Writing Exercise

Chasing Dreams in the Chaos of Everyday Life. Top Story - August 2025.
I never know how much time I’ll get, so I’ll be honest and plunge right in: I’m a mom writing during quiet moments — lunch breaks, nap times, late evenings — whenever the fires are out and the world calms.
By Ashley Orellana5 months ago in Writers
One Bully I Encountered At An Early Age
Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter — What if? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers prompts — The Exercise: First, think about your childhood between the ages of six and twelve and try to recall someone whose memory, even now, has the power to invoke strong, often negative feelings in you. Was that person the class bully, the clown, the daredevil, the town snob, the neighborhood bore, etc? Write down details of what you remember about this person. How she looked and talked. Did you ever have any encounters with this person? Or did you just observe her from a distance? Next, if you haven't seen this person for ten years or longer, imagine what she is doing now, where she lives, etc. Be specific. If you had a long acquaintance with this person, or still know her, imagine where she will be ten years from now. The Objective: To understand how our past is material for our imaginations and how writing well can be the best revenge.
By Denise E Lindquist5 months ago in Writers
The Loneliness of Writing
“Writing is a solitary act, but storytelling is never done alone.” Let’s be real: writing can be lonely. There’s something beautiful about sitting with your characters, your worlds, and your words… but it’s also you, a blinking cursor, and the nagging suspicion that maybe no one will ever read what you’re pouring your heart into.
By Georgia5 months ago in Writers
Crafting Fantasy Maps:
“Maps don’t just show us where we’re going — they tell us who we are.” If you write fantasy, sooner or later, you’re going to face The Map Question: do you make one? And if you do, how detailed should it be? Do you go full Tolkien with mountain ranges, rivers, and ancient trade routes, or do you sketch out a vague coastline and hope nobody asks how long it takes your characters to cross the continent?
By Georgia5 months ago in Writers
Dialogue Tags: Said Is Not Dead
“Good dialogue is invisible; bad dialogue waves its arms and screams.” Let’s talk about one of the most hotly debated topics in writing communities, especially if you hang around TikTok or writers’ forums: dialogue tags. You’ve seen it, right? The endless discourse about whether we’re allowed to use anything other than said. Spoiler: you are. But also… you don’t have to.
By Georgia5 months ago in Writers
Whispers Beneath the Torches
Diana had always lived in the shadow of silence. Her father was a humble blacksmith, her mother long gone, and she carried the weight of a life that demanded more labor than laughter. The small town she lived in was ruled by the iron fist of General Axton, a man whose very name made voices drop and eyes lower.
By Sonia Munachim5 months ago in Writers
Writing as Escapism:
“We read to know we’re not alone. We write to create places where we never have to be.” Let’s be honest: most of us didn’t start writing because we thought we’d get rich or famous (though hey, I’m not saying no to a Netflix deal). We started because the real world was too much — or too little — and we needed somewhere else to go. Somewhere better. Somewhere we could control.
By Georgia5 months ago in Writers
How to Write Believable Villains in Fantasy
“Villains are just heroes of another story — with sharper knives and messier coping mechanisms.” Let’s face it: a boring villain is a fast track to a forgettable fantasy. You can have lush worldbuilding, lyrical prose, and swoony romantic tension — but if your villain is nothing more than a cardboard cutout cackling in a dark tower, your story loses its punch.
By Georgia5 months ago in Writers
Show vs. Tell: What It Really Means
“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” — Anton Chekhov We’ve all heard it: Show, don’t tell. Writers are bombarded with this advice so often that it starts to sound like gospel. But let’s be honest — sometimes it feels vague, overly prescriptive, and downright confusing. What does it actually mean? Are you telling when you write, “She was sad”? Should you never tell anything, ever?
By Georgia5 months ago in Writers
Don’t Use ChatGPT to Write Articles. Use It For These Things Instead
The Truth Writers Don’t Want to Admit Let’s be honest—anyone who’s ever typed the classic prompt “Write an article about XYZ” into ChatGPT knows the disappointment. The result is almost always stiff, repetitive, and reads like a high school essay. It doesn’t sound like you. It doesn’t carry your personality, your experiences, or your unique voice.
By Awais Qarni 5 months ago in Writers
Ten Ways to Break your Writer's Block (Without ChatGPT)
The worst part about being a writer can be the empty page. It's just as daunting as it is depressing, even though there are some (liars) that say the joy of endless possibilities of the blank page can be the best part.
By Athena Pajer5 months ago in Writers
Give Me the Courage of Life
In your heart, a steadfast fire, Burns through darkness, unafraid, Even if the wind blows, full of fear, You stand firm, unshaken, unafraid.
By MGS5 months ago in Writers