Writing Round Up, Cool Exercise, and Submission Opportunity
Write Better Now
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!
On the podcast, we talked about Steve Martin’s writing advice.
Writing Exercise of Awesome
Steal The INTRO
Take the closest novel. Open it up. Read the first line. Write it on your computer or your notebook or whatever you use. Then just keep going.
Write the story.
Why is this a cool thing to do? It frees you up. You have no constraints. You’re improvising everything. I know! I know! Not easy for those planners out there, but go with it. There’s actually an old writing contest that did this.
Cool Links By Other People!
Check out The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, which was inspired by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, Paul Clifford's (1830).
“ It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents—except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.”
A Bit About Collaborative Writing Software.
A 5,000-year history of writer’s block.
Lionhearts by Karyna McGlynn
SUBMISSION POSSIBILITIES!
The Eunice Williams Nonfiction Price. - Essays under 5,000 words.
Solstice Fiction Contest – Open to all writers, published and unpublished, who are currently registered in an undergraduate degree program, and who are residents of the United States – 11/21 deadline. The Fiction Contest accepts entries of stories (1500 – 8000 words) from all genres except children's.
Divergents Magazine – Poetry, nonfiction, photography, art from the neuro-divergent Community
There you go! Happy writing!
xo
Carrie