Writerly Ways

I made it to OH. Rocket is happy to see me. Shingles are all over the place. most of my porch is falling in. I need to text all this nonsense to my landlords.

I have no real writing thoughts but I DO have a question. How do you handle the scenes that won't leave you alone even if they are nowhere near where you are in the story? I have a habit of playing them in my head for weeks/months/years until I finally get to that place in the story/series but by then I'm tired of them and they don't feel new or exciting any more. I'd like to find a better way.

Open Calls

The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts Compressed Creative Arts, any genre, has to be under 600 words

Thema: Waiting In Line Waiting in line

Flash Fiction Online Special Call: “Tiny Gods” Flash Fiction Online Special Call: “Tiny Gods”

The Rotting Leaf April 2026 Window Darker ecology-themed stories


Shallow Waters Flash Fiction Contest March 2026 Archival Horror


They Are Still Here Fantasy tales of resistance and resilience

5 Paying Literary Magazines to Submit to in March 2026

Horror Publishers Accepting Submissions. for 2026, this includes major publishers

84 Specialized Manuscript Publishers Open to Submissions


From Around the Web

The Gothic Moors: Why Isolation Still Works

5 Ways to Develop Character Voices

How Do You Know If You’re Ready to Query?

When the Comments Section Is Challenging

The Perfection of the Wrong Word

In Medias Res: It’s Not About the Explosions


From Betty

Five Ways to Add Conflict to Your Story

Five Steps to a Great Plot Twist

Accounting for Character Identification

The Three Ways to Keep Your Story Short here's one for me to absorb

Five Ways to Solve the First Officer Problem

Is Your Story Cohesive? What You Should Know

Using Contradictions to Create Microtension – Part 6.

Reading and Hearing

Ooo La La: 5 Steps to Write Uncomfortable Scenes

Healthy Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Celebrating Small Wins

When to get feedback on a novel

Celebrate Your Writing Progress Even When Life Isn’t Perfect

How to Keep Writing When Life Gets Busy: 3 Practical Tips for Writers

When Writing Advice Conflicts: How Writers Can Discern What to Change

My Brain is Not My Friend Right Now: the Challenges of Working with a Quirky Brain

Reality…But Better: Never Let Facts Get in the Way of Fiction

Five Worldbuilding Mistakes Even Enthusiasts Make

Six Ways to Keep Characters in the Danger Zone

Establishing and Satisfying Plot Threads

When Dark and Sensitive Content Is Worth It

Using Contradictions to Create Masterful Microtension – Part 4

Using Contradictions to Create Microtension – Part 5

Play Isn't the Opposite of Discipline

The Two Things Every Novel Needs


Research Words of Wisdom

Five Tips For Increasing Tension

Why We Procrastinate and How To Stop

How to Write Powerful Story Beats

How to Write Authentic Character Behavior

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Overindulging

The View from Inside: On Adding Interiority to Your Fiction

your query letter isn't the problem

How to Write Epic Fantasy Without Overcomplicating Your Story

How to Overcome Writer’s Block with a Simple Writer’s Affirmation Video

Why Writing by Hand Boosts Memory, Creativity, and Brain Health for Writers

Kishōtenketsu Story Structure: What It Is, How It Works, and How It Compares to Western Plotting

Embodied Writing: How to Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Story.

When a Writer Does More Than One Thing

Reading as an Agent