At The Write Practice, we publish a new article each day designed to help writers tackle one part of their writing journey, from generating ideas to grammar to writing and publishing your first book. Each article has a short practice exercise at the end to help you immediately put your learning to use.
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I love quotes. I love short one or two sentence snippets that give me that itch to sit down and type something great. Going through Pinterest boards full of creative pictures paired with that quote can give me the boost I need to get on with my day and make something. But there are three in particular I always go back to when I’m feeling stuck.
Short stories are a great way to hone your craft and snag bylines from literary magazines (and hey, they’re also a ton of fun to write). Even better, they can help you build your readership—assuming they’re written well.
But alas, as the editor of a short story website, I see a number of common mistakes over and over again, even from authors with great fundamentals. Worse than just errors in craft, these mistakes betray readers’ trust and investment in your story.
By Elizabeth Cooper I wake to the loud bang of gunfire. Jumping instinctively out of bed, ducking low across the hardwood floor. I peer slowly over the heating vent down to the street three stories below. The shooting seems to have stopped for now, I hear the rustling...
By Tina Seward Larry Hartford hadn’t been in class for a week, he had a test in two days, and he needed someone’s notes, fast. He opened the door to Room 214, Dr. Charles Deffenbaugh’s Introduction to Archaeology class. No matter how early Larry came, the dark-haired...
By K.M. Updike I stare at the picture of Flash and Mom, sitting outside by the mail box on our street. It’s spring time, and Mom’s lilac bushes are in bloom. I can smell their fragrance even from the black and white photograph. For moment I forget there’s a...
One would-be writer asked me recently, “How do you stick with your writing plans for more than a week?” It’s a great question, and one that I asked myself for about a decade as I slowly made my way from wannabe writer to full-time writer.
How do you write consistently? Even when you’re busy? Even when you lose your motivation to write?
By Michelle Chalkey Her stomach uneasy, Tess's nerves were in full force when she walked through the doors of University High School. The gut-wrenching feeling was still fresh from her first day at Woodland High just four months ago, but she hadn't been the only new...
By Emily H. Jeffries Whenever I am sent, the angels say, “Would you like any help, Francis?” But if the angels come, I don’t get to know the animal as well as I’d like; and I never get to say goodbye. I suppose it’s because they are angels, and I am a man, but I do...
By Susanna Loosier Thirty-seven steps. Maggie counted thirty-seven steps from her parking spot to the door of the grocery store. Odd numbers gave her anxiety, but she was about to be in her happy place so she shook it off. A long time ago Maggie decided to stop...
By Hubert Du A Chinese saying goes like this,” If not fated, you are strangers when you meet. If fated, a thousand li is not too far to travel.” “Hi Phoenix, you sound depressed,” Henry messaged on BosomPal. “Are you OK? We have our own will to decide our own life.”...
