Jeanette the Writer

DIY MFA’s Virtual Open Mic!

I sat there shaking, my finger hovering over the button. This was it. Possibly the first of many, or perhaps a bad experiment that would fail after one round. Regardless… I pressed the button. That was my first video post as a writer. I had been writing blogs, but they felt rushed and didn’t seem… Read more »

Helen J. Darling

Finding it Hard to Write? Consider Keeping a Pandemic Journal

Raise your hand if you’re stressed about the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m stressed. Everyone I know is stressed. We want to stay connected to the most current information, but that leads us down depressing rabbit holes projecting inconceivable changes to the way we live our lives. Social media offers a solution to keep us connected to… Read more »

Lori Walker

#5onFri: Five Essay Collections to Check Out

Essays are having a hot moment right now, but they’ve been around for a long time. The word “essay” originates from the French word “essayer,” meaning “to try.” The form has certainly morphed with time, but in a sense boils down to the writer figuring out what they think and feel by writing about it…. Read more »

Melanie Marttila

Mythic Storytelling: Five Books on Tarot for Writers

Last time on Speculations, I offered a brief introduction to the tarot. This time, I’ve read and will briefly review five books on tarot for writers, so that you can decide which reference(s), if any, you might want to add to your writing craft library. I’ve decided to present them in chronological order by date… Read more »

Jeanette Smith

Should I Trust Editing Software?

Editing is often cited as the most difficult part of the writing process. Having taken our unique ideas and formed them into sentences, how do we now evaluate the result and determine what’s good from what needs changing? Some changes will be obvious—usually from the squiggly red line underneath it. That’s right. Today we’re talking… Read more »

#5onFri: Five Books for Writers Interested in Minimalism

Minimalism has been a buzzword in our culture for several years now, perhaps culminating in the huge success of Marie Kondo’s KonMari method and TV show. Untold numbers of people have found great benefits in applying minimalist principals to their homes, wardrobes, and lives. I believe minimalism is especially beneficial to writers. When there is… Read more »