‘Tis the season to write! Today’s post is short but fun. I hope you enjoy this Christmas writing prompt:
The elf on the shelf moved—but you didn’t move it. Something fishy is going on here . . .
Here to learn? You’re in the WRITE place!
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.
Check out the latest articles below or find ones that match your interest in the sidebar.
And make sure to subscribe to get a weekly digest of our latest posts, along with our free guide, 10 Steps to Become a Writer.
Voyage and Return Plot: Is Your Character Going Places?
As we continue to look at Christopher Booker’s 7 basic plots, today we turn to the voyage and return. If you’re trying to tell a story with a journey into strange lands on a fantastic voyage, where normal rules might not apply, you may be working with a voyage and return plot.
Playful Holiday Writing Prompts to Challenge and Inspire You
‘Tis the season of holiday parties, children’s winter concerts, filling our schedules to the brim, visiting with family, eating too much, and drinking more than we should. With all of that going on, it can be difficult to stick to our writing regimen.
When we are tired, inspiration feels like a mirage. We feel as though it is just a little bit ahead of us, but with each step we take, it takes a step away. Writing during the holidays can be tough.
Sometimes, the thing we need to get our juices going is a writing challenge.
The 7 Types of Plots: The Quest Plot
Yeah, like you’re going to see a list of plot types that doesn’t include the Quest. The Quest is a search for a place, item, or person that requires the hero to leave home in order to find it. Sometimes the item is just a MacGuffin to drive the plot along; other times the thing driving the quest is specific to the story’s circumstances. Either way, the hero is leaving home to find whatever the heck the story demands, and we get to come along for the ride.
Our Favorite Books of the Year
We’re coming up to the end of the year, so I’m wondering: what books have you enjoyed the most this year?
I asked that to members of our writing community, and got dozens of amazing book recommendations that I need to add to my reading list. So I thought I would share some of the highlights with you, as well as my own personal favorite books I read in this last year.
But what about you, dear reader? What are your favorite books from 2024?
How to Maximize the Power of Cause and Effect in Your Stories
One reason some stories feel flat is because they are missing the cause and effect story elements that push life (and narratives!) forward. How can you maximize cause and effect in your stories?
The 7 Basic Plots: Rags to Riches
Everyone loves a success story, especially when it results from years of hard work and the protagonist has struggled from the depths of despair. This story type is so beloved, that it is Charles Booker’s second plot type of seven: Rags to Riches.
What is Didactic Literature? Have we Outgrown it?
What do Aesop’s Fables, the Oxford English Dictionary, the Encyclopedia Britannica, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, a science textbook, and an instruction manual have in common?
They are all didactic literature. But what is didactic literature? And is it still relevant? Let’s take a look.
31 December Writing Prompts
December is an opportunity to finish the year strong, to celebrate the year past, and set a new course for the coming year. Try a prompt each day this month and see what you discover!
Writing Masterclass: Best Masterclass Courses for Writers
With so many MasterClass courses available, which ones are worth your time? Here at The Write Practice, we’re attending and reviewing each author’s MasterClass to help you decide whether it’s the class for you.
