Writing

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  • How to Find a Great Story
    PLUS Writing

    How to Find a Great Story

    Writer Shaun Levin shares his techniques for finding great stories in everyday life Shaun Levin (@shaun_levin) is a writer and creative writing teacher with over twenty years of experience in the creative sector. For the past fifteen years, he has edited literary magazines and short story collections and set up small publishing houses for whom he has designed different publications. He has also created writing maps that help to inspire other writers in whatever situation they find themselves in. According to Shaun, we tend to think that the best stories are somewhere out there, in the world, and that we have to go searching for them. However, over time, he has realized that most of the stories we want to write are already inside us. In other words, we are already carrying special moments around with us that have great narrative potential. But how do we unlock them?

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  • 5 Poems About the Environment and Climate Change
    Writing

    5 Poems About the Environment and Climate Change

    Five young wordsmiths use poetry to reflect and inspire change Today is Earth Day, an annual event that sets out to educate individuals on different issues affecting the environment, raise awareness of climate change, and encourage people to live more sustainable lifestyles that protect natural resources. It also celebrates the achievements of climate activists around the world. Nature has always provided wordsmiths with an infinite source of inspiration. However, while the Romantic poets wrote about nature’s beauty, today’s ecopoets call out the destruction caused by poor choices and poor policy, while inspiring listeners to do their part.

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  • How To Create a Papercut Tree of Life
    Writing

    How To Create a Papercut Tree of Life

    Storyteller and papercutting artist Karishma Chugani walks us through her creative process Karishma Chugani is a storyteller and papercutting artist whose work blends ancient narrative formats from across the world. After writing a story, she creates a visual language with images specifically designed to tell that story.

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  • 12 Online Courses for Creating Children’s Books
    Writing

    12 Online Courses for Creating Children’s Books

    Learn to create a range of illustrated books and albums with a little help from these experts in children’s and young adult literature International Children's Book Day is celebrated every year on April 2, which is also the same day that Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen was born. You are sure to have come across his works, such as The Ugly Duckling, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, and The Little Mermaid, which have also been made into films. This annual celebration aims to fuel children and young adults’ interest in books. Discovering original and inspiring stories on the page helps children and young adults to unleash their imaginations in the real world. These 12 online courses will help you to become an expert in children’s and YA literature and invent a unique language that combines words with illustrations. From picture books to theater books, the possibilities are endless. Creation of a Children's Picturebook, a course by Claudia Rueda When it comes to embarking on the creation of an illustrated children's book, it’s always better to seek out the advice of experts. Claudia Rueda is here to guide you, having published over thirty works and been nominated for important international awards such as the Hans Christian Andersen Award and Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Learn how Claudia plans and elaborates a picture book from scratch, starting with the first idea to creating the layout and finalizing the project before delivering it to a publisher.

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  • 5 Free Online Classes for Improving your Writing Skills
    Writing

    5 Free Online Classes for Improving your Writing Skills

    Personalize your illustrations and children’s books with useful techniques from creative writing experts Following a narrative course can help you find your own style and put illustrations into words that will enhance their communicative power. Children's stories, in which words have a central role emphasizing every image, are the best narrative examples, but they are not the only ones. Under the guidance of five illustration, publishing, and creative writing experts, you can learn to create stories for your images. They will give you tips on facing your fear of the blank page and help you experiment with visual and textual elements. Click on the red links to access and enjoy the classes! Free Class: Inspiration and advice In this video, author and creative writing professor Alberto Chimal suggests you ask yourself the following question during your creative process: What next? To create your own illustrated story, you need to find new ideas. These can only come from you because, as Alberto says, inspiration is an initial desire that you need to feel and work on. Find out by following his class, taken from his course Introduction to Narrative Writing.

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  • Mary Shelley: the Young Woman who Created Frankenstein and Modern Science Fiction
    Writing

    Mary Shelley: the Young Woman who Created Frankenstein and Modern Science Fiction

    Discover the story of the young woman who created Frankenstein, the first modern science fiction novel Frankenstein belongs in the pantheon of classic monsters that make up the images we associate with the horror genre. Made even more famous by Boris Karloff's portrayal in the James Whale-directed film adaptation, this creature is the protagonist of the novel Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus, considered one of the first modern science fiction novels, both for its plot and for the themes it explores. But it is not just its plot that made an impression on 19th-century society and continues to make an impression today. It’s the person responsible for its creation: 18-year-old Mary Shelley. Discover her fascinating story below:

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  • 10 Black American Female Fiction Writers and Poets You Should Know
    Writing

    10 Black American Female Fiction Writers and Poets You Should Know

    From the first African-American novelist to the 22-year-old poet who performed at the 2021 presidential inauguration We are celebrating the outstanding achievements of female creatives throughout history. Stories help us understand the world and see it through another’s eyes. They can be an escape, teach us empathy, and inspire change. We have compiled a list of ten Black American female fiction writers and poets who have made their mark over two centuries and continue to shape and inspire generations. Harriet E. Wilson (1825–1900) Harriet E. Wilson is considered the first African American to publish a novel in the United States. Our Nig: Sketches from the Life of a Free Black was published anonymously in 1859, later discovered to be Wilson's work by the scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr in 1982.

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  • 10 Key Tips for Editing a Fashion Magazine or Blog
    Writing

    10 Key Tips for Editing a Fashion Magazine or Blog

    Learn some basic tips to perfect the content of a creative magazine Content, editing, and consistency are at the root of a project's success. They help it to stand out in the digital world but aren’t always easy to achieve. Creative director Pedro Saldías (@pesaldias) has managed to successfully combine all those elements in his many innovative fashion, art, and design projects. Specialized in digital marketing, storytelling, and branded content, in his 10 years of experience, Pedro has developed work for Dolce & Gabbana, Tiffany & Co, among others. To develop editorial formats, use the following 10 tips he has set as a guideline to help you create relevant content and make the most of social media.

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  • 7 Writers to Inspire You and Keep You Writing
    Writing

    7 Writers to Inspire You and Keep You Writing

    A selection of authors recommended by writer and professor Shaun Levin South African professor Shaun Levin (@shaun_levin), the author of the short story collection A Year of Two Summers and the novel Seven Sweet Things, believes that inspiration is everywhere. With more than 20 years as a creative writing teacher, he is living proof: he has taught in schools, schools, art galleries, bookstores, cafes, parks, a cemetery, and even in a zoo. In addition to teaching and writing, Levin edits books and literary magazines and has created a series of writing maps to inspire other writers.

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  • Writing Maps: Writing Prompts That Will Inspire Your Next Story
    Writing

    Writing Maps: Writing Prompts That Will Inspire Your Next Story

    Prompts that will inspire you to transform people, places, objects, and memories into stories Shaun Levin (@shaun_levin) is a writer, artist, editor, bookbinder, and creative writing teacher. He is also the creator of Writing Maps: a platform sharing illustrated maps filled with creative writing prompts to inspire writers to transform people, places, objects, and memories into stories. Since the release of his first novel, Seven Sweet Things, in 2003, Shaun has published a number of books and creative writing resources including A Year of Two Summers, Isaac Rosenberg's Journey to Arras: A Meditation, and Snapshots of The Boy. He has taught creative writing for over twenty years in colleges, schools, and adult education centers, and run workshops in public spaces. He also founded and edits The A3 Review.

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  • What is Copywriting?
    Writing

    What is Copywriting?

    Find out about copywriting and discover its infinite possibilities with creative director and copywriter Erica Igue

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  • What is Branded Content?
    Writing

    What is Branded Content?

    "Branded content is not a format, but a new way of thinking", explains Carla González Over the last couple of days, you have almost certainly come across, and interacted with, branded content, probably even without realizing it. You have also heard this term before and maybe wondered what it is. So we asked Carla González (@carlagoon), a digital copywriter specializing in this type of content, to explain the origin, some examples, and the future of branded content.

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  • Copywriting vs. Content Writing
    Writing

    Copywriting vs. Content Writing

    Learn some of the key differences between these often confused terms The roles of a copywriter and that of a content writer are often confused. Both figures are equally important in building a brand or product. We have gathered information from Domestika experts to define these two marketing processes and understand their main differences. They may be different, but both aim to connect with customers by using important messages about a particular brand. The common part of these two disciplines is the word writing, and indeed they both exist to tell a story about a brand or a service. However, their style, purpose, and strategy deployment are quite far apart. Let’s see in detail what their differences are.

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  • The Letters of the Alphabet as Kamasutra Positions
    Writing

    The Letters of the Alphabet as Kamasutra Positions

    Artist Malika Favre transformed the 26 letters of the alphabet into a book of erotic writing and illustrations French artist Malika Favre has just published Kama Sutra A-Z, an audacious and original book. The 26 letters of the alphabet have been turned into artistic illustrations alluding to sexual freedom and expression. Individually laid out page by page, Malika’s illustrations are accompanied by handwritten erotic texts, focusing on poetry. Celebrated poets such as Sandra Cisneros, Yusef Komunyakaa, Stephanie Burt, Vanessa Kisuule, and Kyle Dargan have been included in the book–all of whom have inspired Malika over the years. Designed by Counter-Print, the book is the culmination of a project exhibited at London’s Somerset House in 2013, the year in which Favre was selected to take part in Pick Me Up. We interviewed the author to learn about her creative process and where she conceived the idea to combine the Kamasutra positions with the letters of the alphabet. She explains what the relationship between erotic writing and illustration is.

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  • 5 Great Comic Adaptations for Television
    Writing

    5 Great Comic Adaptations for Television

    A compilation of fantastic graphic novels that were successfully adapted for the small screen Gone are the days in which graphic novels were considered lesser work. Art Spiegelman’s Maus, the first-ever comic to receive the Pulitzer Prize, Joe Sacco’s comics journalism, and Alan Moore, possibly the greatest artist in this genre’s history, are brilliant proof that a great story can be told in all sorts of formats. Over the last few years, to confirm comic books’ growing standing, we have seen many characters leave the pages and come to life in cinema, TV, and other platforms. The most significant success in the history of cinema, Endgame, earning 2798 million dollars at the box office, is based on the superhero comic book, The Avengers.

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  • Tat*: A Graphic Designer’s Addiction to Ephemera and ‘Bad’ Design
    Writing

    Tat*: A Graphic Designer’s Addiction to Ephemera and ‘Bad’ Design

    A book of tat and ephemera collected by one of the UK’s most accomplished graphic designers, Andy Altmann Most scrapbooks are tucked away in a drawer or on a shelf somewhere, never to be seen again. But, when a scrapbook is compiled by one of Britain’s foremost designers and ephemera aficionados, it’s worth taking another look. Andy Altmann is the co-founder of Why Not Associates, the design studio behind brands like the Pompidou Center, BBC, Channel 4, and the Tate Modern. He is also an ephemera addict who has decided to put said addiction to good use by publishing a book called tat*. *tat (noun) – anything that looks cheap, is of low quality, or in bad condition; junk, rubbish, debris, detritus, crap

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  • Copywriting Dos and Don’ts with Carla González
    Writing

    Copywriting Dos and Don’ts with Carla González

    Top marketing copywriter Carla González shares her vital Dos and Don’ts. Being a good copywriter is about much more than knowing how to write. Copywriting involves creating texts for advertising. As such, it persuades and informs, which is a more complex task. To ensure your words convey precisely what you need to say in the clearest, most direct and entertaining manner, you need to master a series of techniques and learn to apply them on a daily basis. Carla González (@carlagoon) has worked as a marketing editor for brands including IKEA, BMW, Vueling, Banco Sabadell and Casio. She shares her experience and defines her top three key copywriting Dos and top three key copywriting Don’ts. Find out what they are in this video:

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  • How to Tell Visual Stories on the Internet
    Writing

    How to Tell Visual Stories on the Internet

    Josune Imízcoz shows us how to master tone, aesthetics, and emotion in audiovisual storytelling on social media Josune Imízcoz (@josune_imizcoz) has written for newspapers, presented on TV and radio, and is a journalist whose creativity is constantly evolving. Lately, she has been specializing in digital audiovisual storytelling, i.e., videos especially conceived to be shared and consumed on social media. The videos aim to tell great stories in a few seconds, trying to connect with an audience that is overexposed to information on the internet and on social media. It is essential to pay particular attention to tone, aesthetics, and emotion when creating digital content. What are those, exactly? Josune defines them as follows:

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  • 7 Tips to Find Inspiration When Writing
    Writing

    7 Tips to Find Inspiration When Writing

    Alberto Chimal’s best tips on finding inspiration for writing memorable stories You may think that inspiration comes spontaneously and lets authors write incredible stories without interruptions or hesitation, but this is not the case. To write well, you have to practice, and to find the inspiration, you must know where to find it. Author Alberto Chimal (@albertochimal) reveals some of his best tips to find inspiration when writing, and exploit your narrative potential. 1. Set aside time to write Aim to write a little every day, every week, or at least set yourself a realistic goal—that you must keep to and complete—something you can fulfill whenever it is possible. The most important thing is that you respect the time dedicated to writing and make sure others also respect it. 2. Look for the perfect space Find a space where you can write: at home, in your study, or even in a public place or café. It needn’t be a place you use specifically for writing, but it should be comfortable for you to concentrate and develop your stories.

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  • Writing Tutorial: 3 Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block
    Writing

    Writing Tutorial: 3 Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block

    Use these three activities to overcome writer’s block and get back in the writing game, with Shaun Levin Writer’s block, the blank page, self-doubt, and fear are challenges every writer must learn to overcome. You may want to wait for inspiration to strike but that, more often than not, will lead to nowhere. In the words of E. B. White, the author of the classic children’s tale Charlotte’s Web, “a writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper”. Shaun Levin (@shaun_levin) is no stranger to these difficulties but has still managed to write numerous novels, a collection of books on creative writing, and has even created a series of writing maps–illustrated creative writing prompts to inspire writers on the go. In this tutorial, Shaun shares three simple activities to help you beat writer’s block!

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  • Brainstorming for Developing Audio Visual Script Writing Projects
    Writing

    Brainstorming for Developing Audio Visual Script Writing Projects

    Use a practical exercise to play with ideas and create memorable stories What do all books, movies, TV series, and comics you enjoy have in common? Possibly the fact they are all based on an unforgettable tale, no matter how complex or straightforward the story will be developed visually. Alejandra Moffat (@alemoffat) has written scripts for features, animation, and documentary films featured in festivals such as the Berlinale or the Havana Film Festival. Here, she will share a simple brainstorming method to get your ideas into an audiovisual project.

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  • Free Download: Brush Lettering Practice Sheets
    Teacher Writing

    Free Download: Brush Lettering Practice Sheets

    Practice your calligraphy skills with these exercises by James Lewis James Lewis (@jamesllewis) is a multidisciplinary British artist, specializing in calligraphy and lettering, with clients such as Pepsi, Amazon, Montblanc, the BBC and more. He’s well-known on both Instagram and TikTok with a combined following on both apps of over 1.5 million. He began his career as a digital logotype & lettering designer but slowly transitioned from designer to artist by focusing on calligraphy and painting. His passion for letters, social media understanding, and a handcrafted approach have formed the basis of his career.

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