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Author Archives: James A. Miller
Just take the next step
When I think about the vast landscape of what I haven’t written yet it feels daunting. There are so many authors out there writing way more than me. I can picture them writing away at this very moment outpacing me … Continue reading
Posted in Encouragement, Procrastination, Writing Advice
Tagged Just take the first step
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Storytelling with Nonfiction, by Matthew Walter
If you’re a writer of fiction with limited publishing success, consider writing nonfiction. Why would you want to do that? Because it will make you a better writer. The elements that make good fiction are the same for nonfiction. You … Continue reading
Why Writing with AI Can Undermine Your Creative Growth
I thought I would take a moment to comment on the use of AI to write fiction. My position on it is that if you are using AI to write fiction, you are cheating yourself. You also miss out on … Continue reading
Posted in My opinions on writing, Writing Advice
Tagged AI, AI and Fiction, Writing with AI
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Rejectomancy, where have you been all my life?
Wow, I can’t believe it has taken me this long to find Aeryn Rudel’s wonderful site Rejectomancy I’m a guy who landed his first published piece by blogging about the hidden meaning in all the rejection letters I was getting … Continue reading
Make Believe
Make Believe comes to us from Kurt Fillmore. It has been [mistakenly] rejected by the following: Kurt provided the following Bio: I was born in the central valley of California in 1960. I spent my early youth moving between Fresno, … Continue reading
The value of humor in writing
Why Humor in Writing Matters Let’s face it the world’s a little rough around the edges right now. We’re all just trying to hang on with a sense of dignity and maybe some semblance of joy. What better way to … Continue reading
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Hope
This weeks story comes to us from Y. Len. Y. Len’s spoken English is barbed with foreign accent and imposter words from several other languages. (Y. Len’s words not mine.) Since 2021, Y Len has had seven short stories appear in … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction
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Going Beyond Stereotypes: Revealing Core Traits that Make Characters Real
There are two extremes when creating characters: making them too consistent or too chaotic. One leads to cardboard cutouts and the other creates confusion. Real people aren’t like that and neither are great fictional characters. The Myth of Consistency In … Continue reading
It’s possible I might not be that funny
After several submissions to places that publish funny stuff, and the corresponding rapid-fire rejections, I am starting to come to the realization that I might not be that funny. I feel like there was a time when I was funny. … Continue reading
Posted in Intimidation, Rejection
Tagged humorous writing, Rejected Fiction, Struggling Writer
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Property Room
This week’s story comes to us from Henry McFarland. Henry is an economist, community activist, and part-time short story writer. He has published stories in Brain Games: Stories to Astonish, Page & Spine, Tree and Stone, After Dinner Conversation, Cosmorama, … Continue reading
Breaking Into The Craft 