Readers often ask how to improve their English writing skills when English is not their native language and they don’t live in an English-speaking country. My advice? Do it the way I did. Imitate.
Imitate somebody. You can’t gain skill in a language, whether or not it’s your native language, without imitating those who are more [...]

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What happens next?
You are a 17 year old boy who lives in a farming community in Iowa in the 1960’s. You are at a state fair and are currently sitting on a Ferris Wheel next to the girl you have a crush on. She is wearing a cardigan sweater, you are nervously contemplating [...]

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Yeah, you heard me…
For the week of December 22nd through the 28th you can read all of the short stories featured on One Real Story, for free. Yep, no subscription cost at all.
What’s the catch?
Well, come on now, you should know by now that nothing is free. The catch… You have to leave some feedback [...]

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I’ve encountered a number of writers lately that have me read their work for constructive criticism, with the emphasis on ‘it’s just a rough draft’. I think what they mean is that they want feedback on the content, not so much on punctuation. As a reader though, sifting through poor grammar and fragmented sentences is [...]

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Think of two people who you used to know 5 – 10 years ago, but whom you are no longer in contact with. Describe them separately. Now combine them into one new character taking whatever traits you want from each of them.
Write either a character sketch of this individual (containing their background story, how they [...]

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Legend Press - Call for Short Story Submissions
Oct 1, 2007 … short story anthology submissions, Google, Page 1….. Anthology African- American short stories submissions 2008, Google, Page 1…
Another Sky short story anthology - Absolute Write Water Cooler
5 posts - Last post: Jul 9, 2006
And I am compiling and editing “Falling from the Sky,” a short story anthology for [...]

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I’m grateful that writer’s block is not a contagious condition . I’d avoid other writers if that were the case. Every writer endures writer’s block in one form or another, so we should look at, and examine, causes before finding the cures.
Writer’s Block includes many symptoms but many causes as well. Sometimes you find yourself [...]

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What do you feel strongly about?
When you have strong convictions about something, it fuels your writing and the odds of you abandoning your work due to boredom get much slimmer.
That said, choose a topic - whether it’s a traditional topic of controversy (abortion, the death penalty, gay marriage, organized religion in schools, etc.) or just [...]

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