The Writing Life
Discourse and Dial-Up: The History of Writers.com
This is an interview with Mark Dahlby, the founder of Writers.com. Mark started Writers.com in 1995 as the first website for online writing education—and one of the first websites, period. He operated the site through all the changes that led to the modern internet, until retiring to an emeritus role in 2019. In this interview,…
Read More5 Tips on Self-Publishing Your Book
For book writers, the publishing process is often a fearful mystery. Self-publishing a book can intensify this mystery, because it can seem like you’re all on your own, with no clear place to start. Although I’ve managed Writers.com since 2019, it wasn’t until this past year that I learned the self-publishing process myself, while helping…
Read MoreHow to Become a Writer
So you’re wondering how to become a writer. The short answer is: anyone who writes is a writer. However, becoming a writer who’s serious about their professional career requires lots of work, and if you’re wondering how to become a professional writer, you’re here to start your journey towards a productive and successful literary career.…
Read MoreCreative Nonfiction Writing Classes Online: 8 Things to Know
Creative nonfiction classes empower students to tell their stories in the best way possible. Whether you want to improve your writing, generate new material, meet other writers or even just to hold yourself accountable to writing creative nonfiction, a great option is for you to take creative nonfiction writing classes online. If you haven’t taken…
Read MoreInterview: Jack Smith Talks Writing, Publication Process, and His New Book “If Winter Comes”
When Fanny Kemble, an acclaimed nineteenth-century British actress, marries Pierce Butler, a Philadelphia aristocrat, she is yoked to a philanderer, a liar, and, as she soon learns, a slaver. She must deal with a husband who expects her absolute obedience, as though she were one of his slaves. As an abolitionist, she feels compelled to…
Read MoreConcise Writing: How to Omit Needless Words
This article is all about concise writing, summed up in the timeless phrase “Omit needless words.” We’ll examine some of the best advice on writing concisely, define what concise writing is and isn’t, and describe 11 writing habits that encourage concision. “Omit Needless Words” and The Elements of Style In 1920, William Strunk Jr. published…
Read MoreCommon Writing Mistakes: Creative Writing Tips for Beginners
Creative writing mistakes are nothing to feel down about. All good creative writing is not just writing: it’s writing, revising, editing, and proofreading—not only to polish the beauty of our language, but to work with common creative writing mistakes that pop up for all of us. Today, we’ll be looking at eight common writing mistakes,…
Read MoreThe Best Online Creative Writing Courses: 12 Things to Look For
Are you looking for the best online creative writing courses? You may have found some promising classes online, but you may also be unsure if the course is actually good. How can you know you’ll benefit from the course without spending your money first? The good news is, there are creative writing courses out there…
Read More24 of the Best Places to Submit Poetry Online
What is the best place to submit poetry online? Just like poetry itself, the answer is often complex. Finding the right home for your poetry can take a lot of time and research. We’re here to help! In this article, we’ll share our 24 best suggestions for where to submit your poetry online. After that,…
Read More24 of the Best Writing Exercises to Become a Better Writer
The best writing exercises bring out our latent creativity. Especially if you ever feel stuck or blocked, making creative writing exercises part of your daily writing practice can be a great way to both hone your skills and explore new frontiers in your writing. Whether you’re a poet, essayist, storyteller, or genre-bending author, these free…
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