Your Current No. 1 Writing Obstacle

By David Duhr on October 19, 2019 in ABCs of Writing      52 comments

Oct
19

Discussion questions: What is currently the most prominent obstacle standing between you and your writing goal(s)? Let us know below. read more

Micro Fiction Challenge: Scared to Death

By David Duhr on October 12, 2019 in Micro Fiction Challenge      68 comments

Oct
12

Discussion questions: In fifty (50) words or fewer, write a spooky scene or story that includes the phrase “scared to death.” Write or paste your story into the comments. The winner will get a free classic horror novel of his/her choice, courtesy of WriteByNight. read more

The Perils of Recommending a Beloved Book

By David Duhr on October 5, 2019 in ABCs of Writing      93 comments

Oct
5

Discussion questions: When you recommend a book you love, do you in some ways feel like you’re recommending yourself for approval or disapproval? Are you hesitant to recommend a beloved book, or do you do so without a second thought? How do you feel when the person you’ve recommended it to loves it? Hates it? Is indifferent, or doesn’t even read the damn thing? What is your best experience of recommending a beloved book? Your worst? Tell us about them below. read more

I Haven’t Written a Word in Six Weeks

By David Duhr on September 28, 2019 in Inspiration      52 comments

Sep
28

Discussion questions: Are you, like me, in a writing lull? What activities have you prioritized over your writing lately? Make a list, like I do below. How do you feel about those decisions? How will you make changes, if necessary? Do you find that your writing time is affected by the seasons? (i.e., do you, like me, write much less in the summer because you’re outside runnin’ around?) Let’s talk about it in the comments. read more

Micro Fiction Challenge: Dark & Stormy

By David Duhr on September 14, 2019 in Micro Fiction Challenge      151 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