This article was first featured on the now-defunct Sowing the Seeds blog hosted by Vine Leaves Literary Journal.  The poets among us understand the importance of rhythm in writing. Those of us who write prose, however, may give the issue little thought. This post aims to change that! Let’s start by recognizing that in addition to…

This article was first featured on the now-defunct Sowing the Seeds blog hosted by Vine Leaves Literary Journal.  Every story we write takes place somewhere. In addition, good books, stories or vignettes tend to be immersive, drawing us irresistibly into the world in which they occur. This is why, as writers, we ought to pay attention to place—often called…

This article was first featured on the now-defunct Sowing the Seeds blog hosted by Vine Leaves Literary Journal.  “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have time (or the tools) to write.” – Stephen King A significant part of a writer’s development involves reading: in order to be able to produce written works, we also need…

This article was first featured on the now-defunct Sowing the Seeds blog hosted by Vine Leaves Literary Journal.  A waterfall of commuters plunging down the subway steps. Clouds appearing like wadded-up tissues after a rain. The jack-o’-lantern look of an apartment block by night. Images are crucial to fiction—hence the importance of detail and of show, don’t tell. Another…

This article was first featured on the now-defunct Sowing the Seeds blog hosted by Vine Leaves Literary Journal.  “If those who have studied the art of writing are in accord on any one point, it is on this: the surest way to arouse and hold the attention of the reader is by being specific, definite, and concrete.” –…

This article was first featured on the now-defunct Sowing the Seeds blog hosted by Vine Leaves Literary Journal.  Like setting, dialogue is an indispensable and multitasking tool of fiction that helps us accomplish multiple aims at once. It illuminates aspects of character, because the way someone speaks provides clues about origin, social status, mood, and so on. It…