Writing Resources | Writing Forward- Part 2

What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers

This post contains affiliate links that earn commissions for this website from qualifying purchases. Good fiction includes many different elements: believable characters, realistic dialogue, and a compelling plot. Every decent story has a beginning, middle, and end. Intriguing tales are built around conflict and are rich with themes and symbols. And those are just the…Read More

Writing Resources: Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury

This post contains affiliate links that earn commissions for this website from qualifying purchases. Ray Bradbury’s Zen in the Art of Writing, a collection of essays on writing and creativity, is infused with unparalleled joy and passion for the craft of writing. It’s an easy, relaxing read that imparts unique insight to boost your writing habits and…Read More

The Reviews Are In: 101 Creative Writing Exercises

When I set out to write 101 Creative Writing Exercises, the goal was simple: give writers the tools they need to succeed. Many of the writing exercises I had done over the years were fun or interesting, but few of them imparted practical writing skills. I wanted to develop exercises that would convey constructive writing…Read More

Writing Resources: Wonderbook

This post contains affiliate links that earn commissions from qualifying purchases. Jeff VanderMeer’s Wonderbook is not your average tome on the craft of writing. It’s more like a portal, and once you enter, writing becomes a strange and awesome adventure. Subtitled The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction, the book addresses fiction in general but occasionally emphasizes speculative fiction; any writer will…Read More

Holiday Gifts for Writers (2019 Edition)

This post contains affiliate links that earn commissions from qualifying purchases. It’s that time of year again when many of us start thinking about finding the perfect gifts for our loved ones. For those of you who have a writer on your gift list this year, I’ve got some helpful gift suggestions down below. And for…Read More

Writing Resources: The Pocket Muse

This post contains affiliate links that earn commissions for this website from qualifying purchases. We writers can’t be inspired every day. Sometimes we get burned out. Other times, our ideas seem unappealing. We find ourselves grappling with an idea that’s incomplete or we might be seeking lots of small ideas for a big project. But…Read More

Writing Resources: Stephen King On Writing

Today I’m bringing back a post that’s been sitting in the archives for a while. Stephen King’s On Writing is one of the most important books ever written on the craft of writing, one of the few texts that all writers should experience, regardless of your preferred form or genre. This post has been updated…Read More

Writing Resources: The Practice of Poetry

This post contains affiliate links that earn commissions for this website from qualifying purchases. When it comes to poetry writing resources, there are some special books out there that will help make you a better reader and a more well-rounded writer. Some academics argue that poetry is an intellectual pursuit, but that’s only partially true….Read More

A Messy, Liberating Guide to Journal Writing

This post contains affiliate links that earn commissions for this website from qualifying purchases. You should see my journal. It’s a cacophony of words and images, scribbles, doodles, and scraps of ideas tucked between the pages. It’s sort of a mess, and I like it that way. I know some writers are diligent about keeping…Read More

Writing Resources: Perrine’s Sound and Sense

This post contains affiliate links that earn commissions for this website from qualifying purchases. This is one of my favorite writing resources of all time. It is subtitled “An Introduction to Poetry,” but it’s full of concepts that can benefit any form of writing. Whether you write fiction, articles, essays, or blog posts, Perrine’s Sound and…Read More