Hunting is finding work-life balance as a full-time author. Then, Brian Leung shares five tips for finding the kind genius writer in your mad genius writer. DIY MFA
Tim Hickson reveals the true ending of Lord of the Rings. Hello, Future Me
Janice Hardy explains how narrative distance affects telling: how far is too far? Then, Dario Ciriello waxes on the importance of commas, meter, and reading aloud for the fiction writer (with help from Cordia Pearson). Fiction University
Jill Bearup takes issue with The Guardian’s list of the top 20 duels.
Tiffany Yates Martin explains why you can’t stop thinking about “Bad Art Friend.” Then, Jim Dempsey is telling the truth in fiction. Kathleen McCleary: when you’re the passive protagonist of your own writing life. Then, Kathryn Craft wants you to make your big issue work through story (part 1). Anne Brown: spiders, snakes, public speaking, and querying agents. Later in the week, Kelsey Allagood explains why you should tackle that ambitious dream project now. Writer Unboxed
Shaelin tells you everything you need to know about publishing your short fiction. Reedsy
K.M. Weiland introduces us to the archetypal antagonists of the mage arc: evil and the weakness of humankind. Helping Writers Become Authors
Sarah Tinsley shares seven ways to create an empathetic antagonist. Live, Write, Thrive
Lori Freeland helps you figure out whether to comma, or not to comma (part 1). Then Piper Bayard lets us peek through a window into the top four organizations (writing spies). Lynette M. Burrows wants you to discover your writing strengths (and weaknesses). Writers in the Storm
On her own channel, Shaelin helps you handle rejection. Shaelin Writes
Angela Ackerman asks: who’s standing in your character’s way? Jane Friedman
Nathan explains how to make your novel un-put-down-able. Then, Christine Pride shares what she learned about writing from being an editor. Nathan Bransford
Piper Bayard shows you how to write the good fight. Then, she provides a writer’s guide to knowing your weapon. Kristen Lamb
The anti-Disney messaging of … Disney movies. The Take
Chris Winkle explains how to create a mysterious atmosphere. Then, Oren Ashkenazi analyzes six magic powers that writers had to ignore. Mythcreants
Kristin Nelson makes the case that content creators deserve a larger slice of the earnings pie. Pub Rants
Maria Tatar discusses her new book Heroine with a 1,001 Faces with Moira Weigel. Harvard Book Store
Wab Kinew reflects on Canada Reads and the meaning of reconciliation. CBC Books
Three northern Ontario writers in the running for the Governor General’s Awards. CBC
Thank you for taking the time to stop by, and I hope you found something to support your current work in progress.
Until Thursday, be well and stay safe!
Always Looking Up 