We’ll be talking about the Strange vs. the Familiar, a helpful framework for thinking strategically about whether to take a more traditional or a more innovative approach to your draft.

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We’ll be talking about writing fan fiction. We want to discuss a fun creative writing avenue that might scare some due to copyright laws, but we think taking some of your favorite worlds and putting your own spin on it can be a truly rewarding pursuit.

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We’ll be talking about genre grid breakdowns. Have you ever eeked out a first draft of a manuscript and felt like something was missing? If so, story grid genre breakdowns can really shed some light on how to approach your draft!

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We’ll be talking about flash fiction and doing a mini-writing workshop live as we read our own flash fiction to each other. Not sure if you’re ready to commit to a story idea? Looking to infuse your writing life with some inspiration in a low-key way? The short, get-in, get-out format of flash fiction might be perfect for you.

Picks of the Week:

What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe

The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson

We’ll be taking a tool deep dive. We’ll be highlighting the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is the infamous revision spreadsheet!

Picks of the Week:

Seconds by Brian Lee O’Malley

Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari

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Revision Spreadsheet Template

We’ll be talking about beta readers. After you’ve finished writing your latest pieces, you might want to consider sharing them with others to get vital feedback from a sample audience. And our tool tip of the week is Zotero. Stay tuned to hear about how painless constructing a research bibliography can actually be. For real. We promise it’s not that bad!

Picks of the Week:

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke

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Zotero

Mendeley

Papers

We’ll be talking about printed drafts. If you consider yourself a pen and paper person – or if you’re seeking a way to look at a picked-over draft with fresh eyes, this craft topic is for you. And our tool tip of the week is OneNote. Stay tuned to hear about this personal notebook in the cloud!

Picks of the Week:

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Who? A Celebration of Babies by Robie H. Harris

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OneNote

We’ll be talking about short stories as a means of plot and setting exploration. If you have a great idea for a novel but are feeling uncertain of where to dive in, this craft topic may be the perfect way to get started. And our tool tip of the week is writers’ association webinars.  Stay tuned to hear about what perks writing associations offer and why joining a non-work-related Zoom might actually be an exciting opportunity. We promise.

Picks of the Week:

Survive the Night by Riley Sager

All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K Wilkinson

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Women’s Fiction Writers Association

We’ll be talking about morning pages. If you’re feeling stuck in your current writing project or you think you might even be engaging in a bit of self-sabotage or procrastination in your writing life, this craft idea just might be for you! And our tool tip of the week is the Libby app. Stay tuned to hear about how Hillary and BJ access library books in the digital age.

Picks of the Week:

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez

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The Libby App

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is Scrivener, our favorite writing software!

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