One fascinating thing about both observing people and creating characters is the wide variety of ways that they can look at the world. Some people are realists, some pessimists, some hopelessly...

5***** Stars Urbex Hotel, originally uploaded by Batram. This urban, burnt-out setting is certainly evocative; there are a lot stories that could have taken place in this photograph. What do YOU...

Do you operate in a social community that's filled with writers like yourself? Sometimes I envy the kinds of people who are surrounded by literary friends, and sometimes I'm very glad that I've...

As I mentioned before, I'm hard at work on a very long short story that will hopefully include many elements combined of past stories. I want this story to have a strong backbone and a rich level of depth, so I'm doing a little more work than I usua...

Reading a classic short story can be immensely helpful for cultivating tone, mood, and syntax. On top of these details, though, I find that my sense of a story's structure has come less from trial and error and more from noticing the structure of...

It's time for your regular tour through the archives. Take a look at a few posts from roughly one year ago: What Makes You Really Angry? Stewing In Your Own Juice Why Self-Publishing is a Bad Idea What is it Really Like to Be a...

There are books out there that I love, and among those I can make divisions. Some I love for the story, characters, or ideas. Others I love purely for their stunning prose. As a writer, I think it's important to find which prose I love and wish I...

Sometimes you start work on a story and plunge your heart and soul into it. You put your tears and sweat into this story, and when things seem to get tough you keep tinkering and re-tinkering with it, trying to figure out a way to make it work. It's...

Happy Halloween, writers! I hope you're having a good time and are busily planning costumes, parties, and candy. I must say it's one of my favorite holidays, both for the sense of fun and the gorgeous fall foliage. In honor of the day, I'd like to...

Golden Gate Lights, originally uploaded by Wiggum03. It's wonderful when a photograph or a piece of writing can make the familiar seem abruptly otherworldly and new. This gorgeous image of the golden gate bridge makes it seem like we're looking at...