By Kelley J. P. Lindberg A lot of non-writers assume writers are born with the fully formed, innate ability to evoke atmosphere from a few well-chosen details, depict a character’s growth arc without unnecessary tangents, and craft a taut, suspenseful scene with words that perfectly capture all the characters’ motivations, […]

More happy news for Pam McCutcheon! She is happy to announce that she and Michael Waite have received the rights back to their writing brainstorming book, THE WRITER’S BRAINSTORMING TOOLKIT: THINKING IN NEW DIRECTIONS, and retitled it slightly to reflect the fact that cards no longer come with the kit—you […]

by Deborah L. Brewer Your story’s been drafted, organized, focused, read by other eyes, and then polished. You love it! You want to start sending it out and racking up rejections on the road to that big yes, but you’re worried that it might not be “enough”—even for a no. […]

Editor’s Note: Red herrings are one of the most powerful and most misunderstood tools in a writer’s toolbox. This classic article from our archives breaks down why misleading readers isn’t about trickery or cheap twists, but about understanding expectations and using them with intention. If you’ve ever struggled with fitting […]