writing

Inspired by a conversation with a friend of mine, your April challenge is to complete the following to create One Perfect Sentence: The split second before I hit . . . The rules are simple: Each entry must be ONE sentence only, as defined by the basic rules of English grammar. We will...

I am in awe of writers who casually pause and paint in a new character, detailed and without breaking the 3rd wall in the story. This is maybe slightly easier in first person, but 3rd person! It feels like I'm turning to the camera and addressing the audience. But I need to learn this skill...

https://www.writing.ie/writing-comps/free-flash-fiction-competition-27/

“There’s a kind of ear music … a rhythmic synchronicity which creates a kind of heartbeat on the page.” Allan Gurganus

I was trying to come up with a way of thinking about (too much) well meaning but not always on point feedback. Especially prevalent when you submit to a competition and the poor readers have to come up with something to say in their feedback... A quiver of bromides Proposed definition...

“When you want to move readers excitedly along, keep your sentences short and crisp. If you’re describing a languid trip down a lazy river, however, allow your sentence lengths to match that slower pace.” David A. Fryxell

March Challenge: Write One Perfect Sentence on the theme of "Marching". Thank you for your entries! Now it is time to vote! How to vote: Click on the ^ arrow to the right of the entry you wish to vote for. (Don't click twice or you delete your vote). You can vote for as many entries as you...

Hello everyone! I recently rejoined Litopia after a twenty-year break. I first became a member in 2005 and was active until 2009. No, I didn't go to prison; I got married, had a child, and became very focused on work and life in general. Writing has always been my passion, and now that I've...

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/mar/12/chatgpt-firm-reveals-ai-model-that-is-good-at-creative-writing-sam-altman

As for my writing process, there is one truth I have discovered after writing some twenty-plus books: Not every book is the same, but the middle of every book is where I really begin to question my choice of vocations. The beginning and end is usually fairly clear to me, but that middle just...

So, I've been reading a lot of Indie books recently... And by 'reading a lot of indie books' I mean reading the free samples on Amazon, and I am somewhat perturbed. Now, i am not the most confident of people. I lack a self confidence in my writing and general life that many seem to have in...

https://stockholmwritersfestival.com/enter-first-5-pages-prize-2025

Deciding to write a book, it never feels like a great idea. It’s always like knowingly entering a bad marriage. If you had any sense, you wouldn’t do it, but you know you’re going to do it. Percival Everett

https://www.craftliterary.com/craft-novelette-print-prize-2025/

What do you guys think of Writer's of the Future? Did anyone submit here and get anywhere? I'm thinking of writing a short story for the next cycle....

VAL MCDERMID JUDGES THE 2ND "CRIMEBITS" PRIZE FOR BEST OPENING TO A CRIME BOOK Ends on Thu, Mar 13, 2025 11:59 PM MAKE YOUR FIRST PAGE COUNT... Building on the successful book CRIMEBITS selected and introduced and judged by LEE CHILD, published as a paperback in the UK and USA November 1...

New blog post by Katie-Ellen Hazeldine The Stories in Our Stars: The Zodiac for Writers We are now in Pisces Season. But what are its stars, what’s the ancient story behind it all, and what does it mean for writers? Time to go fishing with Pisces. Traditional Associations...

I am not a poet, but I had a thought. So, if I may: What passes as presence is really clicks, neverending. What passes as content is merely echoes, reorganized. What passes as writing is merely content, masquerading.

New blog post by Claire G What Came First, the Chicken or the Egg? Bear With Me! Okay, this is probably a weird analogy but this is how my (bird-brained!) mind works. So, in terms of the title question, I’ve thought long and hard about this and, with my limited scientific knowledge, I’ve...

I really connected with this teaching of writing: