Prose Protips

Foundational questions for every character: What do they want most? What do they fear most?

Hard work is important, but don't forget to rest! Your story will benefit from your self-care.

Write down everything that happens in the story, then in the second draft, make it look like you knew what you were doing all along. -Neil Gaiman

Find a partner (in-person or online) and write a short story, trading off every paragraph.

After reading Ninth House, I'm reading every Leigh Bardugo interview I can find. It's no surprise that she has some great insights to share about the craft. 

and I just finished Ninth House. Any suggestions for a short, quick read for the weekend?

I just finished Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo and I'm still picking my jaw up off the floor. Countless books have been marketed as "grownup Harry Potter," but Ninth House finally makes good on that pitch, using its magical premise to examine gender, class, and power in the Ivy League. It's very much an adult book (cw for several instances of sexual violence), but its ugly themes are handled with empathy and grace. I can't recommend it enough.

Write the story you want to read.

We don’t need a list of rights and wrongs, tables of dos and don'ts: we need books, time, and silence. “Thou shalt not” is soon forgotten, but “Once upon a time” lasts forever. -Philip Pullman

Imagine your hometown transformed by one drastic event. What happened? How is life different now, and in what ways is it the same as before?

Learn to make friends with criticism! If it hurts at first, take a break and come back later. Critique is how shitty first drafts turn into great stories.

My lovely writing group is the main reason I finished the first draft of my current novel! Without them, I'd still be swearing it'd get around to it sooner or later. Writing a novel is an immense, daunting task. We can help each other along through critique, encouragement, smart questions, and above all accountability. 

Always start with character. Once you know your characters and their motives, the plot will often reveal itself.

Exercise: Develop a setting using each of the five senses. In as much detail as possible, describe three things in the environment you can observe with each.

Always carry a note-taking device of some sort. Don’t let those moments of inspiration escape!