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How well do you know your villian? And when did you meet them? Author Gwen Hernandez shares her experience, today at WU.
I Meet the Villain Last
How well do you know your story’s villain? Most of the time, my answer would be, “Um, not that well.” Odd for someone who writes romantic suspense, right? But I’m often halfway through a first draf…
writerunboxed.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:19 PM
How well do you know your villian? And when did you meet them? Author Gwen Hernandez shares her experience, today at WU.
You’ve heard of method acting—deep immersion that carries on past “cut!” Why not try method writing? Author Boo Walker walks us through it, today at WU.
Radical Immersion: Becoming Your Character
We hear actors talk about immersing themselves into a character, often using techniques rooted in the methods of the great character actor and director Konstantin Stanislavski. But why don’t we tal…
writerunboxed.com
January 29, 2026 at 12:13 PM
You’ve heard of method acting—deep immersion that carries on past “cut!” Why not try method writing? Author Boo Walker walks us through it, today at WU.
Do you write from your head or your heart? Debut novelist Harper Ross explores her journey to writing from her heart, today at WU.
Writing Without Trying to Manage the Reader
Before I became an author, I practiced law. In that career, arguments follow rules. Effort and result are connected in ways you can explain, so outcomes are usually understandable, if not always fa…
writerunboxed.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Do you write from your head or your heart? Debut novelist Harper Ross explores her journey to writing from her heart, today at WU.
“As a writer, my task is to illuminate one corner of the world. Each book lights up its own set of ideas, and my job is to be present with what’s being shown to me now, so I can offer my reader a small, truthful slice of life.” Barbara O’Neal, today at WU.
Quiet Lamplight in a Noisy World
This corner of my living room has become one of my favorites. It had been so dark there at night, and I remembered this little lamp and brought it out of the basement to help illuminate the paintin…
writerunboxed.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:23 PM
“As a writer, my task is to illuminate one corner of the world. Each book lights up its own set of ideas, and my job is to be present with what’s being shown to me now, so I can offer my reader a small, truthful slice of life.” Barbara O’Neal, today at WU.
Chaotic times have you alarmed? Disappointed? Angry? Distracted? Author Vaughn Roycroft makes the case that doing your work is an act of rebellion, today at WU.
Looking To Reclaim a Rhythm
There’s been a palpable feeling here on WU through the opening weeks of 2026. Behind many of the posts and comments I’m sensing alarm and outrage, disappointment and sadness over the state of the w…
writerunboxed.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Chaotic times have you alarmed? Disappointed? Angry? Distracted? Author Vaughn Roycroft makes the case that doing your work is an act of rebellion, today at WU.
WU turns 20 today! And we’re celebrating with pie! And a contest! Stop by and join the fun, today at WU.
20 Years: A Writer Unboxed Milestone — and a CONTEST
This week marks our 20th year online here at Writer Unboxed, and I hope you’ll indulge a little reflection. First, the personal. Guys! Twenty years! What an incredible ride it’s been as…
writerunboxed.com
January 24, 2026 at 1:03 PM
WU turns 20 today! And we’re celebrating with pie! And a contest! Stop by and join the fun, today at WU.
In times of crisis, it can be difficult to focus. We writers can find difficulty writing. Or even reading. Author Liz Michalski shares her newfound love of poetry, and how it helps her cope, today at WU.
My Secret Love Affair
For many of us, it is so hard to focus right now. Writing can seem impossible. Even reading, almost always a source of comfort, is a struggle. So where then can we turn for escape, for inspiration?…
writerunboxed.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:18 PM
In times of crisis, it can be difficult to focus. We writers can find difficulty writing. Or even reading. Author Liz Michalski shares her newfound love of poetry, and how it helps her cope, today at WU.
How do we claim our identity as a writer? How do we continue to do so? Author (and scholar and mother and…) Kristin Hacken South explores embracing identity, today at WU.
Who Are You? A Writer’s Take
Who are you? When you meet someone new, how do you answer this question? You might start with your name, but after that, how do you describe yourself to a stranger? What aspects of yourself do you …
writerunboxed.com
January 22, 2026 at 3:27 PM
How do we claim our identity as a writer? How do we continue to do so? Author (and scholar and mother and…) Kristin Hacken South explores embracing identity, today at WU.
Can fiction writers learn something from a popular songwriter? Stop by and meet WU’s newest contributor, Alison Hammer, and find out!
Listen Like a Writer: What Taylor Swift Can Teach Us About Story
Therese here to officially introduce our newest regular Writer Unboxed contributor, Alison Hammer! Alison has published two novels under her own name, and six as half of the popular writing duo kno…
writerunboxed.com
January 21, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Can fiction writers learn something from a popular songwriter? Stop by and meet WU’s newest contributor, Alison Hammer, and find out!
Editor and classical organist Dave King demonstrates what we can learn about pace and tempo from Bach, today at WU.
Pace and Tempo
This morning, I’m back at the keyboard again, talking about what writers can learn about pace from J. S. Bach. I had originally intended to play through my example piece — the Sinfon…
writerunboxed.com
January 20, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Editor and classical organist Dave King demonstrates what we can learn about pace and tempo from Bach, today at WU.
“Goals, desires, wants orient us to a character’s surface motivations. Longings reveal who they really are.” Author Julie Christine Johnson explores character via longing, today at WU.
The Sum of Our Longings
Come to me in my dreams, and then By day I shall be well again! For so the night will more than pay The hopeless longing of the day. From Longing by Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) Several years ago, I …
writerunboxed.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:52 PM
“Goals, desires, wants orient us to a character’s surface motivations. Longings reveal who they really are.” Author Julie Christine Johnson explores character via longing, today at WU.
Feeling overwhelmed? Author Natalie Hart shares an exercise to help us move forward. It starts with asking “what else?” Today at WU.
What Else?
A few days ago my journaling prompt* was, CURSED DAYS, which was, in turn, based on a prompt from Molly Prentiss called WHAT ELSE? Both prompt titles felt way too on the nose for the state of thing…
writerunboxed.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Feeling overwhelmed? Author Natalie Hart shares an exercise to help us move forward. It starts with asking “what else?” Today at WU.
Would you turn the page? Check out another addition of Ray Rhamey’s Flog a Pro, today at WU.
Flog a Pro: Would You Turn the First Page of this Bestseller?
Email readers, heads up! For the full effect, pause after the excerpt and decide: Would you turn the page? Vote and then scroll for the reveal! Trained by reading hundreds of submissions, editors a…
writerunboxed.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Would you turn the page? Check out another addition of Ray Rhamey’s Flog a Pro, today at WU.
Are you struggling to hold onto your hope? Author Rachel Toalson shares her own struggles and her remedies, today at WU.
Hope is the Thing With Thorns: A New Year’s Reflection
“Hope’ is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the song without the tune – And never stops – at all – —Emily Dickinson On the way to a writin…
writerunboxed.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Are you struggling to hold onto your hope? Author Rachel Toalson shares her own struggles and her remedies, today at WU.
In the chaos and violence of the new year, author Elizabeth Huergo offers us a moment of poetic contemplation, a chance to consider a broader vista, today at WU.
‘The Dark Downward and Vegetating Kingdom’
We have barely started 2026, yet the chaos and violence could already fill an entire year. Already I have heard half a dozen versions of the line from Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian…
writerunboxed.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:36 PM
In the chaos and violence of the new year, author Elizabeth Huergo offers us a moment of poetic contemplation, a chance to consider a broader vista, today at WU.
In the face of intense shared grief, focusing on writing fiction can feel so inadequate. Author David Corbett explores moving forward in the wake of this week’s horrific events, today at WU.
When Events Overtake What You Intended to Post
Due to a return from overseas earlier this week, resulting in jet lag-induced insomnia, exacerbating a miserable head cold, I was unable to begin drafting my post for today with any seriousness unt…
writerunboxed.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:46 PM
In the face of intense shared grief, focusing on writing fiction can feel so inadequate. Author David Corbett explores moving forward in the wake of this week’s horrific events, today at WU.
Feeling stuck? At the sentence level? At the story level? Either way, teacher and agent Don Maass has the parable for you, today at WU.
The Sentence and the Story: A New Year’s Fable
The Sentence The sentence sat, unmoving. The sentence was dissatisfied. The sentence knew that it had untapped potential, but wasn’t using it. The sentence longed to be metaphorical but it was feel…
writerunboxed.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Feeling stuck? At the sentence level? At the story level? Either way, teacher and agent Don Maass has the parable for you, today at WU.
It’s important to remember that we begin our stories with characters who are either broken or in need of repair. Often in ways that are hidden, even to the characters themselves. Author Therese Walsh explores the notion of writer as repairer, today at WU.
“Repair Shop” Your Manuscript
This past Writer Unboxed UnConference was my favorite yet, even though I felt the promise of a cold in my throat on the trip home from Santa Fe. Once home, I tunneled under a blanket with a cuppa t…
writerunboxed.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:47 PM
It’s important to remember that we begin our stories with characters who are either broken or in need of repair. Often in ways that are hidden, even to the characters themselves. Author Therese Walsh explores the notion of writer as repairer, today at WU.
When it comes to resolving to change, there’s nothing special about January, per Author Greer Macallister. Still, a blank calendar makes for a fine time to strive. She offers ideas on starting fresh, today at WU.
Becoming a New Writer in the New Year
Just a few days into January, you may already be tired of the idea of resolutions. There’s nothing special about January, really, if resolving’s what you want to do: you can vow to chan…
writerunboxed.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:39 PM
When it comes to resolving to change, there’s nothing special about January, per Author Greer Macallister. Still, a blank calendar makes for a fine time to strive. She offers ideas on starting fresh, today at WU.
WU bids the community farewell for the holiday season with a nod to the fact that next month marks our 20th anniversary. Any ideas as to how we can celebrate? Please share your thoughts, today at WU.
Skating Into 2026: Happy Holidays, Writer Unboxed Community!
Writer Unboxed will be taking its annual holiday break through the rest of this year, but we’ll be back on January 1st! Something special to think about: Writer Unboxed will turn TWENTY next …
writerunboxed.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:16 PM
WU bids the community farewell for the holiday season with a nod to the fact that next month marks our 20th anniversary. Any ideas as to how we can celebrate? Please share your thoughts, today at WU.
Author and longtime contributor Ray Rhamey brings us another chance to weigh in on the opening page of a bestseller, today at WU.
Flog a Pro: Would You Turn the First Page of this Bestseller?
Email readers, heads up! For the full effect, pause after the excerpt and decide: Would you turn the page? Vote and then scroll for the reveal! Trained by reading hundreds of submissions, editors a…
writerunboxed.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Author and longtime contributor Ray Rhamey brings us another chance to weigh in on the opening page of a bestseller, today at WU.
Today, contributor and author Barbara Linn Probst delivers her farewell—and the reasons for it—to the WU community.
My Final Post
Yes, I’m stepping down as a contributor to Writer Unboxed. When I told Therese about my decision, she urged me to share my reasons and reflections with all of you. I agreed—not realizing that this …
writerunboxed.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Today, contributor and author Barbara Linn Probst delivers her farewell—and the reasons for it—to the WU community.
Knowing where to begin can be tricky. Author Emilie-Noelle Provost shares how she found her beginning, today at WU.
How to Begin Your Novel at the Beginning
I recently finished my third novel. It took much longer to write than I would have liked, certainly much longer than it took me to write either of the first two. There were a few reasons for this. …
writerunboxed.com
December 16, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Knowing where to begin can be tricky. Author Emilie-Noelle Provost shares how she found her beginning, today at WU.
Will the lure for to surrender to AI grow? Author & teacher David Corbett imagines a writer’s scenario, today at WU.
Twilight Zone 2026: Daedalus and the Centaur
Imagine if you will … Meet Penelope Laredo. She’s hammering away at her second novel, which she’s under contract to submit to her publisher by March 1, 2026. Despite the success of her debut, Innoc…
writerunboxed.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Will the lure for to surrender to AI grow? Author & teacher David Corbett imagines a writer’s scenario, today at WU.
“What kind of media could my book get?” PR agent Ann-Marie Nieves says it’s a common question and proceeds to answer it, today at WU.
Book Marketing and PR Part XIX: What does media for an author look like?
It’s a common question: what kind of media could my book get? Most authors ask for Oprah, Jenna, and Reece. Most will not get the Oprah, Jenna, and Reece stamp. And that’s really ok; i…
writerunboxed.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:59 PM
“What kind of media could my book get?” PR agent Ann-Marie Nieves says it’s a common question and proceeds to answer it, today at WU.