The blank page
Basic advice and things to get aspiring writers started.
Valentine’s Writing Exercise
Love Haiku
In the 17 syllables of a haiku, tell us why your Valentine is so very special. Or why you’re so right in being anti-Valentine.
In case you’re in need of a prompt, a haiku is a Japanese poem with three short lines of five, seven, and five syllables.
Matsuo Basho is said to have been a [...]
Seeking Inspiration
The muse is a myth. In her classical guise, she is nothing more than a comforting tale for the creatively bereft. There are no ladies, high on the crystal waters of the Castalian spring, waiting to allay your writerly angst as they gaze down upon you from Mount Parnassus with their flutes, gentle, sacred song, [...]
Starting Out
A good place to start is to decide where you want to write. Find a place – and attire, if necessary – that inspires or just gives you a little space to think. Think about how you want to write. Some people work to a strict routine – office hours, say, or a page/paragraph/sentence/word/ syllable [...]
Why You Write
Why You Write
Writing at its best seduces. This is your aim: to take the reader into the world of your making and convince them to stay. The urge to write begins with enticement and so should the urge to read. You got into writing for all manner of reasons: love, ego, boredom, money, fame. What [...]
