Micro Fiction Challenge: Dark & Stormy

By David Duhr on September 14, 2019 in Micro Fiction Challenge      122 comments

Sep
14

Discussion questions: In fifty (50) words or fewer, write a scene or story that includes the phrase “a dark and stormy night.” Write or paste your story into the comments. The winner will get a free book, courtesy of WriteByNight. read more

Why Do We Adults Read Books Intended For Kids?

By David Duhr on September 7, 2019 in ABCs of Writing      47 comments

Sep
7

Discussion questions: How often do you read YA, middle-grade, or younger books? What do you get from them that you maybe don’t get from books intended for adults? Do you feel self-conscious reading such books in public, or do you let your flag fly? Let’s talk about it in the comments below. read more

Your Childhood Writing

By David Duhr on August 31, 2019 in ABCs of Writing      30 comments

Aug
31

Discussion questions: What were some of your formative childhood experiences with writing? What inspired you (if you remember!) to experiment with writing? Do you see any of your adult self in your juvenilia? If you could go back and give your childhood self one piece of writing advice, what would it be? Let us know in the comments. read more

WriteByNight Turns 10!

By David Duhr on August 24, 2019 in WBN News & Events      59 comments

Aug
24

Discussion questions: It’s WriteByNight’s ten-year anniversary this week! So we’re going to celebrate ourselves. As for discussion questions: What do you see, or what would you like to see, in WriteByNight’s future? Is there anything we don’t yet offer that you think might be helpful? What can we do to enrich your writing life? Let us know in the comments. Or if you’d like to share a favorite WriteByNight memory from the past ten years, we’d love to hear about it! read more

Ask Us Anything!

By David Duhr on August 17, 2019 in ABCs of Writing      88 comments

Aug
17

Discussion questions: This is a Reddit-style AMA (“Ask Me Anything”) where you’re invited to ask any writing- or non-writing-related questions of David and/or Justine — who we are, what we’re about, what kind of writing we do and why. Or about WriteByNight itself — how it was founded, its various iterations, why we do it, how we do it. Leave your questions in the comments below. 

Note: We’re not taking requests for writing advice here. If you need some, we’d be glad to offer you a free consultation. Also, we reserve the right to ignore/remove anything we deem offensive. So it’s more like an “Ask Us (Almost) Anything”; or “Ask Us Anything (Within Reason).” read more

Micro Fiction Challenge: The Coffin Had No Body In It

By David Duhr on August 10, 2019 in Micro Fiction Challenge      123 comments

Aug
10

Discussion questions: In fifty (50) words or fewer, write a scene or story that includes the phrase “the coffin had no body in it.” Write or paste your story into the comments. The winner will get a free hardcover copy of Stephen Markley’s Ohio, the book that inspired this contest’s phrase. read more

Your High School Reading List

By David Duhr on July 27, 2019 in ABCs of Writing      45 comments

Jul
27

Discussion question: If you taught (or do teach!) high school English, what books (say up to five) would you assign your senior class, and why? What books do you remember reading for class in high school, and did any of them have any kind of significant impact on your life? Have you reread any of those books as an adult, and how did they hold up? read more

Random Thoughts About Reading & Death

By David Duhr on July 13, 2019 in ABCs of Writing      59 comments

Jul
13

Discussion questions: Are there any writers whose bibliographies intimidate you, and why? Are there any writers whose entire bibliographies you’ve read?

How much of your reading consists of rereading? What do you get out of rereading books?

What percentage of your reading would you say comes from a sense of obligation, a “should,” rather than desire? Where do you think that “should” comes from? read more

You & Your Library

By David Duhr on July 6, 2019 in ABCs of Writing      60 comments

Jul
6

Discussion questions: What is your current relationship with libraries? What is your past experience with libraries? Do you have a favorite library memory?

How far are you from a library? What is the best feature of your local/nearest library? The worst? read more

Micro Fiction Challenge: The Plane to Lisbon

By David Duhr on June 22, 2019 in Micro Fiction Challenge      113 comments

Jun
22

Discussion questions: In fifty (50) words or fewer, write a scene or story that includes the phrase “the plane to Lisbon.” Write or paste your story into the comments. The winner will get a free book, courtesy of your pals at WriteByNight. read more