The Writing Life Archives

4 Skills Novelists Can Learn from Journalists

September 22, 2015
Student Contributor
Guest posts, The Writing Life, Writing Tips and Tools
2 Comments

Brynn Fitzsimmons, Guest Contributer Journalism caught me unawares. When an editor offered me a journalism job in my university’s communications department, I told him he was crazy. I am a novelist—a fantasy novelist. You do not get farther from journalism than that, right?

Oyan-blog-writing-weaknesses-02-pinterest

Veteran Students on Overcoming Writing Weaknesses, Part 2

September 10, 2015
Staff Writer
Giving and Receiving Critique, Guest posts, Help with Characters, Push Your Imagination, Self-editing Tips, Stuck? Discouraged?, The Writing Life, World building, Writing Tips and Tools
0 Comments

Compiled by Staff Last week, we asked eight One Year Adventure Novel (OYAN) students to tell us what their biggest area of weakness is in writing, and what strategies they employ to overcome it. This week, we feature another eight experienced OYANers and their responses. We hope their ideas for self-improvement will be useful to you!

Oyan-blog-writing-weaknesses-01-pinterest

Veteran Students on Overcoming Writing Weaknesses, Part 1

September 1, 2015
Staff Writer
Giving and Receiving Critique, Help with Characters, Push Your Imagination, Self-editing Tips, Stuck? Discouraged?, The Writing Life, Writing Tips and Tools
0 Comments

Compiled by Staff We asked several One Year Adventure Novel (OYAN) students to tell us what their biggest area of weakness is in writing, and what strategies they employ to overcome it. This week, we feature eight different students and their responses.

So your novel isn’t perfect yet. Submit anyway.

August 12, 2015
Student Contributor
Guest posts, Novel Submission, OYAN News, Stuck? Discouraged?, The Writing Life, Writing Tips and Tools
3 Comments

Kyle de Waal, Guest Contributor The deadline to enter our annual Student Novel Contest is August 15, 2015—in 3 days! If you've been holding back, afraid to submit your novel, Kyle challenges you to think about the contest in a different and fun way.

Through the Wardrobe: Reflections on the Summer Workshop

By Daniel Schwabauer Every summer we host a writing conference for One Year Adventure Novel (OYAN) students. We call it the Summer Workshop, and it is my favorite week of the year.