How can I talk to children? [more inside]
posted by meadowlark lime on Nov 6, 2009 - 12 answers

How can I find a school nurse to let me shadow her for an article? [more inside]
posted by rinosaur on Nov 4, 2009 - 8 answers

What books can I read that will give me some idea of what it might take for me to make my living as a writer or journalist? [more inside]
posted by AAAA on Nov 3, 2009 - 19 answers

Innovative Books: I am looking to compile a list of the most innovative uses of the book format. Books that break the mould in their layout and design, perhaps books that use online systems to extend their content value or push their form into new places. I am most interested in narrative and theory, but any book that is interesting (artist books etc.) would be really appreciated. [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Nov 1, 2009 - 29 answers

Know any good blogs by high school or college age females? [more inside]
posted by Joe Beese on Oct 28, 2009 - 7 answers

Introvert Filter: please help me revive a friendship! [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 27, 2009 - 18 answers

(Pro)sefilter: want to sell prose. Looking for advice. [more inside]
posted by schmichael on Oct 27, 2009 - 5 answers

Novels where political extremism is an underlying theme. [more inside]
posted by thesailor on Oct 26, 2009 - 32 answers

With NaNoWriMo looming ever nearer, I would like to hear your best tips, tricks, habits, and techniques for staying chained to the keyboard. [more inside]
posted by BitterOldPunk on Oct 22, 2009 - 26 answers

Tell me everything you know about this sentence construction: "Are you finished your lunch?" [more inside]
posted by peep on Oct 22, 2009 - 91 answers

What are the most well-written (i.e., enjoyable to read) textbooks and/or books written for an academic audience? I'm not looking for the "best" textbook on any given subject, but textbooks on any topic that are compelling to read because of the wit and lucidity of the writing style. [more inside]
posted by crLLC on Oct 21, 2009 - 30 answers

WriterFilter: I need help organizing this large, sprawling, and motley set of Word files into the first draft of a novel. [more inside]
posted by sister nunchaku of love and mercy on Oct 19, 2009 - 14 answers

I have 2 hours to lecture to a bunch of 18 year-olds how to write well. The bulk of their work-load will be somewhere along the lines of position papers, research papers and summaries of conferences. How do I keep them glued to their chairs? More info in explanation. [more inside]
posted by eytanb on Oct 19, 2009 - 9 answers

Screenwriters - advice for coming up wirth effective short film scripts QUICKLY! [more inside]
posted by Cantdosleepy on Oct 19, 2009 - 11 answers

In search of short passages of especially strong or weak nonfiction prose! [more inside]
posted by cymru_j on Oct 17, 2009 - 8 answers

I've recently begun work on a children's book. It is inspired by my granddaughter. I was wondering if anyone had any information on how to get a children's book published? Suggested Publishers? Also, any other information pertaining to this process, would be appreciated. ***I realize that children's books are a dime a dozen...but mine just might be spectacular ;)***
posted by gypseefire on Oct 17, 2009 - 4 answers

How can I get paid book review work? [more inside]
posted by different on Oct 14, 2009 - 8 answers

You are a paid writer/screenwriter/columnist/blogger. What can you tell me about how to best break into this profession? [more inside]
posted by the NATURAL on Oct 12, 2009 - 13 answers

Help me find books of a particular genre, or collection of similar genres. Specifically, books on living in or traveling through nature that have visual, picturesque language about the landscape/scenery/ecology. [more inside]
posted by Stryke11 on Oct 11, 2009 - 17 answers

What well-known novels lack any character descriptions aside from names?
posted by odinsdream on Oct 9, 2009 - 17 answers

A friend of mine is writing a memoir about traveling to every country in Europe at the age of 23. He wants to compare being stuck in a crappy part of Romania to a well known literary or film hellhole. We can't think of any. [more inside]
posted by Jason Land on Oct 8, 2009 - 25 answers

I'm trying to think of ideas for creative-writing-related fundraisers [more inside]
posted by Holygrail2 on Oct 8, 2009 - 7 answers

The A-B-C's of corporate collateral writing: I'm a graphic designer. How do I communicate to my client that willy-nilly editing procedures, and last minute proof-stage rewrites inevitably makes projects run to the last minute? Is there a "standard" procedure for writing/editing? [more inside]
posted by ecorrocio on Oct 7, 2009 - 8 answers

I am a non-fiction writer but have not read a fiction book since high school. What great fiction books will improve my writing? [more inside]
posted by Spurious on Oct 5, 2009 - 34 answers

Updating my online portfolio and need help with web navigation, images, hosting and more. [more inside]
posted by mintchip on Oct 5, 2009 - 2 answers

I want to write and publish a book on the industrial music scene from a feminist perspective. I’m a decent writer, but I have no photography, graphic design, marketing, or publishing experience, and no industry connections. Where do I start? [more inside]
posted by velvet winter on Oct 3, 2009 - 8 answers

Which web site is best for self-publishing poetry? [more inside]
posted by the matching mole on Oct 2, 2009 - 9 answers

Improve your writing by imitating the greats. [more inside]
posted by ekpyrotic on Oct 1, 2009 - 27 answers

How to break into speech-writing, specifically political speech-writing? [more inside]
posted by roxie5 on Sep 30, 2009 - 4 answers

My five year written book journal is almost done. I'm looking for some some sort of very easy mac journal program to replace it. [more inside]
posted by rileyray3000 on Sep 30, 2009 - 9 answers

Where can I find examples of simple and powerful non-fiction (social science) writing? [more inside]
posted by elationfoundation on Sep 28, 2009 - 17 answers

What is Dmitri Nabokov's pen name? [more inside]
posted by mustcatchmooseandsquirrel on Sep 28, 2009 - 7 answers

I have this amazing idea for a book that has never been done before and will sell like hotcakes. (No, seriously!) But I have absolutely no idea where to start. What do I do? [more inside]
posted by Madamina on Sep 25, 2009 - 11 answers

Journalists' notes: how do they take them, store them and reference them later? [more inside]
posted by Brittanie on Sep 25, 2009 - 9 answers

Looking for someone who can write on grains of rice in Manhattan. [more inside]
posted by sub-culture on Sep 24, 2009 - 3 answers

How can I be a better writer? My value at work would increase if my ability to write formally improves. I'm an admin in the IT department and don't realy understand the technology or procedures that I have to write about. I think that part of the problem is that I am just not that great at communicating in general. I don't talk a lot, hate leaving vm's. And even writing an email can leave me frozen, constantly worrying saying the wrong thing and/or not being understood. [more inside]
posted by mokeydraws on Sep 23, 2009 - 17 answers

Writers, what are your favourite how-to books about writing biography? [more inside]
posted by ask me please on Sep 22, 2009 - 6 answers

What should an extended abstract (in the humanities) look like? This is for philosophy in particular, though I assume it might be a similar style for other disciplines. [more inside]
posted by JoshSmith on Sep 20, 2009 - 2 answers

What are the world's most acclaimed short stories? [more inside]
posted by Bleusman on Sep 20, 2009 - 66 answers

Simple enough: I have a lot of writing to do (finishing my master's thesis - research is done, just have to finish the writing) and we have an 8 month old baby. In the pre-baby past, I used to spend a long time working my way up to getting a big chunk of work done, but now I need to be able to jump in quickly and get writing in the few hours I have each day between her bedtime and mine. What are your best tips for picking up the threads each day to get the writing done? [more inside]
posted by stefnet on Sep 17, 2009 - 13 answers

You are a subscriber to McSweeney's and/or The Believer. Convince me that [either magazine, or both] is worth the not-insubstantial subscription costs. [more inside]
posted by the NATURAL on Sep 17, 2009 - 11 answers

Got space-related idioms and phrases? "Cool your jets", "Jumpin' Jupiter!", "Heavens to Mergatroid!", "Over the moon!", "Off like a rocket!", "Out of this world"... [more inside]
posted by Muirwylde on Sep 16, 2009 - 44 answers

My wife and I are interested in writing and illustrating kids books and getting them published. I realize there are plenty of neat books great illustrations, so what's the best way to find out what we'd be getting into if we were to pursue this as a hobby, or even as a main source of income?
posted by filthy light thief on Sep 15, 2009 - 17 answers

Have you ever referenced your personal blog as a writing sample for a job? [more inside]
posted by SinisterPurpose on Sep 14, 2009 - 14 answers

Books on cover letters and resumes geared to new college graduates? [more inside]
posted by cymru_j on Sep 10, 2009 - 3 answers

How do I successfully do freelance writing (my night job) about my industry (my day job)? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 10, 2009 - 3 answers

I'm looking for interesting quotes and text about sumo wrestling from western or japanese sources. I'm not looking for critical or humorous things, it should rather be texts that celebrate the sport or provide an original perspective on it. [more inside]
posted by SageLeVoid on Sep 9, 2009 - 4 answers

Has anyone ever formalized the proper conduct for the fiction writer regarding his/her nonfiction sources? [more inside]
posted by Bookhouse on Sep 9, 2009 - 7 answers

I have savings and, soon, no work. I want to do something interesting, write about it, and publish - ideally to kick-start a writing career. How should I go about these 3 things? [more inside]
posted by jeatsy on Sep 8, 2009 - 14 answers

Where does one go to find the best pieces of short fiction available on the internet? [more inside]
posted by titantoppler on Sep 6, 2009 - 11 answers