By Leann Barna
One of the biggest mistakes new screenwriters (or any writers) make is believing the first draft has to be good. Most first drafts are overwritten, underwritten, confusing, and sometimes embarrassing. That is completely normal. The first draft is not where you
By J Todd McMillan
Yeah, yeah, I know . . . You’re not supposed to get cute with the title of a serious article. But that’s part of my muse construction. It’s part of knowing who I am as a writer and knowing where
We congratulate the following finalists of the 2026 Cascade Writing Contest!
Article, column, nonfiction short story
by Cher Gatto
A writer’s warning about the subtle power of discouragement
The enemy has a lot of tools in his tool chest.
But the one he wields with the sharpest, finest point is discouragement. With merely the scratch of the blade, often painless, it goes
By Eva Marie Everson
Toto. Asfaloth. Figaro. Buck. Snowbell. Wilbur.
Ever since Noah built the ark and called them in by “twosies,” animals have been a vital part of both life and story.
My husband and I rescued our dog, Bear, shortly after we married. A couple of
By Amanda Cox
As an author with a background in counseling, I love nothing more than digging deep into a character’s childhood and defining moments. I then use those elements to analyze that character’s fears and motivations to create impactful plot points.
For the most
