Lesson #15: Setting and Research

We’ve all been there. You know you’ve been there. We read books set in such-and-such a place in such-and-such a time; we also live in such-and-such a place and have done our research about such-and-such a time. So it’s incredibly aggravating when an author writes inaccurate information. Or when an author uses unrealistic content. Or […]

Lesson #26: Description Overload

Ah, description… Until I read Jeff Gerke’s The Irresistible Novel, I had no idea description was such a controversial booger. People either love it or hate it. Both Jeff and I agree, that there is a balance to be stuck between too much and none. So what is description anyway? Jeff defines it as: “text the portrays the appearance […]

Lesson 78: Got Setting?

Does your life take place in a vacuum? If I zapped you with a transporter ray and dropped you in the middle of Saudi Arabia, would that make a difference to your everyday life? Think about this for a minute. Pick today and lay out your day. Could you do your life in Saudi Arabia? […]

Lesson #79: What’s in a Setting?

In one of my college courses (I’m an English Literature major), I read a novel titled “Waiting for the Barbarians” by J. M. Coetzee. It’s an intriguing book for several reasons, but especially because of how the novel was written: it has very little defined setting. Let me explain.  The book is intentionally written to […]

Lesson #82: Exercises for SETTING

From now on, every five lessons we will incorporate an “exercise” lesson. Consider these lessons the “workbook” portion of your very own “Write Nook Textbook”. Take what you’ve learned from these last few lessons on setting. You can use the prompts/exercises below (modifying them if you’d like) or search for similar exercises from trustworthy sites/books […]

Announcing… The First Annual Short Story Contest!

*Drum roll…* Spread the word! The Write Nook is hosting it’s first annual short story contest! Price: Free! Ages 13+ All genres accepted! Open: January 1, 2018 – March 1, 2018 Winner will receive: a TWN t-shirt, a free 5-page edit from all four of The Write Nook’s professional Editors, and a spotlight on our […]