Mary Brotherton

Archive for August, 2009

Women writers have a unique opportunity to ensure their voices are heard. Since 1988, www.hedgebrook.org has offered retreats for women from two weeks to two months long. All the writers need to do is complete an application process and get to Whidbey Island, Washington.

Think Off sponsors an annual contest to determine the year’s Greatest Thinker and poses a question for essayists. The deadline for this year’s contest has passed, but hold on to this link for next year’s probing question. http://www.think-off.org/html/fact_sheet.php Some of the recent questions posed have been: 2007: Which Should you Trust More-Your Head or Your [...]

Someone recently asked me to explain how mainstream fiction differs from contemporary or literary fiction and while my explanation will not be comprehensive or accepted by everyone, this is what I understand. Contemporary fiction is simply fiction that is currently being published. Mainstream fiction refers to writing that does not fit into a defined  or [...]

If playing with your muse or writing flash fiction hasn’t helped you move along in your writing project, here’s another idea to consider which often helps some writers kick-start their big project: Journal! Oh, you say you don’t care to write in a journal? Then why not sit down with paper and pen, think of [...]

If you’re having trouble writing a thesis or the next chapter to your novel, consider Flash Fiction.  Some consider 1,000 words too many while others think 300 is the maxium allowed. I like to keep mine at around 500 words. Many small publishers offer contests periodically and these are great incentives for a writer to [...]