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Prefer novels written by humans rather than robots? How will an AI world affect readers? Publishers? You and I? Author David Corbett examines the implications of proving we’re human, today at WU.
Proving You’re Human
“Look, at the end of the day, A.I. is going to take over everything. Wherever that lands us, there’s still the individual trying to find their way home.” —Simran Stuelpnagel, Sikh human rights advo…
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“If you believe hopeful stories are needed right now, and you want to write one, you already have the tools needed to do so. Hope is embedded in your story’s structure.”—Kathryn Craft, today at WU.
An Optimist’s Guide to Story Structure
Over the past year, book influencers on social media have been celebrating “comfort reads”—novels that provide respite from the fiery ideological conflicts currently dividing us in real life. Novel…
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Do you mask your true self when creating characters? Author Rachel Toalson addresses maintaining authenticity while masking, today at WU.
Masking While Writing: On Having a Quirky Brain
Having a brain that works differently isn’t always easy. There are multiple challenges in writing and publishing for those of us with quirky brains, too many to get into here. Add those challenges …
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We have to ask ourselves: “When will it ever be enough?” Author Kit Aldridge advises a bit of self-appreciation, today at WU.
Taking Stock
In about two weeks, my first self-published novel will be officially available for purchase, which technically makes me a publisher. Add that to the collection of unofficial/minor titles I’ve…
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Are we witnessing “The Great Collapse” through the dreamy haze of an AI mirror? How is it affecting your writing? Author Elizabeth Huergo prods us to think and to act, today at WU.
Readings for Writers: Waiting for Narcissus
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about two topics: the use of story elements in essays about climate change and the development of AI. Admittedly, these topics are easier than others. For example, h…
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Wondering if your latest project is worthy of your time? Author Jillian Forsberg provides 7 questions to ask yourself, today at WU.
Before You Write Your Next Novel, Ask Yourself These 7 Questions
My friend Kate Khavari, author of the highly addictive Saffron Everleigh series, texted me back after I slid her a piece of my work. “Are you actually going to pursue making this a book or are you …
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Emotions on the page are not dictated by the writer, they are experienced by the reader. Teacher Don Maass explores the implications, today at WU.
Writing Emotions vs. Evoking Emotions
This year at Writer Unboxed, emotions seem much on our minds. Jim Dempsey wrote about fear (HERE). John J Kelley wrote about loss (HERE). David Corbett wrote a two-part post about grief (HERE and …
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We at WU implore you to vote! And to consider tipping points, both real and fictional, today in an excellent essay by Editorial Director Therese Walsh.
Tipping Points (and also: VOTE)
This post was first published on Election Day in 2018! It seemed a fitting day to revisit it. Vote on, friends! It’s Election Day in the U.S., which you surely know unless you’re livin…
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Extolling truth-telling in fiction sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? Author Greer Macallister explores the issue honestly, today at WU.
To Tell the Truth
Recently, I was lucky enough to attend two books events featuring mega-bestselling authors in the same day. One was a small private event for a lecture series; the other was a large public event wi…
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Does the medium truly influence the message? What makes a reader keep reading? Author Barry Knister explores the issues, today at WU.
How We Read and Why It Matters
What’s the difference between ordinary reading and close reading? I’m sure some wag at Writer Unboxed will say it’s all about how close you hold the book to your face, but that’s not it. The differ…
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How do we add the suspense that sweeps the reader into the story current? Author Boo Walker demonstrates the “literary striptease,” today at WU.
The Literary Striptease: Putting Suspense to Work in Any Genre
You know how some stories seize you? We’ve all been there—reading a book or watching a show when suddenly, reality fades away, and we’re sucked into the lives of the characters and this fictional w…
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How does “sense of place” influence your characters, your story? Recently transplanted author Barbara O’Neal delves deeply into the landscape, today at WU.
The Power of Place (with exercises!)
Recently, a reviewer commented on my work as that of “Oregonian Barbara O’Neal.” It was said with pride, and I was honored—but also a little startled. Am I an Oregonian now? It challenged me becaus…
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How do we create a genuine emotional condition for our characters? Author Kim Bullock bravely uses her own life-experience to demonstrate that it’s a stew, today at WU.
Crafting Nuanced Emotional States: It’s a Stew, Not a Snapshot
We’ve all heard of The Emotion Thesaurus, right? You know, that slim volume by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi that lists off seventy-five distinct emotions, with tips for how writers might show …
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What have we learned from the first (hopefully of many) AI pirating settlements? Writer Beware founder Victoria Strauss gives us the skinny, today at WU.
The Anthropic Copyright Settlement: What We’ve Learned
I’m sure that most of you reading this will have heard of (and maybe filed a claim in) the historic Anthropic copyright settlement. If not, the backgrounder I wrote last year has all the details, b…
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Boo! Feedback can be scary. Author Kristin Hacken South shines a light to guide us through, today at WU.
Feedback: The Monster Under the Bed
It’s the end of October, folks. Time for scary stories. Last year, I talked about ghosts and zombies. This year (cue the spooky music) I have something even more frightening in mind: giving and rec…
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How do we find our authorial voice? Author and editor Jim Dempsey explores the phenomenon, today at WU.
Imitation, Play and the Path to Your Voice
Writers are often told to find their own voice, but what does that mean? You write an original story in your own words. Surely that’s in your voice. Whose voice is it if not your own? When someone …
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How do real (human) writers outclass AI? Editor Dave King reveals the edge that we humans will likely hold for some time, today at WU.
Write Against the Machine
Lately, Ruth and I have been reading Ann Perry’s Thomas Pitt series, about a police detective in late Victorian London. I’ve noticed that in at least two of the books we’ve read recently, M…
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Would you turn the page? Ray Rhamey is back with another edition of Flog a Pro, today at WU.
Flog a Pro: Would You Turn the First Page of this Bestseller?
Email readers, heads up! For the full effect, pause after the excerpt and decide if you would turn the page? Vote and then scroll for the reveal! Trained by reading hundreds of submissions, editors…
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Feeling defeated? Struggling to get back in the game? The writing life is anything but easy. Author Natalie Hart gives us the tools to persevere, today at WU.
The Big List of Momentum Recovery Activities
Sometimes the writing life sucks. It’s hard to get your story right, hard to get an agent, hard to get published, hard to make the 1,001 decisions if you self-publish, hard to get attention, …
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How do we know when we’re done revising? Author Kathleen McCleary provides a checklist, today at WU.
Are We There Yet? (Or, How Much Revision is Enough?)
How many times have we all longed to “revise” our lives, to go back and say the thing left unsaid, or to not say the thing that never should have been said, or to get on that plane or take that job…
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WU’s PR specialist Ann-Marie Nieves puts the spotlight on finding comp titles and building a strong literary community, today at WU.
How to Find Comp Titles and Building a Strong Literary Community
Just two of the topics that have been topics of discussion as of late… Every genre has its readers, and every author deserves the chance to find them. In this post, book pros weigh in on how…
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Author and teacher David Corbett shares what he’s learned from switching from fiction to playwriting, today at WU.
What I’ve Learned (or Relearned) by Turning from Fiction to Playwriting
As I’ve noted in some of my comments to posts over the course of the past year, I’ve turned away from fiction to focus on playwriting. I actually began my writing career studying acting (I took no …
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Have you explored the “why” of your writing journey? Author and teacher Kathryn Craft supplies the questions, today at WU.
You’re a Writer—But Why?
The most influential leaders, when asked what they do, answer by connecting their work with the passion that drives them to do it. Simon Sinek delivered this message in a 2009 TED Talk, Start with …
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Want to avoid writing a murky middle? What is there really is no middle? Agent and teacher Don Maass explains, today at WU.
The Transition to the Middle
I notice it in many manuscripts: following the opening, a downshift in tension akin to a speed bump in the road. Momentum drops. The trudge of the middle begins. Listen to authors and the middle is…
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Ever struck by revelations of what your subconscious was working through as you wrote? Newly-debuting author Sarah Callender beautifully describes her latest occurrence, today at WU.
When Our Subconcious Takes the Wheel
A few weeks ago, on a rainy Sunday morning, my dog and I headed out for a quick walk before church. I do love the rain. Especially after a dry, slow-motion summer with smoky air and wildfires just …
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Does genre matter? Author Greer Macallister helps to sort it out, today at WU.
The Final Word on Genre
After writing book-length fiction for 30 years, publishing for more than 10, and reading literally countless books, posts, blogs, and essays debating and discussing genre, I’ve finally condensed ev…
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Struggling in the revision trenches? Author Kelsey Allagood provides the tools to identify problems when a scene feels off. Today at WU.
3 Questions I Ask When a Scene Just Feels Off™
I’m currently deep in the revision trenches, which means I’m experiencing the unique joy of staring at a manuscript and wondering how the hell we got here. If you’re anything like me, you kno…
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Ever wish you had a writerly crystal ball? Author Terah Shelton Harris and a few friends share what they wish they knew, today at WU.
What I Wish I Knew
At a recent author event, a man named Bob stood up and asked me, “What is something you wish you knew?” The question seemed unfinished, so I asked Bob, “In regards to what? About what? …
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Need a laugh in regard to book reviews? Author Milo Todd has you covered, today at WU.
Everybody’s A Critic: Putting Perspective on Bad Reviews
Ah yes, the book review. That curious little thing inexplicably comprised of five stars and a couple clicks which, in an increasingly unkind and distractible world, feels like being at the mercy of…
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Are extremely kind characters too vanilla for you? Author Vaughn Roycroft explores virtuousness in potentially more complex characters, today at WU.
The Virtuous Character
Remember when there was a great deal of talk in writerly circles about crafting morally gray characters? Seems like I hear less of it these days. Makes me wonder if it’s due to the fact that we’re …
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