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How to Write a Query Letter

A list of do's and don'ts of query letter writing along with examples.

When The Memories Call

For all grieving parents and anyone else who has lost a loved one.

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The Writer's Cramp

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Beneath the Surface

A poem on mental health, resilience, and finding hope through silent struggles.

Duality of Me

Two of the versions of me that exist within the singular me.

Giantess GF Part 1

A growth story about the GF character from the FNF game.

Climate Change Evidence & Causes

CLIMATE CHANGE IS ONE OF THE DEFINING ISSUES OF OUR TIME. It is now more certain than ever

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Second Spring

I feel life's joy before wind's blast, feel the flowers share their fragrance

How to Write A Nonfiction Writer's Bio

A brief overview of how to write a short writer's bio with examples.

Princess, Unicorn, Bunny and Centaurs

A Princess, her unicorn, bunny and new friends fight centaurs.

Unsealed Fate

He completed a solo flight once. Can he do it again?

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Writing.Com Newsletter Archives: bowling_shoe

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#10232:	Short Stories	June 17, 2020
Shaping Character in Words A followup from last month's editorial; shaping characters through their words and actions! What are your challenges around shaping character flaws?

#10189:	Short Stories	May 20, 2020
Character Mistakes & Motivations How do you demonstrate character growth? One way is through your characters' mistakes. What are some of your favorite mistakes your characters have made?

#10138:	Short Stories	April 22, 2020
Creativity in Chaos What to do when you're sharing your space, or working more alone than before. How are you coping with shelter in place?

#10091:	Short Stories	March 25, 2020
Sheltering in Place Some thoughts on weathering the days to come. What have you done for yourself recently, just for yourself and your own amusement?

#9996:	Short Stories	February 26, 2020
Identifying Growth Opportunities There's always room to improve your work--how do you self-diagnose things that you can do better? What are some of the flaws you've identified in your own work? How do you work to improve on them?

#9942:	Short Stories	January 01, 2020
New Year, New Habits? Some ideas for common writer resolutions! What are your writing related resolutions for the year?

#9900:	Short Stories	December 04, 2019
When There is Nothing in the Tank Working your way out of a writing slump is not an impossible task! Here are some thoughts on what to do. What do you like to do to refill the well when your writing is in a slump?

#9851:	Short Stories	November 06, 2019
Writing Your Way In Starting a story with no idea what happens next? It's easier than it sounds! What's your favorite way to start writing?

#9805:	Short Stories	October 09, 2019
Multiple Paths How do you determine what is the right way to end your story? What's a story whose ending seems really perfect to you?

#9754:	Short Stories	September 11, 2019
Choices, Choices What do your character's choices have to do with the shape of your story? Everything! What are some of your favorite character's decision moments?

#9611:	Short Stories	June 19, 2019
Experiencing a Story Different Ways There are lots of ways to reimagine classic works and find new ways to enjoy them. What are some of your favorite classic works? Do you like new tellings of those stories?

#9512:	Short Stories	April 24, 2019
Master Studies A technique in the art world that I'm working with in fiction--studying others' works and trying to figure them out. What are your favorite techniques for using what comes naturally to you as a writer?

#9461:	Short Stories	March 27, 2019
Working with Prompts Do you have trouble working with story prompts for contests and anthology calls? Here are some ideas. Do you like story prompts? Why or why not?

#9407:	Short Stories	February 27, 2019
Thinking About Character Motivation Some observations on how to go about building characters that interest your audience! What are some of your favorite characters? What do you like best about them?

#9360:	Short Stories	January 30, 2019
The Three-Stage Rocket Here's a methodology for lyric storytelling that might up your short story game as well. Have you ever tried to apply different methods of writing to your short stories?

#9310:	Short Stories	January 02, 2019
Fanfiction: Inspiration and Practice! Fanfiction is complicated, but here's an argument in favor of fanfiction to practice storytelling and inspire yourself! Have you ever written any fanfiction? Have you ever read a fanfiction story--or one you suspect might be?

#9264:	Short Stories	December 05, 2018
Room to Grow Crafting your best work can take time--how does your writing evolve over time? Have you noticed any interesting or unusual things about your writing that changed over time? What's remained the same?

#9213:	Short Stories	November 07, 2018
Developmental or Line Edits? When you sell a short story, what happens next? EDITING! Here are some common types of edits you may encounter. Do you know the difference between different types of edits? Do you have experience with any particular type of editing?

#9168:	Short Stories	October 10, 2018
Plot Elaborations How do you build plots? It is easier (and harder) than you might expect. What are some of your favorite short story plots? What do you like about them?

#9055:	Short Stories	August 15, 2018
Elements of Story Structure in Brief How do you use the key elements of storytelling to build good stories? What are some of the things you like best about your favorite stories? What makes those elements appeal to you?

#9007:	Short Stories	July 18, 2018
Ah, Details, Details Some thoughts on story detail and worldbuilding! What are some good types of worldbuilding in your short stories?

#8967:	Short Stories	June 20, 2018
Challenges with Creativity it can be hard to always be on your "A" game as a writer--here are some things I've gone through with creative burnout. Have you ever stopped writing? What brought you back to the writing process?

#8918:	Short Stories	May 23, 2018
Cover Letters for Short Story Submission Ever wondered what you need to include--or omit--in a cover letter for a short story? Ever wondered what you need to include--or omit--in a cover letter for a short story?

#8870:	Short Stories	April 25, 2018
A Day in the Life of an Anthology Editor A brief look inside what actually happens to that story you've submitted to an anthology! Ever wondered what happens to that story you've submitted to an anthology?

#8826:	Short Stories	March 28, 2018
The Power of Doubt Sometimes there is no reasoning with yourself as a writer, and that's only the half of it. What do you do then? What do you do when you are completely out of ideas?

#8783:	Short Stories	February 28, 2018
Finding the Right Story Sparks Sometimes you have a good idea--and no idea what to do with it yet! Have you ever had to pick at a story idea several times to get at what it's really about before you were happy with it?

#8738:	Short Stories	January 31, 2018
The Power of Seeing Yourself A little bit of memoir about how one little short story had a big impact on me. Have you ever encountered a short story that changed your life? What was it?

#8637:	Short Stories	December 06, 2017
The "Rules", Part Three Continuing our exploration of the "Rules" of writing! What about "success"? What successes (and failures) have you experienced in your writing?

#8595:	Short Stories	November 08, 2017
The "Rules", Part Two No, I don't actually believe in "Rules," relax! This issue: how to identify and minimize passive voice and past tense! What are some Rules of Writing you don't like to follow? Why?

#8502:	Short Stories	September 13, 2017
The "Rules", Part One Ever feel like you don't know "the rules" of writing? Worry not, no one really does... What's a writing "rule" you don't understand or want to know more about?

#8447:	Short Stories	August 16, 2017
A Classic Formula While it won't work for every story, there are a few quintessential plot formulas that can produce quality results. Have you ever used a formula plot? How did it work for you?

#8352:	Short Stories	June 21, 2017
Repurposing Structure and Form How can we benefit from limiting factors on our writing? How can we benefit from limiting factors on our writing?

#8260:	Short Stories	April 26, 2017
Story Components--or Just Details? Is that new idea you're working on the full idea of a story, or is it merely a cool premise, setting or detail? When you develop your ideas for a short story, how do you decide what to focus on?

#8208:	Short Stories	March 29, 2017
Character Entanglement One of the easiest ways to advance your story skills is to make sure your characters need each other. How do you make sure your characters are in conflict with each other or that they have conflicting needs?

#8157:	Short Stories	March 01, 2017
Inspiration and Focus What inspired you to start writing, anyway? When the river is dry, sometimes you need to run back to the wellspring. How do you use your influences to create something new? What are the elements that inspired you to begin writing shorts?

#8018:	Short Stories	December 07, 2016
Collaborative Writing Working with a partner can be frustrating, but also rewarding! Have you ever collaborated with another writer or creator on a project?

#7961:	Short Stories	November 09, 2016
Description as a Writing Tool Make the best use of your descriptions to help your reader be immersed in your story! What sort of descriptions do you like as a reader? How about as a writer? Are they different for you?

#7864:	Short Stories	September 14, 2016
Significant Objects Using different elements to reinforce story development. How do you use the material significance of objects in your stories?

#7815:	Short Stories	August 17, 2016
Using Details to Build Characterization How do we build good characters without spelling out their life stories? What are some small, specific details that might entice you to read more about a character?

#7762:	Short Stories	July 20, 2016
Story Lengths How long IS a 'short story,' really? There is actually a correct answer -- but it varies! Do you know how to distinguish Microfiction from Flash, a short story from a novelette? And what is a novella, anyway?

#7709:	Short Stories	June 22, 2016
The Subtle Art of Manipulation Authors have the responsibility, nay, the authority (grin) to manipulate the reader's emotions. How do you get your readers invested in your characters and story-- and keep them that way?

#7655:	Short Stories	May 25, 2016
What Size is Your Story? Here's one method to project the potential size of your story, if you're not sure how to estimate something beforehand! Do you have a lot of trouble with your stories outgrowing your original expectations? Here's one way to break it down.

#7607:	Short Stories	April 27, 2016
Idea Generation Find ways to create using the materials all around you-- media, nature, reality... What methods do you like to use to find your inspiration for short stories?

#7563:	Short Stories	March 30, 2016
Finding Your Community On Writing.Com and elsewhere, it can be necessary -- and genuinely helpful -- to find a social niche for your writing. What are some of the best and worst writing group moments you've had?

#7507:	Short Stories	March 02, 2016
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition Using repeating words, elements, or themes can enhance meaning in a short story. How have you used repetition to invoke more meaning in your stories?

#7461:	Short Stories	February 03, 2016
What's the Deal with Cover Letters? Clear and simple ways to tackle something that flummoxes even some practiced fiction writers-- the cover letter! Are you intimidated by the process of writing cover letters for your short stories? Why or why not?

#7412:	Short Stories	January 06, 2016
Using SMART Goals To Build Your New Year Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Relevant. Time-based. But what does that actually MEAN for your writing progress? How do you make sure 2016 is your most productive year yet? What goals can you set to help you to be successful?

#7363:	Short Stories	December 09, 2015
Achievement is Relative Goals change over time. Have you re-evaluated your progress lately? What were your writing goals in 2015 and how can you improve on them for the coming year?

#7316:	Short Stories	November 11, 2015
A Post-Script on Impostor Syndrome Some thoughts on last month's topic in follow-up: squelching self-doubts. Do you feel alone when you are writing?

#7267:	Short Stories	October 14, 2015
Good Enough "Who am I kidding?" and other self-defeating stuff we ask ourselves. How do you battle Impostor Syndrome?

#7244:	Fantasy	September 30, 2015
Homages, Riffs, Archetypes and Mary Sues In fantasy fiction, character originality can be overrated. Here are some ways tried-and-true can work for you. How do you use stories and characters you've read and loved in order to catalyze your imagination?

#7217:	Short Stories	September 16, 2015
Self Confidence Being confident in one's work is among the keys to a writer's success, at any stage in one's career. Feeling confidence as a writer can be a challenge. What can you do to charge up or affirm yourself?

#7168:	Short Stories	August 19, 2015
Tones of Inspiration Music, from a writer's perspective. What music inspires you to write? What music, lyrics or instrumental arrangements included, inspires your short fiction?

#7110:	Short Stories	July 22, 2015
Random Prompts and Generators Using words, images and more to boost imagination. What random sources inspire your writing?

#7064:	Short Stories	June 24, 2015
Making Time If you want to do this in the long term, you have to make the time for it! Do you make enough time for your writing-- and why or why not?

#7017:	Short Stories	May 27, 2015
Context Clues and You How do you use the information given to the reader to build your world? How do you draw the reader into the world? What clues do you use to get them thinking? How much do you trust the reader?

#6962:	Short Stories	April 29, 2015
Cut Your Clutter! Tightening written drafts is all about cutting the clutter! Fish out words that don't amplify your writing. n/a

#6941:	For Authors	April 22, 2015
The Value of Rewriting Most of us are not merely writers but rewriters. Embrace the second draft! n/a

#6907:	Short Stories	April 01, 2015
What's Enough Detail? Long enough to cover the topic at hand and short enough to "keep it interesting." n/a

#6860:	Short Stories	March 04, 2015
Character Competence? How competent our characters are in their daily lives will affect the rest of your story. n/a

#6811:	Short Stories	February 04, 2015
What's the Point of It? Not every story needs to have a deep, long-reaching morality to it, but you do need a reason for your reader to read it. n/a

#6759:	Short Stories	January 07, 2015
Opening Hooks How do you snag a reader? Well... Some thoughts on getting -- and keeping -- a reader's attention. n/a

#6732:	Fantasy	December 24, 2014
Celebrations Ways to define experience-- tradition and cultural permutation. n/a

#6705:	Short Stories	December 10, 2014
In It Alone, Together Do you have friends or colleagues you can talk to about your writing, in real life or online? n/a

#6653:	Short Stories	November 12, 2014
An Editor's Eye What do editors look for, anyway? Every story is different, but some have a distinct advantage. n/a

#6633:	Fantasy	October 29, 2014
Melding Subgenres Making different genres work together! Continued from part one. n/a

#6602:	Short Stories	October 15, 2014
Cut, Snip, Slash, Stitch Excellence is a continual effort, and kind of an unending process... But how much is enough? n/a

#6580:	Fantasy	October 01, 2014
Subgenre Slaw I fought the slaw and the slaw won, or: how to make multiple genres cohesive to strengthen your fantasy fiction. Part 1. n/a

#6554:	Short Stories	September 17, 2014
Top of the Heap So, how do you get to the top of the pile? (Spoiler alert: there is no one true answer...) n/a

#6530:	Drama	September 03, 2014
A Picture In Words How exact do you need to be with your descriptions and details to evoke an emotional response from your readers? n/a

#6503:	Short Stories	August 20, 2014
If It Might Fit, You Ought to Submit! The submissions process can be daunting, even for seasoned writers. The odds of failure are high. Why, then, persist? n/a

#6444:	Short Stories	July 23, 2014
The Circular Nature of History If history repeats itself, what does fiction do? Using nonfiction to fuel storytelling. n/a

#6399:	Short Stories	June 25, 2014
Kishōtenketsu While it's a difficult approach for short stories, kishōtenketsu is an alternative view on conflict-driven plot. n/a

#6343:	Short Stories	May 28, 2014
Context Matters (Even the context in which you read this sentence.) Use context and contrast to improve your character construction. n/a

#6298:	Short Stories	April 30, 2014
Worth It? What makes a story worth the reader's time? It's different for every author (and reader) but some patterns emerge. n/a

#6240:	Short Stories	April 02, 2014
The Next Step How does implementing critique really work? Make the most of the reviews you receive. n/a

#6199:	Short Stories	March 05, 2014
Meta-Problems in Storytelling Is the story you're telling worth the time it takes to tell it? One of the harder parts of self editing... n/a

#6146:	Short Stories	February 05, 2014
The Land of No Story Sometimes, it turns out, you've set out to write something that doesn't end up being a full story. What can you do? n/a

#6092:	Short Stories	January 08, 2014
Room for Improvement What have you done this past year as a writer? Where do you see yourself this coming year? n/a

#6041:	Short Stories	December 11, 2013
That "Show, Don't Tell" Thing Again It's not what you think it is: some thoughts on a common and easily-misinterpreted piece of writing advice. n/a

#5993:	Short Stories	November 13, 2013
Self Editing Quick Tips Things to look for in your short stories, when you're in a hurry! n/a

#5948:	Short Stories	October 16, 2013
What's the Holdup? Why "waiting for inspiration" is not a great plan. Find ways to write yourself out of a funk. n/a

#5892:	Short Stories	September 18, 2013
Check Your Facts! Be confident in your writing by knowing what you're talking about, and research your details for best results. n/a

#5848:	Short Stories	August 21, 2013
Under the Microfiction-Scope Tiny stories can have a huge impact! Try your hand at microfiction. You may just surprise yourself with the results. n/a

#5803:	Short Stories	July 24, 2013
What Are Your Stakes? Simply put, what do your characters have --or want-- that's worth fighting for? There's always something... n/a

#5750:	Short Stories	June 26, 2013
Where DOES the Time Go? Little things can add up to big changes in your writing. Be proactive and use your time wisely! n/a

#5700:	Short Stories	May 29, 2013
Pushing Past the Prompt What happens when the contest is over, anyway? You have all this material left over that could be refined... n/a

#5650:	Short Stories	May 01, 2013
Character Tics Being authentic without being grotesque; thoughts on creating lifelike characters with all kinds of problems. n/a

#5604:	Short Stories	April 03, 2013
Learning How to be Critiqued There's not really a wrong way, but here are some thoughts on how to maximize what you get from the reviewing process. n/a

#5550:	Short Stories	March 06, 2013
Unpacking Some thoughts on order and chaos. n/a

#5505:	Short Stories	February 05, 2013
Reverse Outlining Hear me out: sometimes you can outline your story later! Outlining in reverse can help you revise in a new light. n/a

#5457:	Short Stories	January 08, 2013
Taking Stock of the Trunk What's in your trunk? Take a look here. n/a

#5412:	Short Stories	December 11, 2012
Unresolved Sometimes even our beliefs and ideals are fiction. And that's okay. n/a

#5369:	Short Stories	November 13, 2012
Down the Middle Midstory lag woes-- we all have them. n/a

#5329:	Comedy	October 24, 2012
Deliberately Bad Poetry: a Primer A darkly comic practice explained for the uninitiated; where the worst ratings mean the funniest poems. n/a

#5319:	Short Stories	October 17, 2012
The Last Word Why are endings so challenging? They ought to be the easiest part! n/a

#5265:	Short Stories	September 19, 2012
Does Genre Matter? Of course it does. (Or does it? Sigh.) Some thoughts on genre and deconstruction, and what it means for short fiction. n/a

#5226:	Short Stories	August 22, 2012
Building Up Details An exploration on how to feather in details in your short stories. n/a

#5176:	Short Stories	July 25, 2012
Reviewing as a Writing Exercise Things to look for in your reviews that help you become a better writer. n/a

#5126:	Short Stories	June 27, 2012
Grammar and Dialect Speech in writing is something to consider for style and setting in your short stories. n/a

#5068:	Short Stories	May 30, 2012
Digging Into Character with Questions... Meaningful short stories have emotional impact. Use pointed questions to get meaningful answers that spur your stories. n/a

#5026:	Short Stories	May 02, 2012
Experiments in Antagonism Compelling villains can be challenging-- here are some thoughts on how to create layered enemies on a (word) budget. n/a

#4973:	Short Stories	April 04, 2012
Shared Universes Writing connected stories and using existing worlds in fiction writing. n/a

#4923:	Short Stories	March 07, 2012
The Scenic Route Using short stories as part of a larger collected body of work; using characters from a larger universe in short works. n/a

#4868:	Short Stories	February 08, 2012
Fiction as Catharsis. How reality and fiction intersect for us as writers. n/a

#4846:	Fantasy	January 25, 2012
But What Will They Wear? Do you know your jerkin from your tunic? A quick look at writing about what your speculative fiction characters wear. n/a

#4821:	Short Stories	January 11, 2012
Tying It All Together No string required! Finding ways to bring disparate elements into unity in short fiction. n/a

#4777:	Comedy	December 20, 2011
The Family You Got to Choose Friends, and the things they do for us. n/a

#4770:	Short Stories	December 13, 2011
Inspiration as an Exercise Sharing some thoughts I had after reading a book about art and creativity; using artistic reference and ideas. n/a

#4755:	For Authors	December 06, 2011
Standard Manuscript For-What-ting?? A quick look at manuscript formatting for submissions of all kinds! n/a

#4722:	Short Stories	November 15, 2011
Showing, Telling, and You Some great places to inject description, details, and dialogue to add bulk and content to your stories. n/a

#4709:	For Authors	November 08, 2011
Effective Characterization Using character for story development... Here are some basics and some ideas to work with on characterization. n/a

#4676:	Short Stories	October 19, 2011
Minimalism It's a style thing! Less can be more... n/a

#4658:	For Authors	October 12, 2011
Characterization In Action A few thoughts on using characterization to boost a reader's interest in your work. n/a

#4625:	Short Stories	September 21, 2011
Format and Function how restrictive formats can force you to work creatively to find a solution... through writing! n/a

#4580:	Short Stories	August 24, 2011
Be a Contender Write stories that are competitive no matter where you submit them. n/a

#4523:	Short Stories	July 27, 2011
Idols and Inspirations Musings on influences and ideas... where did that idea come from, anyway? n/a

#4478:	Short Stories	June 29, 2011
Content Condensation Tips on editing with word count in mind... n/a

#4431:	Short Stories	June 01, 2011
Plotting to a Conclusion Finding a means to an ending for your story... n/a

#4403:	Fantasy	May 18, 2011
Time as a Medium Finding ways to use the passage of time in your fantasy worlds can help to make your world more real to your readers. n/a

#4378:	Short Stories	May 04, 2011
More Dialogue on Dialogue A few tips and pointers for correcting wayward dialogue for short story authors and reviewers. n/a

#4354:	Fantasy	April 20, 2011
Absorbing a Little Daily Mysticism... When I was younger, it was easy to find the dark and mystical in the everyday. n/a

#4330:	Short Stories	April 06, 2011
Dialogue as a Story Medium Of all the dynamics which move a story forward, dialogue is the most direct. n/a

#4303:	Drama	March 23, 2011
All in the Details Use specific details and realistic backgrounds to frame your dramatic stories. n/a

#4282:	Short Stories	March 09, 2011
Character Components Building believable, compelling characters is tricky in a short story. Some tips to make the best use of a small space! n/a

#4281:	Noticing Newbies	March 09, 2011
Getting the Word Out It's not enough just to post your items and hope for feedback. Here are some suggestions to get noticed! n/a

#4230:	Short Stories	February 09, 2011
Pieces of Something Greater Sometimes a vignette is just a vignette... n/a

#4218:	Noticing Newbies	February 02, 2011
Forward Motion Inertia is a two-way condition. n/a

#4182:	Short Stories	January 12, 2011
Resolutions of the "Ending" Kind... Some of my favorite writers have said the hardest part of writing is knowing when to end a story... n/a

#4168:	Noticing Newbies	January 05, 2011
More, More, More... I know, I know, it's resolution time. This year's goals? More, more, more... reading, rating, reviewing and... writing! n/a

#4128:	Short Stories	December 14, 2010
The Direct Line While a short story can have its twists and turns, the ultimate story movement should be straightforward. n/a

#4116:	Noticing Newbies	December 07, 2010
Cold Feet? Why do we as writers have any trepidation about sharing our work? n/a

#4080:	Short Stories	November 16, 2010
Make Me Care... About Your Character! The best stories are character driven, but character alone won't carry a story-- good characters need compelling plots! n/a

#4069:	Noticing Newbies	November 09, 2010
The Other Kind of Ratings Content Ratings can be complex, but using them correctly will help you direct traffic in your Portfolio! n/a

#4032:	Noticing Newbies	October 20, 2010
It's All in How You View It... The best way to get views and reviews is to put your best foot forward... or, as the case may be, your Portfolio! n/a

#4031:	Short Stories	October 20, 2010
Holding the Line Short fiction relies on tension for consistency-- here are a few tips for maintaining the tension in your writing. n/a

#3981:	Short Stories	September 22, 2010
Push Button, Receive Message One reason many writers love the short story medium: it's an easy way to communicate an idea and get feedback on it. n/a

#3970:	Noticing Newbies	September 15, 2010
Community Within A Community Finding your place in the Writing.Com community is easier than it sounds! A few places to begin... n/a

#1242:	Poetry	August 30, 2006


#1184:	Poetry	August 02, 2006


#527:	Drama	July 27, 2005

Total 141 newsletters found.

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

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