Structure
Picking the Right Moment to Start. Honorable Mention in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge. Top Story - March 2025.
You’ve likely heard some of this conventional writing advice before: Start “in media res” A reader can tolerate proportionally as much exposition as the plot has achieved momentum – Stephen King (I think) Begin in the moment and feed the reader details as the plot progresses
By Stephen A. Roddewig10 months ago in Critique
Flash of... Brilliance?
Flash fiction has never really been my “thing”. The type of fiction I tend to gravitate to is more extended, chapter-like fiction—gritty, lengthy stories, full of sub-context and side plots. So, flash fiction presents a challenge for me, one that I have started to tackle more frequently. I’ll be critiquing one of my most recent pieces Survival Rate. The goal was to end in a twist and subvert the reader’s expectations in some groundbreaking way. The side quest goal was to make it only five hundred words.
By Sarah Massey10 months ago in Critique
Dissecting Frog Songs. Runner-Up in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
For the Self-Editing Epiphany challenge, I’ve decided to revisit my “Frog Songs” story. It’s a story which taught me the importance of reading aloud as I write, because reading aloud helps me hear the focal point of the story. When I first read “Frog Songs,” at my local library's open mic night, it made me realize how dreadfully boring it was because it lacked a clear focal point.
By Judah LoVato10 months ago in Critique
Breaking the Rules: A Bold Self-Edit of My Riskiest Writing Choice
Taking the Leap into Creative Uncertainty Every writer faces a moment of doubt when pushing the boundaries of conventional storytelling. This article is both a confession and a guide—a deep dive into my own risk-taking as a writer. I will share an excerpt that I once considered both flawed and full of potential. Then, I will analyze my editing choices, the risks I took, and how they reshaped my creative approach. If you have ever hesitated before breaking a rule in writing, this exploration might offer the encouragement you need.
By Alain SUPPINI10 months ago in Critique
A Moment On My Soapbox. Runner-Up in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
Pulls out soapbox. History never repeats itself, but it loves playing a good cover. When we cease to understand, and only imitate, we doom ourselves and others into repeating the same chords, the same notes, eventually writing off a cover as a different song entirely.
By Matthew J. Fromm10 months ago in Critique
"The Fan" Gets Another Chance.... Honorable Mention in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
Here is the original poem: There are some Challenges where I feel that the Vocal Gods are smiling down on me. There is work that I have produced that has brought out the best in me; sometimes it has brought out things I did not know existed in me. And I feel that I really do have something to say with this one.
By Kendall Defoe 10 months ago in Critique
What goes through the mind of an empty envelope?
Humans! Aah, the notorious ones gospelled with the prowess of pouring their hearts onto the folds of power, of unleashing the confinement of unsaid pain through the enigmatic flair of woven syllables through the crevices of their glistening minds.
By Hridya Sharma10 months ago in Critique
Unearthing the Horror: A Self-Editing Epiphany on “Serpent’s Dominion”
"Serpent's Dominion" explodes onto the scene with an atmosphere so charged it nearly burns the pages—every inch of the island thrums with violent, sinister life. The ground rumbles ferociously beneath his feet—a deep, malignant heartbeat pulsing from the island’s core, as if the very earth were a ravenous beast preparing to strike. This opening salvo not only drags readers into a vortex of relentless impending doom but makes them acutely aware that every tremor is the foreboding drum of a monstrous force lying in wait.
By Jason “Jay” Benskin10 months ago in Critique
Why My First Drafts Look Like a Crime Scene (And Why Yours Should Too)
Do You Have the Guts to Butcher Your Own Work? Have you ever written something so imperfect that you wanted to set it on fire? Good. That means you’re on the right track. Writing isn’t about getting it right the first time—it’s about being brave enough to get it wrong, then ruthless enough to fix it. The true magic happens in self-editing, where creativity and cold-blooded analysis collide. But how do you edit without suffocating your originality?
By Alain SUPPINI10 months ago in Critique
Raw to Remix- 53 & Me. Runner-Up in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
The crows have landed, I see imperfection. Fifty times around the sun plus three more to rub my nose in it. Love yourself, they say, age with grace. But celebrities don't, so why should I? Botox and fillers- a facelift will do. Don't take age lying down, invoke skin resurrection. "You look good for your age." What the hell does that mean? Under eye bags, a deep forehead wrinkle leaves no secrets on my face. Social media spites me and forwardly invites me: To challenge Father Time with "Yeah, I'm about to get mine." Creams, potions, and diet, already tried it. So, I'm about to go in for hand assisted fixes and take a page from the famous. If you ask me later, know I denied it. This is all natural, don't you see; me at 53!
By Marilyn Glover10 months ago in Critique
