Articles Index

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For November, we have a writing exercise on setting, from Caren Gussoff, writing for the Gotham Writers' Workshop's Writing Fiction book. We'll start by studying the opening scene from a classic novel.

Apparitions

For the October challenge, we're borrowing a first line from a story in Lord Halifax's Ghost Book as the writing prompt. Read more and then take the challenge.

September Writing Challenge

For September, we have a writing exercise suggested by a reader named Orven. It involves writing an autobiographical scene, from a perspective other than your own.

One-Syllable Words

A creative writing teacher named Daisee sent in this writing exercise, which she learned from one of her students.

Newshound

A writing teacher named Daisee suggested this story starter, in which writers use an odd news headline as the basis for a short story.

Story Starter: One Good Line

This story starter submitted by creative writing teacher Daisee is composed of only one line, but it's chock-full of potential.

The Blizzard

Writer Marian Greeson submitted this sample response to the "Whole Bloody Business" story starter. Read her approach to the story starter, and then submit your own.

First Line Story Starters

Often all you need is the first line to fill a page. These story starters, meant as opening phrases, were offered by readers as their favorite story starters.

May 2010 Writing Exercise

May's writing exercise comes from John Gardner's classic book on writing, The Art of Fiction, and offers the chance to work on description, and to experiment with how description alone can reveal a character's state of mind.

Things Lost and Found Creative Writing Prompts

These creative writing prompts encourage you to delve into two of the most fertile topics for writing. Spend some time writing today -- it only takes a few minutes to get started.

Targeted Description

In fiction, description should not only paint a scene for the reader, but also contribute to the plot and reveal something about character. Study these examples to learn how.

A Writing Exercise for Finding the Drama in Daily Life

Alix Ohlin uses this creative writing exercise, set in a mattress store, to help her students find the drama in everyday life.

February 2010 Creative Writing Prompt:

For February's creative writing challenge, we return to comparatively longer fiction, with this Valentine's Day writing prompt.

"The Blues" Creative Writing Prompt

In a structured writing session, move from brainstorming to freewriting to writing. (For this creative writing prompt, you may want a little music playing in the background for added inspiration.)

Stephenie Meyer & Characterization

While some readers criticize Bella for being too vanilla, there are things that Stephenie Meyer does well in building character. What can we learn about characterization through Meyer's work?

Young Adult Literature and Stephenie Meyer

Though many writers dismiss young adult literature, the success of the Twilight series testifies to the fact that young people buy books.

Stephenie Meyer & Plot

Stephenie Meyer does a great job of hooking the reader. Even her critics admit that the Twilight books are page turners. How does she do this? What can we learn about plot as we read her books?

November 2009 Writing Prompt

For this month, we have an exercise in compression, both of language and of time, based on a story by Abigail Thomas.

Why I Stole It

This month's creative writing prompt focuses on character development, and specifically on creating active characters. Use it to get to know an existing character, or to invent an entirely new one.

Writing Group Structure

After finding fellow writers for your group, the next step, of course, is to decide on a time and a meeting place.

Find Writers for Your Writing Group

A writing group can help writers produce work, revise their writing, and maintain motivation, but how do you find the right people? A number of writers share what worked for them.

Writing Group Rules

Goals and ground rules help make a writing group successful. Are you meeting to workshop, to create new work, or both? Once you're clear about why you're meeting, the structure for the sessions will naturally follow.

Specificity and Description

"Vagueness is often our first impulse when we're getting things down," writes Chris Lombardi, but it's specificity that gives our descriptions power. Learn how to be more specific with an example from The Shipping News.

Turn Clichés into Brilliant Description

In your first draft, use as many clichés as you need to, just get the story down. In your revision, however, treat every single cliché as an opportunity for brilliance. Ask yourself how you can describe this in an entirely new way.

Asking Questions to Improve Descriptions

To access the sensory details that will make your descriptions effective, ask yourself questions. The more naive the better. See how with this example.