Your Inspirational Writing Quote
Posted by David Duhr in 
Discussion questions: If a struggling writer sought a list of inspirational writing quotes and you were on that list, what would be your quote? And in what way(s) does your quote shed light on your approach to your own work? Is there a favorite inspirational writing quote you turn to, or try to keep in mind, when you’re struggling? Let us know in the comments. read more
The Best Passage You’ve Written in 2019
Discussion questions: What is the best passage you’ve written this year? From fiction to non, poetry to screenplay, even text message or email, have you written anything this year that has made you sit back for a moment and think, “Wow, I’m a talented writer!” And, most importantly, are you willing to share it with us? If so, copy/paste it in the comments below. Provide some context if it’ll help, or let your words speak for themselves. read more
Your Current No. 1 Writing Obstacle
Discussion questions: What is currently the most prominent obstacle standing between you and your writing goal(s)? Let us know below. read more
The Perils of Recommending a Beloved Book
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
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
Why Do We Adults Read Books Intended For Kids?
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
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
Ask Us Anything!
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
Your High School Reading List
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
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
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
Learning to Handle Harsh Criticism
Discussion questions: What is the harshest external criticism of your writing you’ve ever received, either in public or in private? What was your external reaction, and what was your internal response? How did you move on from it? Does it still bother you? read more
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