Sending Out Your Short Story: The Nitty Gritty (including stuff people don’t normally tell you)
Short stories can be very challenging to write—specifically, they’re hard to do well (it’s fairly easy to write a so-so story), but creating a powerful short story is one of the most exhilarating creative experiences I’ve ever known. And publishing stories can be rewarding. For many writers, building a resume with story publications is just about the only way to get the attention of a literary agent.
Surviving the Second Act: How to Make it though the long Middle of a novel or Memoir
Every summer, I teach a class called “Finishing Your Book,” which is built upon on my awareness that people tend to struggle to survive the second acts of their books. I’ve been there. The first 40-50 pages is a hoot. No outline required! You’re just having fun, building voice, characters, story-elements, and everything is a delight.
Best 2024 California Writing Conferences
Learn about 15+ writing conferences, writing retreats, and literary festivals where you can learn to become a better writer, meet agents and get your book published.
What to do when Craft Ruins the Fun of Writing
I’ve had countless students show up in my classes eager to learn some writing craft. They’ve been writing for a while without any classes, and they’ve been having fun, but they’ve hit a wall. It’s starting to become clear that they don’t know what they don’t know.
Writing Organizations, Writing Guilds, and Writing Associations: U.S. West
Learn about writing organizations and centers in your state if you live in the U.S. West, including California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, and Colorado.
30+ Best Holiday Gifts for Writers in 2023
Here are my favorite gifts for writers in your life—or if you’re a writer and want to ask for a gift from others. I’ve tested most of these for helpfulness and usefulness. You’ll find affordable gifts for writers, and gifts that are more of a splurge.
30 Personal Essay Prompts
Why are personal essay prompts often so . . . blah? I’ve sometimes found myself scouring the internet trying to find something valuable in the way of a prompt, maybe to share with students, and been disappointed by the results. But after a deep dive into some…
What is a Memoir Essay?
The term “memoir essay” is used to describe something akin to a personal essay. Definitions bleed every direction, but I tend to think of a memoir essay as decidedly NOT like an op-ed, and definitely not a reported personal essay. It’s a pure narrative from the author’s life.
Nine Types of Personal Essays
What’s a personal essay? It depends on who you ask. Here, I’ll discuss essays intended for publication and sharing with an adult audience. Not college essays, but types of personal essays typically found in magazines, newspapers, and literary journals.
Best Online Personal Essay Classes of 2024
These online personal essay classes allow you to learn the technical tools and skills for sharing your life’s experiences and stories with a wider audience. I love teaching personal essay classes, and I’m always surprised that there aren’t more essay classes out there—so many people have wonderful stories that deserve publication.