Apprentice Wordsmith

Apprentice Wordsmith

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  • Friday Fiction
  • Writing Prompts
  • Ideas You Can Steal
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  • Crystal Towers

    Martinez stood on the roof of one of the business district’s eponymous Crystal Towers. On a sunny day, the virtually identical steel and glass skyscrapers lived up to the name. But today, the sky was an ominous gray. It was always windy this high up, yet Martinez could still feel a storm coming — in…

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    June 26, 2020
  • Idea You Can Steal 39: The Lost Tribe

    It’s been raining all day today, so here’s me slipping in a story idea for you before it starts thundering again.

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    June 19, 2020
  • Can Dark Stories Be Uplifting? Part 4

    Can Dark Stories Be Uplifting? Part 4

    I’ve talked about how dark stories can produce an uplifting feeling in the reader and how darkness and light can be balanced proportionally rather than equally. I want to end this series with my most important argument. Why can some readers leave a dark story feeling good or even hopeful? Why do these stories work?…

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    June 12, 2020
  • Writing Prompts 30

    It’s summertime! Sadly, there’s a lot of crazy stuff happening that I’m sure has put a damper on your usual summer plans. Yet I hope you can find time and a sunny spot to write this month. Here’s some prompts to get you started.

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    June 5, 2020
  • Idea You Can Steal 38: The Possessed Amulet

    May has an extra Friday this year, so here’s an extra story idea for you.

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    May 29, 2020
  • Idea You Can Steal 37: The Box of Letters

    A belated Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms in the audience. Here’s this month’s free story idea.

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    May 15, 2020
  • Can Dark Stories Be Uplifting? Part 3

    Can Dark Stories Be Uplifting? Part 3

    Last time, I talked about light and darkness in terms of narrative polarity, how a certain type of polarity reversal is the narrative mechanism behind producing an uplifting feeling in the reader, and how polarity reversals impact your story’s plot structure. In this post, we’ll be talking about proportion. To put it simply, I’ll be…

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    May 8, 2020
  • Writing Prompts 29

    How are all of you doing? Are you still on lockdown? Have you said hi to your mom recently? I hope all is well where you are. Here’s another set of prompts to inspire your writing this month.

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    May 1, 2020
  • Friday Flash 15: By the Sacred Flame

    Your wounds ache. Your body is heavy. You remember collapsing in the snow, but that is all you remember.

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    April 24, 2020
  • Idea You Can Steal 36: When a God Dies

    Corona-chan is still on her world tour. Hope all of you are staying safe, healthy, and sane. Here’s another juicy Idea You Can Steal to help you pass the time.

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    April 17, 2020
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