Written Out Loud is a writing and storytelling program that works with schools and students outside of schools to teach writing and empathy skills through collaborative storytelling practices. The education program was founded by Joshua Shelov, a filmmaker and screenwriter who wrote the Green Street Hooligans, starring Elijah Wood, and co-wrote and directed The Best […]
Over 30 years ago, I received my bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Tennessee. Despite the passing of time, I still hold dear two items from my five-year educational journey: my framed diploma and a small book entitled “The Word: An Associated Press Guide to Good News Writing” by Rene J. Cappon. This […]
The songwriting process can be difficult, and when you’re struggling to come up with the words, you can get demotivated to carry on. Whether you’re struggling to expand your song idea or you need a fresh one, there’s always a way to deal with writer’s block. Fortunately, you don’t have to be stuck with writer’s […]
Whether you’re freelancing, blogging, or crafting fiction, writing is often a challenging task. Coping with writer’s block–or even garden-variety procrastination–can slow the progress. Here are several accountability tools for writers to help you stay on track and keep the words flowing. 1. Use Time-Tracking Tools. Commit to writing a certain number of hours each day […]
High school, public, and university students will have the opportunity to learn from the masters at WritersFest, a literary festival planned by Pittsburg State University’s Creative Writing Program in March, with workshops and readings by noted authors. The festival honors writer Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Kansas Poet Laureate Emeritus, and celebrates her many and varied contributions to […]
In the early 1960s, the East German secret police—commonly known as the Stasi—gathered some of its staff to compose and share their poetry. The group called themselves the Writing Circle of Chekists, borrowing the word “cheka” from their fellow spies in Russia, and they met once a month for almost three decades. But what exactly […]
When I started writing, I constantly worried about the form, style, and words I chose for my thoughts. Putting your thoughts into words is daunting, especially if you are a beginner. Please do not assume that I have written novels, dramas, and articles and got them published and I got enough knowledge to distribute them […]
Two-time CBC Literary Prizes winner Chanel M. Sutherland won a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts. (Submitted by Chanel M. Sutherland) Chanel M. Sutherland is a two-time CBC Literary Prize winner. She first won the 2021 CBC Nonfiction Prize for her essay, ‘Umbrella.’ Then in 2022, she won the CBC Short […]
Outlander author Diana Gabaldon is busy writing the 10th and final book in her popular, long-running literary series. At the same time, she has other projects in the works — including a prequel about Jamie Fraser’s parents and a companion book titled What Frank Knew . Recently, Gabaldon dropped an excerpt from the Frank-focused story. […]
As a humor writer, I try to write about everything. It’s basically all that I know how to do. But the thing about writing humor is that it sometimes makes me feel like I’m hiding behind a mask and pretending I’m something I’m not. Now, don’t get me wrong: I’m a person who loves to […]
