Are orphan stories a relic of our grim past, or are orphans just a convenient plot device?
5 poems that could be full-blown novels
Keeping it short and sweet is impressive, but some poems just leave you wanting more!
How Pixar breaks hearts (and you can too)!
Turns out, there's a three step formula that Pixar uses to break hearts. Learn it, then go forth and break hearts like a pro.
5 Oddly Specific Writing Tips
Creative writing classes often reiterate the same lessons, but when you read, you can pick up lessons you'll never hear in a class. These are a few of the lessons I've picked up on...
The Best of the Bestiary: literature’s most popular mythical creatures
Who sees more action, mermaids or vampires? And why do people all over the world believe in dragons? Find out!
How do you feel about pop culture references in books?
Abercrombie. Nickelback. American Idol. Razr. Would you keep reading a book if you encountered these pop culture references in the first chapter? Learn the psychology behind both sides of the argument!
The Master List of 2017 Writers’ Conferences
Are you itching to meet other writers? Snag an agent? Sell some books? My friend, it's time to get yourself to a writers' conference.
11 Sentences I’m Proud Of
A month ago, I talked about why writers dislike their own writing. Today, I'm taking a different tack. I'm sharing some of the sentences that bring me satisfaction when I re-read my manuscript. Since Eleanor is a character-driven novel, I have grouped the sentences by character. Hope you enjoy! About Eleanor 1) She had speaking eyes and a late-blooming … Continue reading 11 Sentences I’m Proud Of
When Habits of Speech Attack!
Thanks to my hometown library's vast collection of eBooks, I've finally started reading books that were written in the twenty-first century! They sound strikingly different from the eighteenth century PDFs that I've been subsisting on since I moved to Brazil, where books written in English are a rare find. Part of that, I know, is … Continue reading When Habits of Speech Attack!
Why do writers dislike their own writing?
Last night, I hit 11,300 words in my new novel. (Asking yourself what happened to Eleanor? See this post). Writing a first draft is always a weird process for me. On one hand, the first draft is probably my most exhilarating draft. It is raw ideas splashed across a page. It is something created from … Continue reading Why do writers dislike their own writing?
M. Miles 