Writing Round Up
Links and a fun exercise
Every Monday, we’re sending out a quick round-up of what we talked about and some cool links to check out to help all of us become better writers.
As a reminder, on Wednesdays the WRITE BETTER NOW podcast comes out here (and everywhere).
Later in the week there is a bonus post for paid subscribers because, honestly, it’s super kind of you to support me that way, and I want to make sure to make it’s worth your while. Thank you for being here.
Here we go!
Last week on the podcast we talked about why character development and story structure are creepy besties.
And the post for paid subscribers was about the three ways you character develops or doesn’t in your novel.
Writing Exercise of Awesome
This fun little exercise is from Hannah Lee Kidder at the Self-Publishing School.
Cool Links By Other People and a Place to Submit!
Eight character exercises by Reedsy’s blog.
Some really great ones to make fuller characters over on NowNovel.
The Same City by Terrance Hayes at the Poetry Foundation
Melissa Bank, famous for The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing has died of lung cancer. There’s a lovely story about her and her not-overnight success at the New York Times by Clay Risen.
And here’s a pretty interesting blog called Tech Tools for Writers.
Catapult Call for Pitches and DraftsÂ
Catapult publishes award-winning fiction and nonfiction of the highest literary caliber, offers writing classes taught by acclaimed emerging and established writers, produces an award-winning daily online magazine of narrative nonfiction and fiction, and hosts an open online platform where writers can showcase their own writing, find resources, and get inspired.
Catapult is a daily digital magazine that publishes original essays, fiction, and poetry. We also run a writing-focused vertical, Don’t Write Alone, intended to be a resource for authors at every stage of their careers. We welcome pitches (for nonfiction) and drafts (both fiction and nonfiction). For pitches, we generally look for 2-3 short paragraphs that outline a story’s narrative arc, argument or key takeaways, the conversation it seeks to be a part of, and the original contribution that it aims to make.
SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION MOMENT
So, I’m teaching another cool six-month class at the Writing Barn in Austin. It’s a pretty fantastic place. And the class is super fun. I’ve had a ton of students get unblocked and get published. You should check it out or just come hang out with me as your writing coach. I offer a ton of different options.
