Gotham Writers Workshop
  • Classes
    • Course Catalogue
    • Upcoming Classes
    • Online Class Tour
    • Zoom Class Tour
    • One-on-One
    • Class Formats
  • Community
    • About our Community
    • Write-In
    • Free Events
    • Writers Conferences
    • Student Success
    • Student News
    • Contests
    • Scholarships for
      Writers of Color
  • Faculty
    • About our Faculty
    • Bios
    • Profiles
    • Articles
    • News
    • Excerpts
    • Join Faculty
  • Resources
    • Resources for Writers
    • Inside Writing
    • Gotham Books
    • Gotham Shop
    • Reading/Resource Lists
    • Writer’s Toolbox
    • Gotham Blog
  • About
    • About Gotham
    • Our Story
    • Our Philosophy
    • Gotham Staff
    • Gotham in the Media
    • Internships
    • Connect
    • Contact
  • Login

Writer’s Toolbox

Ask The Writer

All Categories

Your most pressing and perplexing questions about writing answered here by Gotham teacher Brandi Reissenweber.

  • Choose a category...
  • Adaptation
  • Career
  • Character
  • Conflict
  • Contests
  • Description
  • Dialogue
  • Fiction
  • Figurative Language
  • Freelance
  • General
  • Genre
  • Grammar
  • Imagery
  • Language
  • Nonfiction
  • Novels
  • Pacing
  • Perspective
  • Plot
  • Poetry
  • Point Of View
  • Professional
  • Publication
  • Querying
  • Reading
  • Recommendations
  • Research
  • Revision
  • Setting
  • Short Stories
  • Show Don't Tell
  • Style
  • Submissions
  • Theme
  • Tone
  • Voice
  • Writing Habits

Plot

I like to write stories that have a twist at the end, something to shock the reader. My writing group says they don't like this. Are twist endings passé or am I in the wrong writing group?
I started my short story with a character waking up in the morning and I was told this is a bad idea. What's wrong with it?
I am so paranoid about having a "sagging" or boring middle. I think it makes me afraid to write. I'm not sure of all the things that need to happen, despite knowing the last part of the novel. Any suggestions?
What is in medias res?
How do I jump from one time to another without confusing the reader?
Do you have any tips on researching? I’m looking into dendrochronology and I’m having a hard time finding out more about forensic botany without spending hundreds for books I’m not sure would help.
How long is a short story?
Showing 17-23 of 23 items.
  • «
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • »
Please choose a category from the list on the left
Gotham Writers Workshop
Sign up to receive writing advice, news, and special deals.
Purchase
  • Course Catalogue
  • Gotham Shop
  • FAQ
  • Credit & Refund Policy
  • Ways to Save
  • Privacy Policy
Contact
  • [email protected]
  • 212.974.8377
Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Linked In

© 2023 Gotham Writers Workshop, Inc.

Subscribe to our email list