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Writing.Com Newsletter Archives: elfmage7

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Writing.Com Newsletters Edited by Dawn Embers


#12813:	For Authors	October 30, 2024
When to Worry and Draft Writing A look at the writing process and when to worry about certain elements, which is usually not the first draft. Do you have specific drafts or stages in writing where you focus on particular story elements?

#12812:	Fantasy	October 30, 2024
Creating a Mood or Genre with Setting A look at how setting can play a useful role in a story without going overboard on lengthy descriptions. How do you approach showing the setting of a story to your audience?

#12793:	Romance/Love	October 16, 2024
An Ex vs the Next A look at the use of an ex within a romance story, whether it's for good or evil. Does the main character's ex play a role in the story?

#12779:	Contests & Activities	October 09, 2024
Reading Activities and Groups A look at the possibility for events that focus on reading including some offsite options. Do you take part in any reading groups or events?

#12766:	Fantasy	October 02, 2024
Who is the Bad Guy? A look at the antagonist and the occasional story where there isn't a character taking the role. Does your story have a bad guy (antagonist)?

#12748:	Romance/Love	September 18, 2024
Traits of a Character Taking some consideration in particular character details are known when writing a story. Do you consider specific traits for your main character and their love interest?

#12736:	Contests & Activities	September 11, 2024
Long Term Challenges with Contests A look at the judge/contest manager side of things in considering whether to keep a contest active or not. How do you handle running a contest long term?

#12725:	Fantasy	September 04, 2024
Birthdays and Aging in Fantasy A look at the concept of celebrating birthdays and how aging might be different in fantasy worlds. Does aging or birthdays have different meaning or connotations in your fantasy world?

#12724:	Horror/Scary	September 04, 2024
Realistic or Supernatural A consideration over options when writing horror for what works in the genre. Do you use a more realistic approach or less natural horror elements in your stories?

#12711:	Short Stories	August 28, 2024
Cast Size (characters) in Short Fiction A little discussion on the word count space taken up by additional characters? Do you limit the number of characters that you introduce in short stories?

#12686:	Contests & Activities	August 14, 2024
Blogging as an Activity Option A look at writing blog entries and different activities that help prompt the book items on WDC. What is your favorite blog activity? What makes you want to take part in an activity that focuses on blogging?

#12673:	For Authors	August 07, 2024
It is an Opinion A little discussion about how writing and reviews are often based in just a singular opinion. Do you have any ways that help to handle a situation when someone's opinion doesn't match your own?

#12669:	Fantasy	August 07, 2024
Life Dedication to a Sport or Activity A look at the strange things people dedicate their lives towards and how something could be done in the fantasy world. What do your characters do that may seem strange for their life work or dedication?

#12648:	Romance/Love	July 24, 2024
Surprise vs Expectations A ramble about how romance stories can be surprising but there are also go as expected. Do you need surprise in a story or is it okay to have some elements that fit expectations?

#12641:	Contests & Activities	July 17, 2024
Community Interactions and Activity Community interactions are part of what make this site special but can also have some negative aspects. What is your favorite way to interact with other members of the site?

#12632:	Fantasy	July 10, 2024
Traits of an Alpha A look at the counter role to the omega, the alpha character who tends to have particular traits. What traits do you think are necessary to be considered an alpha?

#12625:	For Authors	July 03, 2024
Commitment Online and the Struggles A look at making commitments to activities and other events online along with the challenges that can make it difficult. How do you balance online commitments with other things going on in your life?

#12615:	Short Stories	June 26, 2024
Online Appearances for Static Items Taking a look at how the story will appear written on WDC on laptops, tablets and even cell phones. Do you use the standard WDC text or do you make changes when creating an item on here?

#12601:	Contests & Activities	June 19, 2024
Where to Put Notes and Which to Include A look at the extra details that can be helpful in a static item like word counts and poetic form notes. Do you add notes with your static item? If so, where do you put them?

#12588:	Fantasy	June 12, 2024
Infrastructure and Public Transportation Some thoughts on creating unique travel methods in cities and small places within a fantasy story. Does your fantasy world include any forms of public transportation?

#12577:	For Authors	June 05, 2024
Writing Goals A look at the writing goal and if there is really an end point. What is the end point, goal, for your writing?

#12556:	Contests & Activities	May 22, 2024
For the Fun of it Sometimes it's okay to enter a challenge or contest just for the fun of entering without any other focus. Do you focus on trying to win a challenge or are there times when you enter just for the fun of it?

#12557:	Poetry	May 22, 2024
Writing about Pride Taking a look at an emotion that can be considered both negative and positive Do you prefer to look at the darker side of an emotion through poetry, or the lighter side?

#12549:	Fantasy	May 15, 2024
The Person in Charge Taking a little look at a variety of managers and different character who may or may not think they are in charge. How does the person in charge get that role?

#12525:	Romance/Love	May 01, 2024
The Fake Relationship Trope A look at romance stories that start off with a fake relationship. What is your favorite fake relationship story? Have you ever written one?

#12517:	Contests & Activities	April 24, 2024
The Reasons for Reviews A look at how activities and other reasons come into play for a review. Do you review as part of an activity or is it something you do for other reasons?

#12510:	For Authors	April 17, 2024
Topic of Conversation in Stories A look at dialogue and deciding what characters need to talk about in a story. How do you decide on dialogue and topics for the conversations that happen in a story?

#12509:	Fantasy	April 17, 2024
Magic, Titles and Gender A look at titles, the different kinds of magical characters and the gender identity that match or mismatch them. What term do you use for the magic characters? Does gender matter in the titles?

#12490:	Short Stories	April 03, 2024
Make it Fit - Decisions in Story Writing Taking a look at some elements in story writing that require making decisions in order to not write a novel. How do you decide what elements to put into a story when there is a limited amount of space/words allowed?

#12478:	Contests & Activities	March 27, 2024
Inspiration Thy Name is Prompt Taking a look at the viewpoint of prompts from the perspective of the judge and the writer. How much leeway do you think a prompt should have for a contest?

#12469:	Fantasy	March 20, 2024
Using Spec-Fic to Reflect Real Problems Considering how to use speculative fiction to showcase problems in our world. Do you used fiction in order to look at problems we face in our own world?

#12447:	Romance/Love	March 06, 2024
Speed Dating - More Common in Fiction Considering the limited amount of time available in a story, sometimes characters need to fall in love fast. How fast do your characters fall in love? Is it a quick affair or something that simmers over time?

#12426:	Fantasy	February 21, 2024
The Omega Character Looking into a type of character found in speculative fiction: the omega. Have you ever read or written a story with an omega character?

#12396:	Action/Adventure	February 07, 2024
How Fast They Act - Speed and Pacing Considering how fast things go in a story and even the technical side of pacing with how one writes. What tricks do you use to find the right pacing for a story?

#12374:	Fantasy	January 24, 2024
Spec-Fic Characters - Alpha/Omega A look at the use of Alpha and Omega characters in speculative fiction to showcase mates/romance. What do you think about different alpha and omega characters in speculative fiction?

#12337:	Fantasy	December 27, 2023
The End and the Beginning Some thoughts on the challenge of writing the beginning or the ending of a story. Which is more difficult for you to write: a beginning or the end?

#12328:	For Authors	December 20, 2023
The Task of Reading Reading is an important task for writers but it's not always easy to accomplish. What book are you reading now or which one do you want to read next?

#12319:	Romance/Love	December 13, 2023
Sports and Romance Stories About the popularity of sports in the romance genre. Have you written a romance that centers around a sport?

#12295:	Fantasy	November 29, 2023
The Challenge of Picking a Name Some thoughts on the task of picking names for characters, objects, or locations. How do you pick a name for a character or location?

#12276:	Romance/Love	November 15, 2023
Avoiding the Breakup Pitfall Considering a common plot or type of conflict used in romance and considering some other options. Is there a way to have a big conflict in romance with the couple breaking up near act three?

#12250:	Fantasy	November 01, 2023
Series Based on Different Characters A look at series based on different characters instead of a big plot following the same people throughout. Have you considered writing a series where each book follows different characters?

#12206:	Fantasy	October 04, 2023
Picking the Character in the Moment POV A little talk about the character showing the story. Considering which character to view and when. How do you pick the point of view character in a scene?

#12197:	Noticing Newbies	September 27, 2023
Static Item Details: Creation Dates A discussion on the minor details when checking out an item from a writer's portfolio. Do you check out the creation date when reading/reviewing an item?

#12189:	Short Stories	September 20, 2023
Things to Prepare for Writing A quick glance at some things to prepare or consider when getting ready to write. How do you prepare to write a story?

#12161:	Fantasy	September 06, 2023
Picking a Story Idea A look at the big decision about what story to write at any given moment. How do you decide which story to write?

#12151:	For Authors	August 30, 2023
Creative Control A look at possible options to consider when it comes to control over stories. Are there aspect of a story you expect to keep control depending on how things go?

#12110:	Fantasy	August 09, 2023
Writing Fantasy for Other Contests When it comes to contests on WDC, speculative fiction can be entered even if it's not specified bye the contest. Are there any contests you enter with fantasy/sci-fi that aren't genre specific?

#12088:	Romance/Love	July 26, 2023
Watching for Inconsistencies A look at series and difficulties keeping information together or avoiding errors. Have you ever caught an inconsistent fact in your writing or something you have read?

#12064:	Fantasy	July 12, 2023
There is No Place Like Home (Locations) A consideration of the home in the world of speculative fiction. What is the main character's home like? Does a character have a particular connection or draw towards home?

#12023:	Contests & Activities	June 21, 2023
The Judgement: an art of opinion A look at the art of judging a contest. The fact of opinion when decisions are made will vary depending on the judge. What is your approach when judging a contest? How do you view judges when you enter one of the contests?

#12018:	For Authors	June 14, 2023
The Importance of Representation Some thoughts on how much it can mean for a person (any age) to see someone like themselves in fiction. Have you considered who might connect with your characters or writing?

#12015:	Fantasy	June 14, 2023
Gender Indeterminant A discussion of the other options for gender/sex character identity. Do you have any characters who are in between or identify as something other than male/female?

#11991:	Poetry	May 31, 2023
Poety Topics: What to Write About Sometimes it is good to have a theme or prompt to give a sense of direction when writing poetry. Do you prefer to be given a theme, topic or specific form when trying to write a poem?

#11971:	Fantasy	May 17, 2023
Making Other People Uncomfortable It's a hard task moving past someone else's discomfort in favor of a different cause or purpose. Can you accept a little discomfort in your life? Are there people and things that make you uncomfortable?

#11970:	Action/Adventure	May 17, 2023
A Walk in the Park A look at a light day that never happens in action and adventure, for good reason. How do you add something fun or interesting to a task that would seem mundane?

#11917:	Fantasy	April 19, 2023
Taxes: Government Finances in Fantasy The financial side of world building can be difficult for some, maybe even a little boring, but it is still important. How do your characters handle finances? Is the government involved in how things work?

#11873:	For Authors	March 22, 2023
First Person Viewpoint (I Prevail) A look at some aspects that come with the territory of telling the story through the I, aka first person point of view. What are your thoughts on first person? Does it come off more personal or make it difficult to connect with a character?

#11870:	Fantasy	March 22, 2023
A Limit in Point of View Talking about what a character knows, what a reader needs to know and minor head hops. How strict are you in the point of view? What if the reader needs to know something the main character doesn't know?

#11849:	Romance/Love	March 08, 2023
The Independent Main Character A look at the strong, independent character who tries to avoid love but finds it in the romance genre. Do you have an independent main character? Does the change in finding romance go against the main character's views too much or is it a good source of growth?

#11825:	Fantasy	February 22, 2023
One Shot (Standalone) vs Series A look at some differences between standalone and making a story into a full series. Is your story a single one (stand alone) or are you writing a series? How do you divide a story?

#11814:	Short Stories	February 15, 2023
Expectation or Tradition Expectation or Tradition: Which is it? Does your character do something because it is expected or out of tradition?

#11796:	Romance/Love	February 08, 2023
Comfort Levels in Story Content A look at reader and writer comfort levels in romance stories and content ratings. Have you tried to push out of your writing comfort levels?

#11775:	Fantasy	January 25, 2023
The Romantic Side of Fantasy A look at the romance that happens on the side of fantasy stories. Does your character also have a romance side situation involved in your speculative fiction story?

#11778:	For Authors	January 25, 2023
Different Characters and Dialogue A look at how different characters can talk different without going too far in the dialogue. How do you write the dialogue of characters who speak different that is easy enough for different readers to follow?

#11724:	Fantasy	December 28, 2022
The End Leads to Rebirth Some things end but that doesn't mean there isn't a new beginning around the corner Does your story or fantasy world include a rebirth myth?

#11725:	For Authors	December 28, 2022
Planning for a New Year of Writing As one year ends, the time comes to start planning the next. Are you ready to write in 2023? Do you have any plans or goals for the year?

#11681:	Fantasy	November 30, 2022
The Wide World of Epic Fantasy A small glance into the broad spectrum known as epic fantasy including readers and some books. What is your favorite epic fantasy book or who is the author?

#11656:	Romance/Love	November 16, 2022
Whose Story is it? Point of View A look at the main character point of view, the story and when to make some changes. In romance, whose story are we telling? Is it the MC, the couple, or are even more involved? What do you write?

#11643:	Fantasy	November 02, 2022
Tying Up Loose Ends At times we have to gather our strings in order to finish a story. Do you have any difficulties with getting things to come together at the end of a story?

#11634:	Short Stories	October 26, 2022
The Idea of a Residency Some consideration on the option of taking time away for a writing residency and the challenge of applying. Would you consider or apply for a writing residency?

#11591:	Fantasy	October 05, 2022
Magic: Real or Fake A discussion on magic that can be real, pretend or even the use of science (that feels like magic) and writing. What kind of magic do you use in your story? Or do you prefer to use science?

#11580:	For Authors	September 28, 2022
Hitting a Metaphorical Brick Wall A look at different ways to get stuck and some possible solutions for opening doors or windows. What do you do when you get stuck in writing or when trying to make progress on a project?

#11547:	Contests & Activities	September 07, 2022
Write Every Week a look at using a writing challenge to influence productivity Have you ever taken part in a writing challenge that lasted weeks or months?

#11546:	Fantasy	September 07, 2022
Common Starting Points A look at starting stories in similar fashions or including something in multiple, different stories. Do you have a common point, element or way that you've started a few numbers of stories?

#11500:	Fantasy	August 10, 2022
A Reason Behind the Action Looking into some reasons why people do things and what might be gained. Does your main character and/or antagonist have a reason for their actions?

#11458:	Fantasy	July 13, 2022
Old Stories: consider your writing past After many years of writing, there are some stories worth continuing and others that have already served their purpose. Do you like getting reviews on older stories or poems?

#11414:	Fantasy	June 15, 2022
Bring on the Heat in Fantasy Some thoughts about different heat elements in fantasy stories. How do you use heat in your story?

#11384:	Romance/Love	June 01, 2022
Is There a Villain in Romance? A look at the problem bringer or antagonist within the romance story. Does your story have an antagonist or someone who is in opposition of the main character?

#11364:	Fantasy	May 18, 2022
An Option for Publication in Fantasy Considering the options available at this time for publication in the genre. If you plan to publish any of your writing, what option/path do you want to take?

#11325:	Fantasy	April 20, 2022
Keeping Track of Things There are many things that need to be kept organized in a fantasy story. How do you keep track of characters and other story elements?

#11280:	Fantasy	March 23, 2022
Family Planning in Fantasy Another thing people face that can be reflected in fantasy is family planning and the ability to have children. Do characters in your fantasy or speculative fiction world worry about family planning or fertility?

#11251:	Romance/Love	March 09, 2022
Let it Happen or Make a Move A quick glance at when a character needs to let romance happen or take action to make things go forward. Does your character have to take action to find romance or do they have to let love find them?

#11233:	Fantasy	February 23, 2022
A Question of Age Looking into age and how it might affect main character motivation and relationships How does age affect your character or decisions that are made in the story?

#11183:	Contests & Activities	January 26, 2022
Empty Times and Inspiration Looking to the contest world for inspiration and a spark in a tight time frame. Where do you get inspiration when it feels like the well is dry?

#11182:	Fantasy	January 26, 2022
Working Around the Non-believer A glance at writing a genre when others may not hold interest or belief in speculations. Do you have someone close who isn't fantasy or doesn't enjoy the make believe type of tale?

#11163:	Romance/Love	January 12, 2022
Time to Prepare for Romance A romantic gesture can be done on impulse or it might take time to prepare. Does your character take time to prepare for a romantic gesture?

#11148:	Fantasy	December 29, 2021
Different Views on Strength Some thoughts on the positive side, looking at strength and how there are different views on what equals strong or good. Are there different views on strengths and weaknesses within your story and what influences the difference?

#11120:	Romance/Love	December 15, 2021
What is the Big Moment? A look at the possible sections of a romance story that can pull more at the reader and bring the story to a peak. What is the big moment in your romance story?

#11099:	Fantasy	December 01, 2021
Psychology and Fantasy Some reflection on how classes in psychology may be helpful for non-human characters too. What type of psychology would you find useful in writing fantasy?

#11100:	Contests & Activities	December 01, 2021
What I miss about entering contests... Reflection on years of entering contests and a current hiatus from writing. Do you plan to enter a contest in December?

#11058:	Fantasy	November 03, 2021
The Problem with Memories Considering how we reflect on the past and can use memories within our stories. Does your character focus much on memories in their story?

#11016:	Fantasy	October 06, 2021
A Time to be Basic A look at going back to the basics in fantasy writing. How do you approach the basics with fantasy and science fiction?

#10927:	Fantasy	August 11, 2021
Dreams - what someone wants A look at personal dreams and what fantasy characters might imagine. Does your character have a dream? What is your dream?

#10902:	Romance/Love	July 28, 2021
Matchmakers A minor ramble on the topic of the matchmaker in romance. Does your story have a matchmaker?

#10875:	Fantasy	July 14, 2021
Space Tourism Pondering on the option to travel into space and back. What do you imagine space tourism would look like in a story?

#10865:	For Authors	July 07, 2021
Stress for Writers At times stress can be helpful and at others, it can be a struggle. How do you handle stress?

#10823:	Fantasy	June 16, 2021
Writing: Is it a Priority? A look at how priorities influence writing in both process and for the story. How do you determine your priorities or the ones for your main characters?

#10784:	Poetry	May 26, 2021
Poetic Therapy A look at the use of poetry to work through emotions or other struggles. Have you used poetry as a form of therapy?

#10774:	Fantasy	May 19, 2021
Finding the Why A look at the question Why and relating it to the main character's journey. What is the main character's "why" or reason for what they are doing in the story?

#10751:	Romance/Love	May 05, 2021
May Flowers, in Romance A look at the flowers that might be used within a romance story. What flowers do you use in your story? Which ones do your characters prefer?

#10726:	Fantasy	April 21, 2021
The Art of Parody (or a spoof) A glance at how one can use inspiration to parody a story in speculative fiction. What is your favorite sci-fi or fantasy parody?

#10727:	Contests & Activities	April 21, 2021
The Benefit of Entering Contests on WDC A look at entering contests online and a little glimpse at hosting too. What benefit do you get (or will you get) from entering a contest here on WDC?

#10705:	Romance/Love	April 07, 2021
The Benefit of a Friend A look at friendship in a romance story. Does your friend character help the MC or are they the love interest?

#10682:	Fantasy	March 24, 2021
Past, Present or Future for a Story A glance at picking when to set a story and the technology around. Do you prefer to write a modern fantasy, something futuristic or settled more in the past?

#10683:	Contests & Activities	March 24, 2021
Keeping up with a Contest A quick look at some of the aspects of a contest that have to be managed often. How do you keep up with the different parts of running a contest?

#10667:	For Authors	March 17, 2021
Feeling Overwhelmed It can be easy to get overwhelmed with deadlines and ideas. Does you ever feel overwhelmed when it comes to writing?

#10631:	Fantasy	February 24, 2021
Vaccines and Health in Fantasy A look at options for the world within our stories reflected from current hot topics in the health industry. How do you approach disease and the medical world within your spec-fic stories?

#10607:	Short Stories	February 10, 2021
Macro and Micro Editing A look at big picture edits compared to focusing on the smaller details. How do you approach editing?

#10583:	Drama	January 27, 2021
Problems Add Up A glance at the way problems or conflicts can come in groups instead of one at a time. How does the conflict develop in your story? Does your character face one problem at a time or do issues pile up?

#10582:	Fantasy	January 27, 2021
Expectations in Speculative Fiction expectations What do you expect to get from a speculative fiction story?

#10554:	Romance/Love	January 13, 2021
Order of Events A look at the expected order of events for romance and changing things up. Have you written a romance where things go out of order for the main character?

#10539:	Fantasy	December 30, 2020
A Tough Transition: a story continues Sometimes when something ends it's not as easy of a transition as one might hope. How do you transition in a story or between stories in a series?

#10527:	Short Stories	December 23, 2020
Setting the Scene in a Story A look at the struggle between setting the scene for a reader and telling too much instead of showing. How do you set the scene in a short story without doing an over tell?

#10514:	Romance/Love	December 16, 2020
Seasonal Romances and Emotions A look at how changes in seasons affect characters, emotions and romance. Are your characters or the romances affected by the changing in seasons?

#10499:	Fantasy	December 02, 2020
Time for a Change A little end of the year talk about making change in the life of characters and in the life of a writer. Where do you need to make a change in your writing or story?

#10469:	Romance/Love	November 18, 2020
Writing Romance Quick Writing fast and furious can be for November or any other time with quick romance contests on WDC. Have you tried to write a quick romance before? How did it go?

#10452:	Fantasy	November 04, 2020
The Magic Castle A look at the castle setting in a particular way with a little bit of political duty thrown into the mix. Where would you put a magic castle in a story? Who lives in that castle?

#10436:	For Authors	October 28, 2020
The Strangeness of Endings and NaNoWriMo A look at writing endings and how strange it is to reach quick when writing a novel in a month. Which story (yours/others) has your favorite ending?

#10405:	Contests & Activities	October 07, 2020
Give Me a Progress Report It can be nice to have a place to report progress in writing, editing, rewriting, reading and other life goals. Do you have a group or somewhere to give updates on your progress in writing and other goals?

#10404:	Fantasy	October 07, 2020
Dark Fantasy In the month of Halloween and for some, darkness, we look at the genre of Dark Fantasy. What story comes to mind when you think of dark fantasy?

#10393:	For Authors	September 30, 2020
The Art of the Side Hustle A look at the concept of side hustles (jobs) for writers and characters. Is writing your side hustle/job? Does your character have to do extra work on the side?

#10378:	Romance/Love	September 23, 2020
How to tell when it's love: a question. Looking into how we view and acknowledge experiences along with a question of experience. How does your character know it's love? Do we need experience to write a story?

#10379:	Short Stories	September 23, 2020
Editing Tips: Weak Words A look at some of the weak words that find their way into stories and how to diminish them. What are the weak words you often find in your stories? Do you rely on any in particular?

#10357:	Fantasy	September 09, 2020
Particular Setting: A Home A glance into the home as a setting and some ideas where it might be important in world building. Does your character have a main home? Is a home important place in your fantasy world?

#10329:	Romance/Love	August 26, 2020
When to Say Goodbye A look at an often less happy time when people have to say goodbye and how that fits within romance. Does your character have to say goodbye to someone they love?

#10317:	Fantasy	August 12, 2020
Political Worlds in Fantasy and Voting Looking into the politics of our fantastical worlds and considering the option to vote. How does the political world work in your fantasy story? Is there voting in any of the sections, cities or countries?

#10316:	Action/Adventure	August 12, 2020
Take the Plunge Sometimes you have to take a leap into the unknown in order to have an adventure. Has your character taken the plunge yet? What have you done to put in that jump into action/adventure?

#10293:	Short Stories	July 29, 2020
Going Short? Don't Skimp on the Story Considering the build of a short story through a comparison in large and small houses. How do you keep the story big while keeping in a shorter word count?

#10274:	Fantasy	July 15, 2020
Building in Fantasy: Story Structure Use of building elements and how the correlate to the writing structure for speculative fiction. How do you build the story structure when it comes to a speculative fiction story?

#10248:	Romance/Love	July 01, 2020
When to Move in Together A look at the fictional world and the milestone characters can take in a story with co-habitation. Do your characters move in together during the story or after?

#10227:	Fantasy	June 17, 2020
Diversity: Within Fiction and Reality A look at diversity showcased within our world, in fiction and how they influence each other. Do you have different ways the characters or world show diversity that reflects on the real world?

#10228:	Contests & Activities	June 17, 2020
Building Community with an Activity Some discussion on the community of writers developed from activities. Have you gotten to know others on WDC by taking part in an activity or contest?

#10201:	Romance/Love	June 03, 2020
Everybody Say Love Love is needed for the self and the other. Love each other. We stand for Love.

#10183:	Fantasy	May 20, 2020
The Wonder of Fantasy Looking to the stars and dreaming with a newsletter about the concept of wonder. What element of wonder have you found within the world of fantasy?

#10184:	Contests & Activities	May 20, 2020
Creating a Schedule A look at how a schedule can come in handy for contests and activities. Do you have a schedule for your contest or activity?

#10167:	For Authors	May 13, 2020
It Has to End A look at the writing process, reaching an ending and some inspiration from a discussion on the general forums. How do you get to the ending of your stories?

#10131:	Fantasy	April 22, 2020
Quarantine and Government Control A look at fantasy that relates to our present situation of quarantine. Has the recent quarantine and world wide struggles inspired any stories?

#10109:	Romance/Love	April 08, 2020
A Tale of an Unusual Romance Some romances are a little more unusual than others. Even in crazy times a romance might develop. What makes a romance unusual? Do your characters have an unusual romance?

#10086:	Fantasy	March 25, 2020
Women Authors in Fantasy and Sci-Fi A perusal into some of the strong female authors of fantasy and science fiction. Who is your favorite female author that writes speculative fiction?

#10061:	Romance/Love	March 11, 2020
Finding the Perfect Date With the romance tale there is the question of the date, first and otherwise. Do your characters go on dates? What is the best date in your story?

#10046:	Fantasy	February 26, 2020
Questions for Management A look at leaders and characters who hold the role in fantasy. Who is a leader in your story? What qualifies them to lead?

#10027:	For Authors	February 19, 2020
Read Out Loud A look at some reading options for reading as a part of the craft in writing Do you listen to books? Have you ever tried editing by reading out loud to yourself?

#10004:	Contests & Activities	February 05, 2020
Add a Touch of Romance A glance at the addition of romance to an entry of any genre. Have you considered including romance to your contest or entry?

#9992:	Fantasy	January 29, 2020
The Year of the Rat, 2020 Some aspects of the Chinese New Year and possible use for fantasy writing. Does your fantasy world have their own way to mark the New Year?

#9976:	Action/Adventure	January 22, 2020
Taking the Initiative A look at the main character and the writer in who needs to take action. How does your character take initiative in their story?

#9944:	Contests & Activities	January 01, 2020
New Year, New Activity A question of what you can do that is new for the new year, after all, it's 2020! What activity to you plan to join or start for 2020?

#9943:	Fantasy	January 01, 2020
Best of the Decade in Fantasy A look at some lists that suggest the best fantasy novels from 2010-2019. Have you read any of the books from the lists or plan to read any in the future?

#9928:	For Authors	December 25, 2019
Creating a Schedule A discussion on the use of schedules for writing and more. Do you schedule time for writing, editing and other writing aspects?

#9910:	Romance/Love	December 11, 2019
How Many Drafts for Romance A quick look at the rewriting/editing process for romance. How many drafts do you do create for a romance story?

#9901:	Fantasy	December 04, 2019
Particular Setting: Schools A school is a common setting for fantasy novels, particularly those with young adult characters. What are schools and education like in your speculative fiction world?

#9866:	Romance/Love	November 13, 2019
Self Love for the Main Character A look at the main character's experiences and how they view themselves. Does your main character struggle with finding love for their own self? Does that get in the way of finding love from others?

#9867:	Contests & Activities	November 13, 2019
How many contests can you enter? A question of quantity and time management as we questions what to do when you want to enter many contests. What is your contest limit? Do you ever overbook when trying to enter contests?

#9847:	Fantasy	November 06, 2019
That First Draft, Write it A glance at the first draft and how freeing it can be to just write. How do you approach the first draft of a story?

#9825:	Short Stories	October 23, 2019
Word Economy A look at how brevity can affect quality for different story lengths. How do you consider word economy when writing stories?

#9804:	Fantasy	October 09, 2019
Looking to the Dark Side in Fantasy Fantasy can have dark elements that can be related to horror but it isn't required. What is the dark side of your speculative fiction stories?

#9792:	For Authors	October 02, 2019
Writing Groups and Socialization A look at ways to find groups and be social while writing. Do you have a writing group online or in person? How did you find the group?

#9779:	Short Stories	September 25, 2019
Character or Story, Which Came First A question of story and character in preparation for writing stories. Which came first for you: the general story idea or the main character?

#9763:	Romance/Love	September 18, 2019
It's a Matter of Trust A look at the issue of trust and use within the world of fiction. How do you use trust within your romance story?

#9750:	Fantasy	September 11, 2019
Nostalgia Sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. How do you use nostalgia in your fantasy? What book from your past would you re-read for the nostalgia?

#9732:	Short Stories	August 28, 2019
Take a Story and Rewrite It A look at the topic of rewriting; aka second, third and fourth drafts. What is your rewriting process or ritual?

#9723:	Romance/Love	August 21, 2019
Meet the Parents A quick question of whether or not the love interest will meet the parents of the MC. Do your characters have to meet the parents (or family) of their love interest?

#9709:	Fantasy	August 14, 2019
Beauty in a Fantasy World A question of the concept of beauty when it comes to writing fantasy. How do you show beauty in your fantasy stories?

#9708:	Contests & Activities	August 14, 2019
Writing Priorities and Deadlines A look at putting writing as a priority with the help of contest deadlines. Do you use contests and activities to help make your writing a priority?

#9664:	Contests & Activities	July 24, 2019
Support the Online Community by Writing One way we support the community here on WDC is by writing and entering contests or taking part in activities. How do you connect with other people here? Which contest or activity will you support next?

#9658:	Fantasy	July 17, 2019
A Day to Celebrate A look at the random things people might celebrate in a story. What kinds of days or things do people in the story celebrate?

#9635:	Romance/Love	July 03, 2019
The Spark in Romance How we write fireworks and create the spark between our characters when it comes to their romance. How do you create the spark or fireworks between your characters? How do you show that to the reader?

#9619:	Romance/Love	June 26, 2019
Romance in a Flash A look at quick romance in either time frame or word count. Is your romance a quick one? What is your preferred word count for a romance story?

#9608:	Fantasy	June 19, 2019
The Moms and Dads in Fantasy A look at the use of parents as background or conflict in our fantasy stories. How are your characters' parents involved (or not involved) in the story?

#9591:	For Authors	June 12, 2019
When and Where to Keep Backup Copies It is important for every writer to have a place to backup their work so that things don't get lost. Where do you backup your writing? What do you use?

#9562:	Fantasy	May 22, 2019
Methods of Travel Often characters need to travel in a story and they have options. What method of travel do your characters prefer? Is there such thing as a vacation in their world?

#9534:	Romance/Love	May 08, 2019
Is it a Relationship Conflict in the title, when a couple decides to claim a status as being in a relationship When do your characters decide they are in a relationship?

#9517:	Contests & Activities	May 01, 2019
Competition or Challenge? Comparing a writing competition that picks winners to a writing challenge that gives to anyone who enters. Which has more appeal: a competition with winners or a challenge to write with incentives to those who enter?

#9508:	Fantasy	April 24, 2019
Finding Balance A question of how to balance elements of stories in order to write fantasy How do you create balance in your stories and in writing?

#9495:	Drama	April 17, 2019
The Volume of Drama A pondering over how drama can be both loud and quiet How loud is the drama to you?

#9457:	Fantasy	March 27, 2019
Finding the Time There is a struggle to find time for things like writing, newsletter and for characters too. How do you find time to write? Does your character struggle to find time for things?

#9432:	Short Stories	March 13, 2019
Continue to Learn as a Writer A brief discussion on how we can keep learning as writers on the site and in the craft. What do you want to learn next?

#9405:	Fantasy	February 27, 2019
MC and the Government A look at how the main character(s) are influenced by the government. Does your character have to deal with the government? In what way?

#9367:	Romance/Love	February 06, 2019
The Romance of Music Sometimes music can be romantic and an inspiration. What song would you use to create a romance story? Do your characters have a song?

#9357:	Fantasy	January 30, 2019
The Boundaries We Create A look at boundaries within fantasy worlds What kind of boundaries do you use in your world?

#9344:	Drama	January 23, 2019
When to Avoid the Drama At times you have to pick when to avoid the drama, then later use it as fuel for a story. Do you avoid drama online? How do you use life drama when writing?

#9343:	Action/Adventure	January 23, 2019
A Sense of Direction A look at different of methods for finding a sense of direction in story writing. How do your characters find a sense of direction?

#9306:	Fantasy	January 02, 2019
In the Beginning: story/world creation A look at the beginning of a story in more than one way. A sort of creationism for our fiction. How was your world created? What is your favorite way to start a story?

#9266:	Fantasy	December 05, 2018
Immigration in Fantasy A look at the concept of immigration and how it can be used in Spec-Fic. How do you handle immigration in your fantasy and sci-fi worlds?

#9211:	Fantasy	November 07, 2018
Which Witch When it comes to the witch character in fiction, we have options. What kind of witch would you put in a story? Are they the protagonist or antagonist?

#9191:	Horror/Scary	October 24, 2018
He is Still Alive? Sequels and Belief Horror/Scary movies use of suspended belief and sequels to stories. How many sequels are too many in horror?

#9167:	Fantasy	October 10, 2018
Vaccines and Immunizations A question of health and disease in fantasy, comparing our world to the ones we create. How do you deal with disease and immunization in your spec-fic story/world?

#9151:	Drama	October 03, 2018
Are you ready to write? A look at the before factor when planning to create and how we get ready to write. Are you ready to write a story or novel?

#9118:	Fantasy	September 12, 2018
To Prep or Not to Prep a Story That is the question of writer preference and style, whether to prep or not before writing. Do you do any prep work before writing and if so, what do you do?

#9108:	Drama	September 05, 2018
Character Focus on Self Looking at the focus people have on themselves and how that becomes drama in stories. Is there a character in your story who is focused on themselves and that causes drama for others?

#9090:	Horror/Scary	August 29, 2018
The Graphic Nature of Horror A look at how the genre lends itself to imagery and the uses we can have for prompts/inspiration to create stories. Do you use images as inspiration or prompts for horror stories?

#9056:	Fantasy	August 15, 2018
Character Career Day A question of jobs, worlds and how a character might make a living. Does your character have a job/career or is there one they want to have?

#9012:	Fantasy	July 18, 2018
Don't Meander with Plot, End It A glance at how the story needs to end without spending too long beyond the big conflict. Do you like a story to continue more past the big conflict resolution?

#9000:	Action/Adventure	July 11, 2018
Dinosaurs! A Look at Jurassic Park A look at the well known franchise of dinosaur movies for inspiration. Have you considered writing a story inspired by Jurassic Park?

#8987:	Horror/Scary	July 04, 2018
Horror at Any Age Horror can appeal to young and old alike. A look at who might reader horror stories. Who do you know that loves horror/scary stories?

#8965:	Fantasy	June 20, 2018
Love is Love A look at different couples and how fantasy can use the idea of 'love is love' for general character and even conflict. How do you use the concept of 'love is love' in your world/story?

#8913:	Fantasy	May 23, 2018
Specific Settings in Fantasy: Arbors A look at setting options known as the arbor which can be trees or ports. How do you use trees in your story? Does the world include an arbor?

#8890:	Romance/Love	May 09, 2018
What Causes the Conflict? A question of what creates the conflict in a romance story. What causes the conflict in your romance story?

#8891:	Short Stories	May 09, 2018
Enter Contests and Follow Rules Talk of contests on the site that need entries but also a reminder to follow their rules. Is there a contest you want to enter or have you entered one recently?

#8868:	Fantasy	April 25, 2018
Character's Connection to Nature A brief look at the relation a main character has with the world around them. How does your main character connect or disconnect with nature?

#8824:	Fantasy	March 28, 2018
Passover: Spring Festival of Liberation Some information and thoughts on the holiday of Passover. Do you have a character who celebrates Passover or something similar?

#8810:	For Authors	March 21, 2018
Life Experiences Become Stories Sometimes we make up stuff for writing and other times life provides us with material. Do you use any of your life experiences in order to create stories or any other form of writing?

#8801:	Romance/Love	March 14, 2018
The Unexpected Romantic Sometimes it's the people we never think about who can be quite romantic. Is there someone in history who you might suspect was romantic without people knowing?

#8792:	Contests & Activities	March 07, 2018
How Many Entries Are Needed for a Prize? A look at the decision for contests to require a level of participation for prizes to be given out. What do you think of having a set number of entries for contests in order to give out prizes?

#8778:	Fantasy	February 28, 2018
Picking and Researching a Time Period Alternative histories and fiction in general can borrow from history, making research and decisions necessary. How do you pick a section of history to use for a story? Where do you go for research?

#8777:	Action/Adventure	February 28, 2018
Reading Real Life Adventures A look at some biography, nonfiction and creative nonfiction adventures one can find to read. Is there a person you'd like to read about in a book to learn more about the adventures of their life?

#8732:	Fantasy	January 31, 2018
A Reading List of Classic Sci-Fi A look at some options for those wanting to check out well known authors who write sci-fi novels. Are there any sci-fi authors you plan to read this year?

#8695:	Romance/Love	January 10, 2018
Thinking About a First Kiss Leading up to and after it happens, characters will experience this particular moment in their story in different ways. Does your character think about their first kiss before it happens?

#8685:	Fantasy	January 03, 2018
Questions of Originality A look at the struggle in originality and having ideas similar to others. How do you deal with issues of originality when writing?

#8677:	For Authors	December 27, 2017
Preparing to Edit or Rewrite Looking at ways to prepare for the process of editing or rewriting. Do you have a process to get a story/poem ready for an edit or rewrite?

#8650:	Contests & Activities	December 13, 2017
Reasons to Compete A look at some reasons to enter competitions here on WdC and other places too. Why do you enter contests or other forms of competition?

#8635:	Fantasy	December 06, 2017
The Decorations in A Fantasy Story A look at decorating around the holidays and in the setting of our fantasy stories. How do you use decorations in or involving your fantasy stories?

#8612:	Romance/Love	November 22, 2017
It's a Small World After All A thought about how small our vast world can be in relation to falling in love. Are there any circumstances that bring your love characters together?

#8606:	Noticing Newbies	November 15, 2017
A Question of Motivation A look at some options for motivation or even when there isn't motivation to write. Where do you get your motivation for writing on the site?

#8587:	Fantasy	November 08, 2017
Got Magic? A question of how to develop a magic system by first coming up with the idea. How do you first get the idea for the magic in your fantasy world?

#8554:	Romance/Love	October 18, 2017
Best Story Length for Romance A question of what works best when it comes to the genre of romance in the topic of word count. What length of story do you find works best for a romance?

#8546:	Fantasy	October 11, 2017
Create a Map In world building, sometimes we have to visualize the world in a flat page kind of way. Do you create maps for you worlds?

#8534:	Drama	October 04, 2017
All in the Tone Sometimes it is not what we say but how we say it. How do you use a character's tone in your story?

#8519:	Romance/Love	September 27, 2017
Is Romance the Main Genre? A look at romance as the main focus of the story. Do you write romance or do you focus on other genres that include romance?

#8497:	Fantasy	September 13, 2017
The Reason For Action Sometimes we ask our characters the tough question: Why? What is your main character's reason to act?

#8480:	For Authors	September 06, 2017
Questions to Build Worlds and Characters Some questions asked in different moments can help build worlds or develop characters for a novel or story. What questions do you use to develop the world of your story or the characters?

#8474:	Romance/Love	August 30, 2017
Does the Couple Need to be Opposites? The old adage of opposites attract compared to the idea of working well with familiarity. Does it work better if the MC and love interest are very different for conflict in a romance story?

#8441:	Fantasy	August 16, 2017
Showcasing Worlds in Terms and Phrases The little moments in dialogues and descriptions where characters can show the world they live within. Is there any term or phrase your character uses that also showcases the world created for the story?

#8418:	Short Stories	August 02, 2017
A Focus on the Numbers: Word Counting A glance on the topic of keeping track of the words when writing short stories. Do you focus on the word count while writing or worry more about that in rewrites and edits?

#8407:	Contests & Activities	July 26, 2017
Ode to Flash Fiction and Quick Deadlines A glance at the fun challenge flash fictions contests bring along with the often quick deadlines involved. Which flash fiction contest is your favorite to enter? Or which do you want to try if you haven't?

#8400:	Fantasy	July 19, 2017
Methods of Travel in Fantasy A look at different travel options to get the character from one setting to another. What methods of travel is dominant in your speculative fiction world?

#8370:	Romance/Love	July 05, 2017
The Romance Years Later The stories that show relationships years down the road How long have your characters been together?

#8360:	Contests & Activities	June 28, 2017
Contest Entry Layout The technical side of the contest entry with a look at some layout elements. Do you think contest entries should have certain guidelines for layout?

#8355:	Fantasy	June 21, 2017
Gender Identity in Speculative Fiction A glance at the variety of gender identity elements usable in fantasy and sci-fi. Do your characters have questions when it comes to their gender and what they identify as in the story?

#8324:	Romance/Love	June 07, 2017
A Decision Between Love and... Sometimes the conflict can reach a point where the character must made a decision between love and something else. Does your character have to make a big decision when it comes to their love interest?

#8304:	Fantasy	May 24, 2017
The Middle Book/Story Slump It can be hard to hold up the story line and interest through a long story and the middle can become a bit of a slump. How do you combat the middle slump in your story or series?

#8288:	Action/Adventure	May 17, 2017
Which Character Goes on an Adventure A question of characters and which ones are going to go on adventures or handle so much action. Which type of characters do you like to use for your action or adventure stories?

#8273:	Romance/Love	May 03, 2017
Who Makes the First Move A brief look at the character that makes the first move in romance. Do you consider which character will make the move? What does your character do to express their love/interest?

#8252:	Fantasy	April 26, 2017
Nostalgia and Reinvention of Stories A random discussion of using nostalgia and how those aspects can be brought back in story and video form. What shows or movies were prominent in your childhood and have you tried seeing them again as an adult?

#8243:	Drama	April 19, 2017
Drama Can Be Stressful for All Involved A look at drama in our lives and the ones we create on the page. What do you do to create stress for your character? or Do you find writing stressful?

#8231:	Romance/Love	April 12, 2017
Gray Area Between Romance and Erotica A look at the border between romance stories and those that qualify as erotica. What do you think the main different is between a romance story and an erotica one?

#8201:	Fantasy	March 29, 2017
Specific Settings - The Ocean A look at speculative fiction stories told with the ocean or a similar large body of water as the setting. Have you read or are you writing a story set on the high seas? Would you?

#8183:	Romance/Love	March 15, 2017
The Grand Gesture or Fix The love interest or MC messes everything up and need to find a way to fix the problem to receive their happy ending. What big gesture or fix does your character have to do in order to get their happy ending?

#8168:	Contests & Activities	March 08, 2017
Different Types of Prompts Available Contests are fun and a prompt can help bring interest and entries. What kind of prompts do you prefer when hosting/entering a contest?

#8154:	Fantasy	March 01, 2017
Verbal Magic System Creation A brief look at the creation of magic systems where characters have to use a verbal approach. How would you create a verbal magic system for your story/world?

#8108:	Fantasy	February 01, 2017
The Magician Character A look at magic wielding characters. What do you call your magic wielding characters?

#8098:	For Authors	January 25, 2017
Real World or Speculative - Research Comparing the development of stories in the real world versus coming up with speculative places for the tale. Do you prefer to do contemporary/realistic or speculative fiction?

#8072:	Contests & Activities	January 11, 2017
Having a Team or Guest Judges Sometime it is helpful to have others help run a contest and those groups or guests come with pros and cons. Do you have help judging your contest or are you considering having a team/guest judges for your contest?

#8059:	Fantasy	January 04, 2017
Start the Story with an Ending The start of a story is important and at times the beginning for the character is when a part of their life ends. Do you have a story that starts with an ending? What ends for the character(s)?

#8034:	Short Stories	December 21, 2016
When to Write/Submit Holiday Stories A look at timing when it comes to holiday stories. When we want to write and submit for certain holidays. When do you write and submit holiday stories? Are you writing one now?

#8025:	Romance/Love	December 14, 2016
A Romantic Gift, No Wrapping Required Discussing actions or gestures as gifts instead of something purchased from a store. What type of romantic gesture or action would you use in a story as a gift or present?

#8013:	Fantasy	December 07, 2016
World Appreciation: Fantastic Beasts Talk about a movie and appreciation for worlds even if unfamiliar with a series. What do you think about the world Rowling created in the recent release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?

#7999:	For Authors	November 30, 2016
I Have 50k Words, Now What? We have reached the end of NaNoWriMo and time to figure out what to do next. What are your post national novel writing month plans? Are you done writing the novel?

#7971:	Contests & Activities	November 16, 2016
Month Long Challenges Talking about the different sides of month long contests and activities. Do you like to enter or run month long challenges?

#7960:	Fantasy	November 09, 2016
Focus on Numbers in Writing A look at some numbers and figures when writing spec-fic. How are numbers important for you story or novel?

#7938:	Romance/Love	October 26, 2016
Characters and Costumes Time for dress-up in real world and there are some characters like to play too. Do any of your romance characters enjoy playing dress-up or costumes?

#7910:	Fantasy	October 12, 2016
Fantasy & Horror: A Fitting October Pair A look at how one can pair fantasy and horror in October and beyond. Have you used horror in your fantasy story? Or fantasy in your horror story?

#7884:	Romance/Love	September 28, 2016
Resistance is Futile, They Fall in Love A look at the reluctant MC who falls in love despite every determined intention to do anything but that. Do you have a reluctant main character who tries not to fall in love?

#7855:	Fantasy	September 14, 2016
Finding Balance When Writing Fantasy There are many types of balance needed in writing fantasy, from the act of writing to vocab and structure. How do you find balance in your speculative fiction stories?

#7842:	For Authors	September 07, 2016
Big Bang? Extreme Conflict or No A look at the main conflict in a story and whether it is necessary to develop an intense plot or not. Do you ever wonder if the conflict is strong enough for the story?

#7811:	Fantasy	August 17, 2016
Friendship within Speculative Fiction A look at the role friendships play in many fantasy stories. Does your story involve a friendship that goes through trails as part of the conflict?

#7789:	Romance/Love	August 03, 2016
The Role of the Ex A look at the ex-relationship and how the character can add to the story. Have you included an ex-bf or ex-gf in a romance story?

#7759:	Fantasy	July 20, 2016
Specific Settings in Fantasy - Ship A look at a few different settings on air/water crafts within fantasy. Does your story take place on a type of ship?

#7760:	Drama	July 20, 2016
Friday Nights Things that could happen on a Friday Night What do you do on Friday? Is that a big night in your story?

#7711:	Drama	June 22, 2016
What Grabs Reader's Attention A couple of spots to consider when posting drama stories on WDC to get people to read them. What do you do in order to catch a reader's attention? As a reader, do you focus on title or the intro/description?

#7710:	Fantasy	June 22, 2016
Pets/Animals in Fantasy A look at some pets and other animals used in fantasy. What type of pet or animal do you have in your story? Is that animal an important character?

#7682:	Short Stories	June 08, 2016
Is June-August a Time for Short Stories? A question of writing focus during the months of June, July and August in relation to novels versus short stories. Are you going to focus on short stories in June-August?

#7662:	Fantasy	May 25, 2016
What is Your Story About? This question comes up often for writers and there are different responses depending on situation. What is your story about? Have you attempted a query or synopsis yet?

#7646:	Action/Adventure	May 18, 2016
Step Out of Comfort Zone for Adventure Adventure often begins when we take the step outside of the comfort zone and try something new/different. What do you want to try that is out of your comfort zone? Does your story put the main character out of their element?

#7629:	Poetry	May 04, 2016
Different Ways to Explain Form Used A few options on how to showcase the form used in poetry items. How do you show the form used for a poem or do you prefer to leave that part out?

#7614:	Fantasy	April 27, 2016
You Haven't Read Harry Potter?! About books we might not have read even when we write fantasy or in the same genre as said book/series. Are there any big name books or series that you haven't read yet?

#7587:	Romance/Love	April 13, 2016
How Important is Location in a Romance A question on detail for setting when it comes to romance stories. Do you think the setting is important in a romance story? How much detail do you like to see as the reader?

#7572:	Contests & Activities	April 06, 2016
Should You Run a Weekly Contest? A look at the fun times and down sides of hosting a weekly contest. Would you ever want to run a contest that changed prompts on a weekly basis?

#7559:	Fantasy	March 30, 2016
Inspired by RPG Conversations Listening to others discuss role-playing games can help inspire fantasy and sci-fi characters and stories. Do you take part in any RPG sessions or know someone who does? Have any given you inspiration?

#7547:	For Authors	March 23, 2016
Playing the Field of Social Media So many social media options exist so this newsletter explores a few writers may use. Which is your main social media platform?

#7512:	Fantasy	March 02, 2016
When to Edit that Fantasy Story Considering editing, rewriting and finding the time to get it done for fantasy and other stories. How do you find time to edit your stories? When do you think is a good time to start an edit?

#7505:	Spiritual	March 02, 2016
An Elf Review of Yoga Some thoughts from trying out yoga for almost a month. Have you ever tried yoga? Would you?

#7487:	Short Stories	February 17, 2016
The Influence of Conflict on Genre A look at how the conflict of a story can influence or indicate a specific genre. How does the conflict in your story relate to the chosen genre?

#7467:	Romance/Love	February 10, 2016
Valentine Eary Bird or Procrastinator? A question of timing in purchases for a romantic holiday. Do you procrastinate or get things early for romantic holidays? What would the main character in a romance story do?

#7459:	Fantasy	February 03, 2016
Specific Settings in Fantasy - The Woods A series looking at specific settings often found in fantasy, first considering the use of woods and woodland areas. What do you think makes the woods work as a setting in fantasy?

#7446:	For Authors	January 27, 2016
Tips for Quality Reviews A little advice from the elf on putting together reviews to help others and maybe even for Good Deeds. What do you appreciate the most from a review?

#7419:	Romance/Love	January 13, 2016
Pink Hearts and Other Symbols of Romance Valentine's Day approaches and with it is an increase in romantic symbols around, so we talk about some of them. What color or symbol means romance to you or your characters?

#7411:	Fantasy	January 06, 2016
New Year, New Story Time? A question of when to start a new story, no matter what time of year. Is it time to start a new story? Or would that keep you from finishing one?

#7372:	Romance/Love	December 16, 2015
Holiday Touches and Character Quirks A few things about the holidays that can add a nice touch to character development in romance. What holiday scent or quark does your main POV character have in the story that shows their character?

#7362:	Fantasy	December 09, 2015
When a Mage Has a Cold A question of magic and illness along with how different characters might handle a simple cold. Would a cold or something like the flu affect your character's magic? How?

#7351:	For Authors	December 02, 2015
NaNoWriMo Recovery Things to do in December once National Novel Writing Month (November) is over. What do you do after NaNoWriMo ends?

#7342:	Short Stories	November 25, 2015
Characters That Are Thankful A little look at the things characters can appreciate and show thanks for in their stories. What are your characters thankful for in their life/story?

#7327:	Short Stories	November 18, 2015
Try a Collection with a Common Thread A ramble about options when it comes to writing a collection of stories. Would you write a collection of stories with same main characters or just set things in the same world?

#7322:	Romance/Love	November 18, 2015
A Love of Touch or No Touchy? A consideration of different comfort levels characters have when it comes to being touched by others. Does your main character like to be touched and does the fact come up in your story?

#7318:	Fantasy	November 11, 2015
The Fantasy Family Unit A look at family members to consider including when writing speculative fiction. What family members are important to the conflict in your story?

#7280:	Contests & Activities	October 21, 2015
No novel? Enter contests in November Discussing an option for those not taking part in NaNoWriMo in November: enter contests on WDC. Not taking part in NaNoWriMo? What will you be writing instead?

#7271:	Fantasy	October 14, 2015
Sensory: Odors in Fantasy A look at using the sense of smell when writing fantasy stories. How do you incorporate scent in your speculative fiction stories?

#7256:	For Authors	October 07, 2015
When to Share Ideas and Who to Tell A question of keeping stories to self, sharing plus a little bit on alpha and beta readers. When do you share your ideas for a story? Who do you share them with?

#7251:	Drama	October 07, 2015
"Perception is Reality" A look at both character and reader perception and how it shapes the reality of a story. Does the character perception match reality? Do you consider reader perception when working on a story?

#7241:	Drama	September 30, 2015
Juggling Plates and Adding Conlict Having too much to do can overwhelm and it can help add more drama to a story. Have you tried ramping up a story by giving your character too much to do? Did it help?

#7238:	Mystery	September 30, 2015
Clue and Other Mystery Games A look at some board games and the mystery elements they involve. Did you play any mystery games as a kid or even as an adult?

#7215:	Fantasy	September 16, 2015
Hope in Fiction and Life A look at the need for hope in both speculative fiction and our lives. How do you give your characters or readers hope in your story?

#7205:	For Authors	September 09, 2015
NaNoWriMo: Prepare or Procrastinate? How much does one need to prepare in advance before National Novel Writing Month? Do you spend time preparing or doing any types of notes before writing a novel? If so, how much do you do?

#7193:	Short Stories	September 02, 2015
Is it a Scene or a Story? A look at the slight differences between a scene, a story and which one I enter in contests. Do you write a full short story or do you end up entering a scene in a contest?

#7192:	Comedy	September 02, 2015
Repetition and Words Often Overused A glance at the use of repetition on purpose and how some things get said far too often. Are there any humor related words or phrases that you use too often?

#7177:	Action/Adventure	August 26, 2015
When to Take a Break Within Action A consideration on the topic of breaks within an action story to let the reader rest compared to long bits of action. Do you think it helps to have small breaks in the action or do you prefer to keep the action up for most of the story?

#7172:	Romance/Love	August 26, 2015
The Seasons and Romance A glance at romance during the different seasons and how to incorporate them into a story. Which is your favorite season for romance?

#7166:	Fantasy	August 19, 2015
Sensory: Taste and Touch in Fantasy A glance at two of the senses, taste and touch, along with their uses in speculative fiction to enhance a story. How do you use taste and touch in your speculative fiction?

#7154:	Drama	August 12, 2015
A Choice of Venue in Drama Location can create expectations in drama but sometimes unexpected work just as well. Chance to explore setting. What location or setting do you like to use when writing drama?

#7140:	Short Stories	August 05, 2015
The Great Title Quest A look at titles for short stories and possible sources of inspiration for the vexing necessity. What sources of inspiration do you use for your titles?

#7123:	Romance/Love	July 29, 2015
Independence and Dependence in Romance A look at how characters can be independent and dependent in a romance and some thoughts on both. Should a character have some level of independence in a romance story?

#7113:	Fantasy	July 22, 2015
A Look at Group Dynamics Taking a short look at some different aspects involved when writing groups of characters in fantasy and sci-fi. Do you have a group in your story? What types of personalities and dynamics get used and does one do less of the work?

#7076:	Contests & Activities	July 01, 2015
When to Comment or Make Suggestions There are times it is good to comment or make suggestions in contests & activities but when one should do so varies. When do you feel is a good time to comment in a contest/activity and should it be in the public forums?

#7065:	Fantasy	June 24, 2015
Sensory: Sight and Sound in Fantasy A look at two of the senses, sight and sound, and some uses within Speculative Fiction. How does sight and sound show character and world building within a story?

#7039:	Action/Adventure	June 10, 2015
Are We There Yet? Questions for Middle A look at two important questions when writing long action/adventure stories and the dragging struggle of the middle. How do you keep the middle of an action/adventure story from dragging without overdoing the tension/conflict?

#7029:	Poetry	June 03, 2015
Knowing Audience Based on Reactions Many people write poetry but not all understand it as readers. It's good to be prepared or the none poet reader. How do you explain your poems to people who aren't fond of poetry?

#7016:	Fantasy	May 27, 2015
The Single Fantasy Novel Fantasy and Sci-Fi novels are not often known for their brevity, but sometimes a single novel is a breath of fresh air. Do you prefer to read/write series or stand alone novels?

#7000:	Drama	May 20, 2015
When Things Change Drama Ensues Not many people like change but often that moment and after will create a story due to the drama that follows. How does change in a character's life cause drama in your story?

#6969:	Spiritual	May 06, 2015
What I Learned from The Giver A look at a lesson learned from a book read as a young teen. n/a

#6961:	Fantasy	April 29, 2015
The Same Story But Different How we take the same story and make it our own through characters, worldbuilding and a little magic. n/a

#6947:	Action/Adventure	April 22, 2015
Take a Challenge Considering challenges plus the options available for writing, adventure and more. n/a

#6919:	Spiritual	April 08, 2015
Food for Fiction Worlds and Beyond A look at the connection with food around the holidays and its use in building fiction worlds. n/a

#6909:	Fantasy	April 01, 2015
Communication in Fantasy Worlds A brief look at how characters communicate in a fantasy story. n/a

#6886:	Action/Adventure	March 18, 2015
Deadlines and Ticking Clocks A look at deadlines for both the author and their stories. n/a

#6862:	Fantasy	March 04, 2015
The Fantasy Prompt A look at coming up with fantasy prompts and writing for them. n/a

#6861:	Comedy	March 04, 2015
The Effort in Being Funny How much effort does one put forth in order to write something funny? n/a

#6821:	Romance/Love	February 11, 2015
The Timing Factor A look at timing in a few different contexts for romance stories: seasonal, as conflict and more. n/a

#6810:	Fantasy	February 04, 2015
Locks of Hair/Question of Detail Questioning the use of certain physical details and how much does the reader need to know about the character. n/a

#6760:	Fantasy	January 07, 2015
Oh the Voices: More than 1 POV A continuation in discussion on POV and when it's okay to have more than 1 viewpoint. n/a

#6742:	Drama	December 31, 2014
Seize the Moment Some moments warrant drama while others are just to seize, like a New Year's Eve kiss. n/a

#6707:	Fantasy	December 10, 2014
POV: Too Many Heads in One Scene A brief look at head hopping, point of view and how many to have in a single scene. n/a

#6694:	Drama	December 03, 2014
Dialogue: Can there be too much? A question of whether there can be too much dialogue in a story and if it helps or hinders the drama. n/a

#6682:	Drama	November 26, 2014
The Drama of Family Holidays and family can make for plenty of drama, so put it to use and write a story. n/a

#6668:	Horror/Scary	November 19, 2014
Cold and (Dis)Comfort In the cold people seek warmth and comfort, but in horror discomfort can play its own role. n/a

#6656:	Fantasy	November 12, 2014
Music, Fantasy and Novel Writing The uses of music playlists while writing novels, for those that don't find it distracting. n/a

#6615:	Romance/Love	October 22, 2014
Conflict in Romance Stories A look at potential conflicts one can write about in a romance story. n/a

#6604:	Fantasy	October 15, 2014
Fantasy Cultures and Views on Death When creating fantasy worlds and developing cultures, the topic of death is one that might need to be considered. n/a

#6564:	Action/Adventure	September 24, 2014
Fitness of Character Does fitness play a role in character development or in handling the conflict of action/adventure? n/a

#6555:	Fantasy	September 17, 2014
The Thread of Importance in Fashion A look at fashion and its use in fantasy stories with a novel example n/a

#6540:	For Authors	September 10, 2014
Sea of Options for Notes and Writing Brief view on note and writing program options that are available to fit the whims and needs of many different writers. n/a

#6518:	Romance/Love	August 27, 2014
Expectations in Romance Submissions Do romance contests have specific expectations in the stories submitted? n/a

#6506:	Fantasy	August 20, 2014
Do You Build Worlds? A question of world building and those that take up the task before or after writing a first draft. n/a

#6477:	Short Stories	August 06, 2014
Word Counts May Vary A look at some variations in word count and why they may or may not matter. n/a

#6449:	Fantasy	July 23, 2014
Thoughts on Potential Readers Fantasy readers aren't all the same make and model, so the writer must consider the different ones. n/a

#6435:	For Authors	July 16, 2014
Twitter, Blogging and Facebook, Oh My A look at different social media options to consider when putting together an online writer presence. n/a

#6411:	Action/Adventure	July 02, 2014
Did we need to know that? A look at possible information that the reader doesn't need to know in a story. n/a

#6396:	Fantasy	June 25, 2014
A Golden Flame Called Ambition Writers need ambition in many different forms, both in writing and to write. n/a

#6395:	Mystery	June 25, 2014
The Elusive Unique Mystery Idea Some aspects are expected in a mystery, but you can still have unique elements to catch the reader's attention. n/a

#6355:	Horror/Scary	June 04, 2014
How Will Your Character Survive? Survival is a key factor, at times, in a horror story. n/a

#6354:	Romance/Love	June 04, 2014
Writing About Boy Love A look at the writing of romance between boys in both adult and YA fiction. n/a

#6347:	Fantasy	May 28, 2014
The Fantastical World of Middle Grade A look at middle grade fantasy and its audience. n/a

#6331:	For Authors	May 21, 2014
Finding a Way to Tri-Balance A newsletter discussing the need to balance writing, reading and editing. n/a

#6305:	Romance/Love	May 07, 2014
What are you reading? A quick question of curiosity to see what other romance writers read. n/a

#6296:	Fantasy	April 30, 2014
Do You Have World Builder's Disease? A look at the distraction of world building and what it might entail to create a world for a novel and its characters. n/a

#6295:	Contests & Activities	April 30, 2014
The Importance of Genre A look at the question of importance in genre when entering a contest. n/a

#6253:	Romance/Love	April 09, 2014
Is There Activity in Romance? A question on groups, contests and other activities on site that focus on romance, or the lack of them. n/a

#6243:	Fantasy	April 02, 2014
Wings are Possible A look at the potential use of wings in fantasy. n/a

#6205:	Romance/Love	March 12, 2014
The Almost Moment A look at the use of "almost moments" in writing romance. n/a

#6198:	Fantasy	March 05, 2014
I Send Where? Publication Searching A quick look at some places to search for publications when planning to submit stories. n/a

#6182:	Action/Adventure	February 26, 2014
Starting Decision: Set Up or Drop In Looking at two different approaches to starting an action/adventure story. n/a

#6155:	Horror/Scary	February 12, 2014
The Potential of Red A color study for the week of Valentine's Day and how useful red can be in stories. n/a

#6116:	Short Stories	January 22, 2014
You Sent the Story Where? Short story submission is a big stage and here are some tips on how to keep track. n/a

#6099:	Romance/Love	January 15, 2014
All About the Girls Romance and love have many places and many character. This time we look at just the stories about women in love. n/a

#6091:	Mystery	January 08, 2014
Detectives, Demons, and Elves... Oh My When the Mystery genre intermixes with others, the results can equal a great story. n/a

#6051:	Romance/Love	December 18, 2013
Silver Bells and Other Holiday Clich�s n/a

#6044:	Fantasy	December 11, 2013
Submitting is a Challenge Elf talks about submitting for publication and the challenge it can be for some writers. n/a

#6017:	Fantasy	November 27, 2013
Fantasy and the use of Technology A quick, questioning look at the use of technology in fantasy stories. n/a

#5996:	Horror/Scary	November 13, 2013
Eek It's a Novel Horror as a genre is known for both great short fiction and novels. But how does the length differ in results? n/a

#5954:	Romance/Love	October 23, 2013
Obsession: Romance or Horror? This week, with Halloween coming soon, we look at the concept of obsession and how it relates to romance and horror. n/a

#5934:	Action/Adventure	October 09, 2013
I Don't Know How To Do That The non-action writer can also write a fight scene without knowing how to do the moves themselves. n/a

#5894:	Fantasy	September 18, 2013
Fantasy & Sci-Fi: activity hard to find Fantasy and Science Fiction are popular genres on the site but it's hard to maintain contests and groups. I wonder why. n/a

#5867:	Short Stories	September 04, 2013
Set a Goal and Write a Story The short story newsletter discussing how goal making can help a writer make progress. n/a

#5845:	Contests & Activities	August 21, 2013
The Round Ended When? A brief discussion on the lateness in judging and solutions to when it happens. n/a

#5824:	Fantasy	August 07, 2013
Why Not Call Them Humans? Many creatures in fantasy are so human-like some readers wonder: "why not just call them humans?" n/a

#5808:	Romance/Love	July 31, 2013
The Rainbow of Romance A look at romance stories that include GLBT characters. There is a whole rainbow of possibilities in the genre. n/a

#5757:	Spiritual	July 03, 2013
Through the Eyes of Someone Else A look at the plus side of fiction writing and ability to learn about different forms of spirituality. n/a

#5726:	Short Stories	June 12, 2013
The "Care" in Character A look at the benefit of empathy for a reader when it comes to short story main characters. n/a

Total 366 newsletters found.

For newsletters before June 2005, please see: "Writing.Com Newsletter Archives"

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