Writing Tips
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Newest Articles
Negative Capability: What It Is and How to Access It
What is “negative capability”? In brief, when we as writers or artists are able to allow complexities and uncertainties in our work—without trying to resolve them—we are expressing negative capability. This phrase, famously associated with the poet John Keats (and Keats’s own admiration for William Shakespeare), can unlock for writers new ways of thinking about…
What is Free Writing? + Prompts to Elevate Your Writing Process
If you’re trying to write but can’t get the words flowing, free writing can jumpstart the writing process. Free writing is a no-pressure method of simply getting words on the page: similar to stream-of-consciousness, the writer simply lets their pen flow with whatever thoughts arise in the mind. It might seem silly to just write…
How to Write a Podcast Script: A Step-by-Step Guide
Want more advice on how to write a podcast script? Check out Cara Stevens’ Zoom webinar How to Start a Podcast. Cara J. Stevens is an author, editor, podcaster and book coach. She has written more than 80 books for young readers based on video games, pop-culture trends, and beloved characters including Pokémon Go, Terraria, and…
From Our Instructors
How to Write a Podcast Script: A Step-by-Step Guide
Want more advice on how to write a podcast script? Check out Cara Stevens’ Zoom webinar How to Start a Podcast. Cara J. Stevens is an author, editor, podcaster and book coach. She has written more than 80 books for young readers based on video games, pop-culture trends, and beloved characters including Pokémon Go, Terraria, and…
Writing About Real People
Sneak Peek: This essay is excerpted from some of the materials I’ll be sharing in my class, “The Body and Soul of Your Memoir: Shape, Focus, and Write Your Memoir” at Writers.com starting June 4. When my memoir, The Sky Begins At Your Feet: A Memoir on Cancer, Community and Coming Home to the Body,…
The 35 Best Gifts for Writers in Your Life
Professional authors chime in on gift ideas for writers—both during the holidays and any time of year. If you’re looking for the best gifts for writers in your life, look no further. There are lots of great gifts for creative writers—you just need to get in a writer’s head. With the help of some lovely…
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Writing Prompts
Jump-start your creativity with our writing prompts. Check back regularly for new prompts!
The Monster
Write about a monster, but don’t use the word “monster.” What makes it a monster? How do you represent monstrosity without naming it?
Child’s Eye
Write from the eyes of a child. How do they experience the world differently? What about the world is surprising, unfamiliar, or larger than life?
Hope
Write about the feeling of hope, but use the word “hope” is little as possible. Explain what hope means to you through concrete images, characters, and figurative devices.
