May I use a few of your writing ideas?
From epic romances to fantastical adventures, stories have been captivating audiences for centuries, and they have been inspiring writers (and other artists) for just as long.
There is a longstanding tradition among storytellers of re-imagining or expanding the greatest legends, myths, and fairy tales ever told, from the Greek classics to last summer’s blockbuster films.
Certainly, many derivative works are frowned upon. You can find lists of authors who do not allow (and pursue legal action against) stories written in their worlds. You can find reviews that call such stories rip-offs or refer to authors as hacks who have done nothing more than steal someone else’s writing ideas.
But you can also find some impressive and respectable derivative works in films, novels, and television. In fact, many derivative works are embraced, beloved, and achieve critical and commercial success, plus massive fan followings.
So, when is it acceptable to use other people’s writing ideas? Why do some of these stories get heavily criticized while others are widely celebrated? Read More
Increase your writing productivity. It’s not easy to find time to write. Even professional writers get caught up in paperwork and marketing and have to scramble to get... [Read more]
Use these creative writing prompts to write about technology! All of today’s prompts come from my book 1200 Creative Writing Prompts. Enjoy! Technology has become so... [Read more]
You only need two writing tips: read and write. I love collecting writing tips. You never know when you’re going to stumble across a golden nugget of wisdom that will... [Read more]
Engage readers’ senses with these poetry writing exercises. Ah, the senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. How do they relate to poetry writing? We delight in... [Read more]
Homophones sound alike: affect vs. effect. Homophones can be confusing. Luckily, there’s an easy way to remember affect vs. effect. I see it all the time: affect and... [Read more]
What’s your literary style? Today’s post includes excerpts from What’s the Story? Building Blocks for Fiction Writing, chapter five: “Narrative Style, Voice, and... [Read more]
Foster curiosity to generate more writing ideas. Even though writing ideas abound all around us, we writers sometimes get stumped. We search for topics, plot ideas, models... [Read more]
Get more creative writing tips and ideas for better writing...
