CRAFT Talks and Elements
Since we launched in October 2017, CRAFT has published quite a number of CRAFT Talks and CRAFT Elements on different topics. We’ve gathered them together here. Take some time this holiday weekend to read up on craft, as you prepare your stories for the fall submission period!
CRAFT Talks are explorations of a given topic. CRAFT Elements are more focused on a specific element of craft and include exercises for the writer.
CRAFT Talks
Mystery vs. Confusion, by Sarah Stone
The Hook: More Than The Opening Line, by Tommy Dean
Object Lessons: An Exploration, by Laura van den Berg
A Closer Look: ORCHID & THE WASP, Caoilinn Hughes, by CRAFT
Toward Inspiration as Craft, by Mercedes Lucero
Realistic Absurdity in DeLillo’s WHITE NOISE, by Christina Ward-Niven
Interiority Complex, by Rebecca Makkai
A Closer Look: RESTLESS SOULS, Dan Sheehan, by CRAFT
What is a Short Story?, by CRAFT
Punctuation as Art, by Ariel Lewis
A Closer Look: “Meet Behind Mars,” Renee Simms, by CRAFT
I Love The Bad Ones Best, by Louise Marburg
Author’s Notes, by CRAFT (and CRAFT Authors)
Opening Lines, by CRAFT (and CRAFT Authors)
Story and Plot: Finding Meaning, by CRAFT
Favorite First Sentence: WAYS TO DISAPPEAR, by CRAFT
Collective Voice: WE THE ANIMALS, by CRAFT
Linked Story Collections: SWALLOWED BY THE COLD, by CRAFT
10 Writing Tips for the Holidays, by Natalie Serber
On Ending Polyphonic Novels, by Rachel King
Favorite Opening: “North Of,” Marie-Helene Bertino, by CRAFT
Novel Structure: Two Timelines, by CRAFT
Novel Structure: Multiple Points-of-View, by CRAFT
Favorite First Sentence: THAT NIGHT, Alice McDermott, by CRAFT
CRAFT Elements
Multiple Storylines, by CRAFT
Character’s Imagination, by CRAFT
Best Intentions, by CRAFT
What Makes a Collection?, by CRAFT
Obsessions, by CRAFT
Character Research, by CRAFT
Switching Tenses, by CRAFT
Map Research, by CRAFT
CRAFT Aphorisms, by CRAFT
Mixtapes, by CRAFT
First Person Direct Address, by CRAFT
Crafting Suspense, by Dustin Heron
Object Lesson, by CRAFT
Surprise!, by CRAFT
Mapping The Setting, by CRAFT
Withholding Information, by CRAFT
Same Style, Different Content, by CRAFT
Dialogue at Cross-Purposes, by CRAFT
Secrets in Fiction, by CRAFT
Reflecting the Interior, by CRAFT
Conflict in Dialogue, by CRAFT