Starting a short story, essay, novel or memoir can feel overwhelming when you think about the whole thing at once. There’s the structure, the theme, the ending, the voice, and the question of whether any of it is actually any good. Sometimes the best way in is not to start with the whole project. Sometimes the best way in is to write what you want first. Start Writing With the Part That Has Energy For me, that often means dialogue. I usually start whatever I’m writing with a conversation, or...

Starting a short story, essay, novel or memoir can feel overwhelming when you think about the whole thing at once. There’s the structure. The theme. The ending. The voice. The question of whether the idea is strong enough. The fear that you’ll start in the wrong place and waste your time. For many writers, this is where the pressure begins. Before a single sentence has been written, the project already feels too large. But sometimes the best way into a piece of writing is not to start with...

Fiction 1. The Masters Review Emerging writers can submit original short fiction with a strong narrative voice. Deadline: Early June Learn more: https://mastersreview.com/submissions/ 2. Narrative Magazine Publishes story-driven fiction that prioritises readability and strong storytelling. Deadline: Rolling Learn more: https://www.narrativemagazine.com/submit-your-work 3. The Common Accepts fiction with a strong sense of place and grounded, character-driven narratives. Deadline: Open...