Category Archives: The Writer’s Desk

From the Writer’s Desk: Conflict in Fiction

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Josh Allen

I assume you’re familiar with Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. If not, you can check out the Wikipedia entry on it here. Simply put, it’s a psychological theory that details the things people need to live happy, healthy, productive lives. … Continue reading →

Posted in The Writer's Desk | Tagged | 3 Comments

Children’s Lit Corner

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Kathryn Poulter

When I was a little girl, the cousin closest to my age lived in California. We were about eight years old when we decided to become pen pals, and started writing long, rambling letters to each other. I can still … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Lit corner, The Writer's Desk, YA corner | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Too Much Mystery: The Fine Line Between Intriguing and Annoying

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Rachelle Christensen

I’m happy to have a guest blogger this month–welcome Michael Young! Too Much Mystery: The Fine Line Between Intriguing and Annoying by Michael Young No matter what genre of story you are writing, you probably want to throw a little … Continue reading →

Posted in Action & Suspense, Mysterious Doings, The Writer's Desk | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Writer’s Desk: Naming Things

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Jack Harrell

My students turn in their assigned short stories. Sitting down to read the first one, I’m ready to open myself to the details and imagery. I want to see the movie playing in my head. But the screen’s mostly blank … Continue reading →

Posted in The Writer's Desk | 11 Comments

A Shameless Plug for Irreantum

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Josh Allen

If you’ve already received and read the latest issue of Irreantum, you’ll want to skip this post. It’s just a shameless Irreantum plug. But if you haven’t read the newest issue of Irreantum yet, I hope this post will encourage … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcements, Storytelling and Community, The Writer's Desk | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Solving the Mystery of Writing

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Rachelle Christensen

Did you know that when asked, an estimated 75% of people will say that they want to write a book? But 75% of people aren’t writing books, are they? There are probably a good number of people who are closet … Continue reading →

Posted in Mysterious Doings, The Writer's Desk | Tagged , , , , | 42 Comments

The Writer’s Desk: Building Character

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Jack Harrell

The delineation of characters is important in any kind of creative writing—fiction, essay, drama, screenwriting, and even poetry. Since I’m a fiction writer, I’ll focus my comments for this post on characters in novels and short stories. The best book … Continue reading →

Posted in The Writer's Desk | 6 Comments

Why I Spent Years Trying not to Be a Mormon Writer (and How I Got Over That)

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Josh Allen

In 1992, back when I started my freshman year of college, I knew that I wanted to be a writer. I also knew (or at least thought I knew) that I didn’t want to be a “Mormon writer.” The only … Continue reading →

Posted in The Writer's Desk | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

On Writing the Mormon Sacred

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Lisa Torcasso Downing

Our culture is only as deep, or profound, as our art, and it may well be that our art only becomes these things as our artists isolate what is sacred to the human soul and elevate it for our examination. … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Voices, The Writer's Desk | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Blitz Contest Writing Advice

Posted on December 7, 2011 by James Goldberg

As of yesterday, the Mormon Lit Blitz Contest had received 28 submissions—this with nearly six weeks to go (that’s an entire missionary transfer, folks!) until the January 15th deadline. I realize, of course, that 95% of contest submissions usually come … Continue reading →

Posted in The Writer's Desk | 2 Comments