Monthly Writing Challenge for April: Revisit One of Your Older Stories
Welcome to this month’s writing challenge prompt! It can feel nerve-wracking to revisit an old story. Your writing abilities have likely grown by then and you may be embarrassed about how you wrote your previous narratives. (And if not—fabulous! That’s where I hope every writer finds themselves.) It’s time to take your creative power back.…
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What Is a Mood Board? Plus Free Resources to Make Your First One
Some of my links are affiliate links for things I love. They help me keep this blog up and running, with no extra cost to anything you decide to purchase. If you find anything you like, thank you for supporting our community! Visual inspiration is important for creative writers. It might keep story ideas in…
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How Do You Know When Your Manuscript Is Ready to Query?
You just wrote the last sentence of your novel—congrats! That’s an incredible accomplishment that took hours of your unpaid time and effort. You poured so much of your creative energy into that manuscript, so you’re ready to query it. It should see the light of day and reach the hearts of readers. But should that…
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Weekly Writing Challenge 13: Write a Story About the Photographer Behind This Picture
Welcome to this week’s writing challenge prompt! Practicing narration isn’t always something writers do intentionally. You’ll use it with most stories, whether it’s inner dialogue or 3rd-person POV. When was the last time you thought about writing a story specifically to practice your narrative voice? Use this week’s picture as inspiration. Why would the photographer…
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100+ Quotes About Creative Writing
Writing can feel lonely sometimes. You’re the only one aware of your story ideas and character creation process. You’re the only person cheering yourself on as you make each story come to life. Reading quotes about creative writing can battle that loneliness and even inspire you. These are some of the most famous inspirational quotes…
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Plot Devices to Complicate Your Story
You’re excited to write an upcoming story, but the plot seems pretty simple from start to finish. How can you make it more complicated to deepen your themes, lengthen the story, or leave your readers with plot twists that make their jaws drop? Try a few of these devices to see what works for each…
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Weekly Writing Challenge 12: Write About Someone Who Gets Lost in the Mountains
Welcome to this week’s writing challenge prompt! When characters get lost in nature, writers often have to heavily rely on their internal monologues. You won’t have other characters to spark conversations or instigate conflict (unless your story includes what happens after your character gets back to town—if they do at all). This week, try writing…
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How to Make Money Writing Fiction: 7 Ways to Earn an Income
Writers eventually start to wonder how to make money writing fiction. It’s absolutely valid to want to earn money off of your craft. You’ve worked hard to hone your skills and spent countless hours drafting, editing, and rewriting. What are your options for making money writing fiction? Check out these ideas to see what’s right…
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Hey there—
I’m emily, founder of
em dash press
I believe you can become a creative writer at any age. Your experience, time, and ability to attend university classes shouldn’t keep you from learning about the craft of stories.
