Invisible boundaries. The gum lines of aggressive brushers. Chins, if you’re a Hapsburg. The stamped fingerprints of once white shoes. Synthetic beards on aging tires
10 Horrifying Horror Story Prompts
Here are 10 horror story prompts that should give you the chills, and get you writing something scary. Warning if these don't scare you, you are most-likely a zombie, vampire, werewolf or ghost.
Advice on Writing a Novel by Joseph Conrad
Advice on Writing a Novel by Joseph Conrad “I have not read this author’s books, and if I have read them I have forgotten what they were about.” These words…
Poem: Weep Willow Reeds by Konstantin Nicholas Rega
Born in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Konstantin studies British & American Literature and Creative Writing at The University of Kent in Canterbury, England. He has been published by The Claremont Review, Four Ties…
Fenimore Cooper Sucks at Writing by Mark Twain
by Mark Twain It seems to me that it was far from right for the Professor of English Literature in Yale, the Professor of English Literature in Columbia, and…
Word Search for Writers (Mondays)
Many respectable news and literary publications have crosswords or word searches, so we thought we could run a weekly Word Search for writers. On Mondays we will run one of…
POETRY TO-DAY IN AMERICA by Walt Whitman
POETRY TO-DAY IN AMERICA SHAKSPERE—THE FUTURE by Walt Whitman Strange as it may seem, the topmost proof of a race is its own born poetry. The presence of that, or…
My First Typewriter Sucked by Mark Twain
(From My Unpublished Autobiography) by Mark Twain Some days ago a correspondent sent in an old typewritten sheet, faded by age, containing the following letter over the signature of…
On the Decay of the Art of Lying by Mark Twain
by Mark Twain An Essay for Discussion, read at a meeting of the historical and Antiquarian Club of Hartford, and offered for the Thirty-Dollar Prize. Now First Published [Did not…
Poetry as a Study by William Wordsworth
With the young of both sexes, Poetry is, like love, a passion; but, for much the greater part of those who have been proud of its power over their minds,…
How to Publish a Short Story
I’m astonished by how many are terrified to have others read their work. I’ve found that many people are happy to have a few readers. Some writers will post work on their facebook, myspace...
Jane Austin Quotes
We are big fans of Jane around here, and in our effort to bring you more about writers and writing, we are putting up some of her quotes.
Five Ways to Strengthen the Role of the Villian
One of the most important parts of writing a good action/adventure book usually involves a strong villain. Now when I say a villain, you don’t have to imagine Maleficent from…
THE FALSE GEMS by Guy De Maupassant
Monsieur Lantin had met the young girl at a reception at the house of the second head of his department, and had fallen head over heels in love with her.
THE POETIC PRINCIPLE by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-49) was born in Boston, the child of actors who died while he was very young. He was adopted by a Virginian gentleman, Mr. John Allan,
Steampunk Art by Mike Savad
Mike Savad is a photographic artist. The images are designed to look like fine oil paintings, primarily in vintage and nostalgic themes.
How to Publish a Book
How to Publish a book: In today’s world, choice is everything. If a publisher’s door closes, a publishing window will open, but there are vast differences in publishing options in the 21st century.
Poem: Instructions: On Getting Ready to Die by Gayle Kellner
Gayle Kellner is a writer, an artist, a poet, and an educator. Her essays and poems have appeared in Utne Magazine, Orion Magazine, The Loop, The Beachcomber, and The Nature of an Island. She is currently a regular guest on Voice of Vashon’s community radio program
Story: Retreat by Jack Coey
She ran away from home, and Pastor Bruce was dismayed after talking with her mother. Her mother said she’d been sullen for the last month or so, and even the school nurse called once. Her daughter wouldn’t tell her what was wrong, and she asked Pastor Bruce
Story: My Dinner with Mighty Mouse by David Lohrey
I once knew a fat lady in Hollywood who played tennis with Paul Mazursky, back in the days when it took artists three hours to finish breakfast. Beverly and Fairfax…
I Am Not An Animal Expert! by Jack London
by Jack London This is one of our historical articles from writers that we just had to publish. Jack London, one of our most beloved American writer's seems to have…
Mark Twain’s Meeting with Robert Louis Stevenson by Mark Twain
by Mark Twain ... But it was on a bench in Washington Square that I saw the most of Louis Stevenson. It was an outing that lasted an hour…