Stream of Consciousness
Look Like a pain. AI-Generated.
Introduction Have you ever heard someone say, "You don't look like you're in pain"? It's as if people think pain is something you can see. But pain doesn't really announce itself. It hides behind smiles, straightened spines, and the words we choose. This is the story of Maya, a woman who mastered the facade of everything being fine when her whole life was coming apart.
By Smart blend5 months ago in Writers
Bukowski Was Right: Don't Try
I considered writing yesterday, Sunday 15th September, and nothing was working—so I didn’t. In case you are wondering what constitutes Paul Stewart not writing, I finished editing and published an ode to Donna Fox. So, it wasn't exactly an unproductive day.
By Paul Stewart5 months ago in Writers
Plagiarist!!
**EDIT** THE USER AND HIS STORIES HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM VOCAL It has come to my attention that we have another serial plagiarist. Michelle first reported it in our plagiarism group chat on Facebook Messenger this morning when she noticed one of her stories had been stolen by this user. We immediately went into action.
By Mother Combs5 months ago in Writers
Are You Building a Career or Just a Brand?
Let’s face it: we’re all living double lives. There’s the version of you that gets up, does the work, and delivers results. And then there’s the curated, polished, LinkedIn-friendly version of you - the one who seems effortlessly successful, constantly grinding, and always "on." Over time, it feels like this second version of ourselves has taken center stage. We’ve become performers in our own career dramas, and honestly, the show is exhausting.
By Narghiza Ergashova5 months ago in Writers
Naming Fiction Characters
Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter — What if? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers prompts — The Exercise: Name the following characters, keeping in mind that you can plant, within a name, a clue to their role in your fiction. * A petty, white-collar thief who robs his boss over several years. * An envious, bitter woman who makes her sister miserable by systematically trying to undercut her pleasure and self-confidence. * A sweet young man too shy to speak to an attractive woman he sees every day at work. * The owner of a fast-food restaurant who comes on to his young female employees. * A grandmother who just won the lottery. The Objective: To recognize that the names you give your characters should not be drawn out of a hat but carefully tested to see if they "work". Sometimes you may want to choose an "appropriate" name (Victoria for a member of the British aristocracy) and once in a while it's a good idea to choose a name that seems "inappropriate" (Bruce for the child of migrant farm workers). In each case, you are sending a message to the reader about who the character is, where he came from and where he is headed. A name can send a message as powerful as a title.
By Denise E Lindquist5 months ago in Writers
