Wednesday Review – You are a Writer

Jeff Goins' You are a Writer (so start acting like on) promises to " help you fall back in love with writing and make the connections you need to build your brand as a writer" and delivers. If we don't take count his  relatively short Writer's Manifesto (available here for free), this is Jeff's first book and an excellent one at that. The self-made man's basic message is clear:  you already are a writer because all you need to do to be one is write.  You don't need publishing contracts, roaring fans and New York Times...

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Writing Prompt Tuesday – Picture Prompt

Sometimes it seems our brain is flooding us with a torrent of ideas; they keep on coming and coming so fast we barely have time to jot them down before they escape us.  Then, there are those other times when our mind is as dry as the Sahara.  In those moments, writing prompts can be useful. Writing Challenge! Source: Personal collection This week, use the above picture as an inspiration.  What does this sign stand for?  Why the Japanese characters?  Is this the residence of a wealthy eccentric? Share your...

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Word of the Week – Rebuke

 Image source According to World Internet Statistics, English is the most used language of the Internet (closely followed by Chinese!)  For many of us, Shakespeare's tongue is a second or third language, which means that we are constantly learning. To help us enrich our vocabulary and make us better writers and readers, a new word is posted on ATUA every week. *** Rebuke Verb 1: to express sharp, stern disapproval of; reprove; reprimand.   Noun sharp, stern disapproval; reproof; reprimand.  ...

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May the Odds Ever be in your Favour

May 28th – Peter Hinchcliffe Fiction Award (40$ Entry fee)                     The New Quarterly May 31st – Sports Fiction and Essay Contest                     Winning Writers                     Call me Maybe Flash Fiction Challenge                    ...

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Writer's Toolbox

You'll find here a list of links to articles I found useful or inspiring in the last week.  Feel free to add other links in the comment section. Enjoy! Dialogue Write great dialogue scenes in 7 steps – Nail your Novel – Roz Morris Talk Amongst Yourselves: Realistic Dialogue – The Bookshelf Muse – Becca Puglisi Emotions Donald Maass Wisdom: Cultivate Reader Interest Through Unexpected Emotions – The Bookshelf Muse – Angela Ackerman Plot The 7 Basic Plots: Rebirth –  The Write Practice – Liz Bureman A...

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Love in the Time of Digitalia

Image source: commons.wikimedia.org It's Friday night and I've had a couple of beers.  My friends have went on to party somewhere else so I'm meandering alone on Ste-Catherine, Montreal's downtown shopping street.  I'm not sure how but I end up at Chapters, the biggest English bookstore in town, but  before long, I'm waiting in line at the cash with 4 books in my arms.  Alcohol and literature are a dangerous mix. Worst thing is, this is a common occurrence.  Not the drinking, silly, the buying of books! ...

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Review Wednesday – Earthbound: a study of the average Man

Short stories had never really appealed to me; I preferred full-length novels in which I could spend a lot of time with the characters and live with them for a little while.  Reading Ted Chiang's Stories of your Life and Others had recently warmed me up to the genre but still not enough to get out of my way to buy collections.  Then, I discovered Kenneth Radu's latest short story collection, Earthbound.  I was hooked. At first, I tried my best to read only one story a day, like a box of delicious chocolate, I wanted to enjoy...

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Writing Prompt Tuesday — That one moment

Sometimes it seems our brain is flooding us with a torrent of ideas; they keep on coming and coming so fast we barely have time to jot them down before the escape us.  Then, there are those other times when our mind is as dry as the Sahara.  In those moments, writing prompts can be useful. *** Writing challenge! Write about that one second when everything changed.  That one moment that made the tables turn. Feel free to share your story or excerpt in the comment section or to link back to your blog.  I would love...

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Word of the week - Lithe

According to World Internet Statistics, English is the most used language of the Internet (closely followed by Chinese!)  For many of us, Shakespeare's tongue is a second or third language, which means that we are constantly learning. To help us enrich our vocabulary and make us better writers and readers, a new word is posted on ATUA every wee...

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