By Tina Ollenburg (Network) April is National Poetry Month! Within the WNBA, we have a number of amazing poets, and we wanted to shine a light on their work, as well as their experiences with writing and reading poetry. Linda Vigen Phillips (Charlotte) Linda is passionate about poetry and realistic fiction. She is the […]
The Miracle of the Book Outline
When you sit down to write, do you ever feel lost and like you don’t know what you want to say or where you want things to go? Have you ever gotten halfway through a chapter or a book, you stop and you read what you’ve written, and it doesn’t make sense? A book outline can help you. And Melissa Kirk, WNBA-San Francisco, is here to help you create one!
Writing about Love and Family Dynamics
Writers write for many reasons. Holly Hughes (WNBA-Charlotte) writes about love and family dynamics because she is compelled to. Through her art, she has helped herself heal and hopes to help others.
Master the Comma: Why It’s Important for Writers
How many commas did you use in your last piece of writing? Do you think you used too many or too few? Maybe you don’t have a clue. Maybe you hate them, maybe you love them, but do you know why it’s important to use them? Editor and Charlotte member Nicole Ayers explains why mastering the comma matters.
How to Organize Your Nonfiction Book
Have a great idea? Have a novel approach? Then do your book a favor and organize your nonfiction book before you begin writing.
Reading and Writing Stories Can Help Cure Your Anxiety
Life presents us with many challenges. Once we get through them, we can be left with anxiety, fear, and pain. Network member Emily Davis learned that stories have the power to teach us, free us, and heal us.
Rejection: The Writer’s Constant Curse and Companion
The first of what will probably be a torrent of rejections arrived today, beginning with the inevitable, “Thank you for . . . .” Unlike some rejections I have gotten in the past and will surely receive this time, this one was curt, only two crisp sentences. It was cold, as if my query left […]
Are You Thinking about Entering a Writing Contest?
If you are thinking about entering a writing contest, google “writing contests.” Dozens of links will pop up. When you click on the links, hundreds of contests emerge. Even when you specify a genre such as “short story,” “poetry,” or “memoirs,” you will find so many links that it seems almost impossible to wade through […]
My Best Writing Time: Hiking Fuels My Creativity
When is your best writing time? What sparks your creativity? Cassandra Dunn (WNBA-Network) finds that she does her best brainstorming when she is hiking.
Using Magical Realism in Short Fiction
Award-winning author Patty Somlo (WNBA-San Francisco) explores how using magical elements emphasizes reality. She also shares why short fiction and magical realism work well together.