Reading Like a Writer

Reading Like a Writer
Fruit of the Drunken Tree and Setting That Is Alive
"And, of course, the garden is not described as green or pretty or alive—but an abyss. A more inviting description would have created a warm atmosphere between these characters and set them up for an easier friendship. This is something else."
Allison Wyss
Jan. 7
Reading Like a Writer
“All’s Well” and Dialogue Beyond Words
A story doesn’t have to solve anything, but it might let us poke at something that can’t be named.
Allison Wyss
Oct. 31
Reading Like a Writer
Transplants and Change Through Intimacy
When one character opens up to another, either physically or emotionally, they become vulnerable in a new way
Allison Wyss
Oct. 1
Reading Like a Writer
The Office of Historical Corrections: Writing Effective Flashbacks and Memories
“What is the emotion tied to the moment when they reflect on their past? What is their process for retrieving it?”
Allison Wyss
Aug. 26
Reading Like a Writer
Sister Snake by Amanda Lee Koe and Time Magic
"As a storyteller, to include terminology from your own era is a way to claim the story as your story too."
Allison Wyss
Jun. 1
Reading Like a Writer
City of Dancing Gargoyles and the Decentering of Humanity
Monsters, Memory, and a Masterclass in First Lines: why starting with confusion can be a brilliant craft move.
Allison Wyss
Apr. 29
Reading Like a Writer
The Real Within the Surreal: Humor, Chaos, and Truth in Flash Fiction
Lit!Commons subscriber Aimee Johnson treats us to a close reading of the flash fiction piece "You To Can Have a Pass Rate Like Mine" by Swati Sudarsan.
Allison Wyss
Feb. 21
Reading Like a Writer
Reading Like a Writer: What Would the Aliens Think? by Ekpenyong Kosisochukowu Collins
Lit!Commons subscriber Patty Bohart investigates the supernatural and conditional verbs in flash fiction.
Allison Wyss
Jan. 28
Reading Like a Writer
Bibi B.’s “Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin Should’ve Interviewed Some Women”: Serving a Reprimand with Tea (GUEST blog by Karen Zwolenski)
A daughter’s silent rebellion: How Bibi B. uses fiction to critique erasure in storytelling.
Allison Wyss
Dec. 1
Reading Like a Writer
At the Mercy of Movement: "Our Castle" by Christine H. Chen (GUEST BLOG written by Luke Nolby!)
Lit!Commons subscriber Luke Nolby takes over Allison's column for a special exploration of the relentless momentum and powerful movement in “Our Castle” by Christine H. Chen.
Allison Wyss
Oct. 26
Reading Like a Writer
Mrs. March and Bodily Emotion
How do physical sensations deepen emotional impact and reader connection?
Allison Wyss
Oct. 23
Reading Like a Writer
Salt and the Significance of a Quiet Moment
How a child's touch shifts perspective in a mother's world.
Allison Wyss
Aug. 31