The good news first. There’s an infinite range of narrative voices and characters and ideas and settings that make a story shine. There’s no checklist of things you need to plod through to make sure a story’s good, and that means the sky’s the limit. There are, however, some concrete things to avoid if you […]
An interview with speculative fiction author James Beamon. We discussed his flash fiction story, Settling Beef, originally published in Daily Science Fiction. AW: This story stayed top of mind for me during Black History Month as it tackles the theme of inclusivity and made me think about how we can use story craft to create […]
Looking back on 2020, I was focused on two overarching themes: survival (of my loved ones, myself, humanity, all living things, the environment…) and DEI initiatives (diversity, equity, and inclusion). Maybe you were too?What does this have to do with flash fiction, you ask?As I looked back on the year to consider how to curate […]
Five years ago, I created this column to research and discuss failure and success as a writer—a column without delusions or lies that presented strategies for working in an unfair business. It was meant for me and writers like me who were still swinging after fifteen years, nowhere near the bright lights but refusing to […]
CW: MENTAL ILLNESS, DEPRESSION, SUICIDE September 2019 marks the twentieth anniversary of Jay’s decision to become a writer. His gift to you all this celebratory year is DO IT – Twelve hard lessons on learning by failing, succeeding by accident, never giving up and saying FXXK WRITING all at the same time. You’re welcome! […]
September 2019 marks the twentieth anniversary of Jay’s decision to become a writer. His gift to you all this celebratory year is DO IT – Twelve hard lessons on learning by failing, succeeding by accident, never giving up and saying FXXK WRITING all at the same time. You’re welcome! * * * What are the […]
September 2019 marks the twentieth anniversary of Jay’s decision to become a writer. His gift to you all this celebratory year is DO IT – Twelve hard lessons on learning by failing, succeeding by accident, never giving up and saying FXXK WRITING all at the same time. You’re welcome! • • • Analogies are illustrative […]
LESSON 5: READ, MUTHAFXXXER, READ! September 2019 marks the twentieth anniversary of Jay’s decision to become a writer. His gift to you all this celebratory year is DO IT – Twelve hard lessons on learning by failing, succeeding by accident, never giving up and saying FXXK WRITING all at the same time. You’re welcome! * […]
LESSON 1: NO ONE IS WATCHING BUT YOU September 2019 marks the twentieth anniversary of Jay’s decision to become a writer. His gift to you all this celebratory year is DO IT – Twelve hard lessons on learning by failing, succeeding by accident, never giving up, and saying FXXK WRITING all at the same […]