<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[The Writer's Workout]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Writer's Workout is a global charity for literacy through creative writing. We can help you be a better writer.]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:37:55 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.writersworkout.net/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[I'm Outta Spoons]]></title><description><![CDATA[“I just need to vent a bit, so scroll on if you don’t have the spoons.” This was the beginning of a recent post from a neurodivergent writer's group I follow on Facebook. Less than a year ago, I would have been very confused. Spoons? What spoons? Instead, the post made me chuckle since I knew exactly what the person was talking about. For those of you—like me—who are fairly new to this neurodivergent (ND) way of thinking and are still learning some terminology, let me enlighten you.  Spoons =...]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/i-m-outta-spoons</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a31b1b221920c994c77b137</guid><category><![CDATA[Craft & Chaos]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:00:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5a07a7_de6cd6a761ad45c294785faf1e3ecec1~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Karen Scott</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Author Branding]]></title><description><![CDATA[Learn all about author branding.]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/author-branding</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2f653900dbe48b1c7ab253</guid><category><![CDATA[Writing Career]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 13:00:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ea4902_e94928334872426396dc379fd667cf21~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Taylor Hamilton</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Putting Yourself Out There: How Does a Writer Market Themselves?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Learn about marketing strategies for writers.]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/putting-yourself-out-there-how-does-a-writer-market-themselves</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2994298ae4d2c74dd01c69</guid><category><![CDATA[Writing Career]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:00:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ea4902_0c9a278269cb4f708fa27d7c1444105e~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sam Parker</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fiction Potluck Finalists: April '26]]></title><description><![CDATA[We love Fiction Potluck because the submissions are so much fun! Here are April's Fiction Potluck Finalists for the body snatchers challenge. Look for the Finalist badge across social media to connect with these authors. April Finalists Claire Beaver Claire Beaver is a multidisciplinary writer with fiction and poetry appearing in Last Leaves Magazine, sans. press, and more. Her debut poetry chapbook, bones, ashes, fire, was released from Bottlecap Press. She is currently working on a PhD in...]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/fiction-potluck-finalists-april-26</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2836babcf454bfefde4374</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiction Potluck]]></category><category><![CDATA[Writer Spotlight]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:10:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/931adf_f745f238a35b4848bc0f599ac7a08712~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>The Writer&apos;s Workout</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Indie Author Spotlight, Episode 29]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello! Jennifer Martin here! I'm a budding short story writer and a new volunteer at The Writer's Workout as well as a recent graduate. I have learned that breaking into the literary world can be daunting feat and so I am taking every opportunity to meet new and interesting people in the literary community, like today's guest Jill Bronfman. Having her work published in over thirty literary journals, Jill Bronfman is making her novel debut in the literary world with her book, Thanks for...]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/indie-author-spotlight-episode-29</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a18aad6145da5e3830777e4</guid><category><![CDATA[Writer Spotlight]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:00:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3d916_e6256210f3e84f2da9437b5f6e6d17a4~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Martin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Back to Basics: Summaries]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sometimes less is more! It’s a fun phrase that essentially means to not overcomplicate things. It can be applied to anything in life, especially writing: summaries. When it comes to writing a story it’s pretty safe to say that the most important (and sometimes most difficult) part is actually writing the story itself. But there’s also stuff that comes after the story is done, and that’s how you describe it to someone in a concise, brief, and organized way. For this Back to Basics course,...]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/back-to-basics-summaries</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2429d01954050002105d30</guid><category><![CDATA[Back to Basics]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 14:47:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/931adf_306cd984eb35435ab737eecfab04a38b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Izhan Arif</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Keys to Creating a Successful Author Brand]]></title><description><![CDATA[Learn about the keys to creating a successful author brand.]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/keys-to-creating-a-successful-author-brand</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a20af9d345fdf6c42520b0e</guid><category><![CDATA[Writing Career]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 03:59:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ea4902_164a2294867d40e9b8f268efa3a01d9c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meghan Davey</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pacing: The Rhythm of Storytelling]]></title><description><![CDATA[Explore the important of pacing in storytelling.]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/pacing-the-rhythm-of-storytelling</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a1c62db61de78e3b212a9c5</guid><category><![CDATA[Writing Career]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 13:00:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ea4902_2ce47fef73de4bd186171e7ffaea9630~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Karen Scott</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cover Letter Analysis]]></title><description><![CDATA[Analyze a cover letter to see all the most important components!]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/cover-letter-analysis</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a174a2503cd524d37e440aa</guid><category><![CDATA[Writing Career]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 13:00:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ea4902_37f3295db1c34dd5b86a04b31d671f86~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Turaya Chadburn</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Indie Author Spotlight, Episode 28]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello! Jennifer Martin here! I'm a budding short story writer and a new volunteer at The Writer's Workout as well as a recent graduate. I have learned that breaking into the literary world can be daunting feat and so I am taking every opportunity to meet new and interesting people in the literary community, like today's guest Marilynn Vicente. Persevering through her struggles with Dyslexia, Marilynn's imagination combined with her passion for writing has resulted in a successful writing...]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/indie-author-spotlight-episode-28</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0eedc140b8a446f99b5395</guid><category><![CDATA[Writer Spotlight]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 13:00:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3d916_49d43414216a4e2f813a168ba6b2ba03~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Martin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cover Letters: What they are and how to write one]]></title><description><![CDATA[Learn all about what cover letters are and how to write one.]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/cover-letters-what-they-are-and-how-to-write-one</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0e4fb4dd66a932defa7740</guid><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 13:00:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ea4902_6ce5083859284b7a91feb6fab4ad2801~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meg Rady</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Everything You Need to Know About Query Letters]]></title><description><![CDATA[Learn everything you need to know about query letters!]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/everything-you-need-to-know-about-query-letters</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0a7bd88ba6aec9a80ee4b1</guid><category><![CDATA[Writing Career]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 13:00:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ea4902_dde9daea07c847f1ab75032a73130c23~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meg Rady</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Querying Limbo]]></title><description><![CDATA[Picture this: you’re in the querying trenches. You have been stressing over your query letter and sample pages, revising and tweaking until you achieve the desired tone, word count, and hook in the hopes of landing an agent. Then you finally hit “send.” You spend the next few hours, days, weeks obsessively checking your email and overanalyzing the lack of response as both a positive and a negative. The whole process is grueling. A Different Struggle Even so, querying hits differently when...]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/querying-limbo</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69fa5dbe2528aeae0147f4a6</guid><category><![CDATA[Craft & Chaos]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 13:00:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5a07a7_beff58f9e406468ea2c8fcf6a89e3ae9~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Karen Scott</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brian Lockwood - First Place, Magicfest 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[We interviewed the Magicfest First Place Overall winner, Brian Lockwood! WW: What encouraged you to participate in Magicfest? BL: I submitted pieces for the Writer's Games in two different years. I enjoyed the challenge, but weekends are a difficult time for me to find time to write. All-day or out-of-town plans can develop fast, and I didn't want to abandon premium family time for the sake of the Games. When Magicfest was announced as a competition that took place during the week, I was...]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/brian-lockwood-first-place-magicfest-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f366147b1c42fb24efd5a0</guid><category><![CDATA[Fest]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 22:00:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/931adf_3cbd5dc933784dacb80e9b4e721d9561~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>The Writer&apos;s Workout</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bea Sage - Second Place, Magicfest 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[We interviewed the Magicfest Second Place Overall winner, Bea Sage! WW: What encouraged you to participate in Magicfest? BS: I’m a Writer’s Games diehard, so the Fests feel like a natural addendum - having said that, the last time I participated in one (Leapfest), I didn’t manage to submit anything for one Event and ended up with a very hastily completed 500-word story for another, so I also wanted to redeem myself on the Fest side of things! WW: What were you worried or nervous about in the...]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/bea-sage-second-place-magicfest-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f2257d7cb0726b2dad8a19</guid><category><![CDATA[Fest]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 20:00:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/931adf_60bf33b7a5514c3b96dcb205b189ef01~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>The Writer&apos;s Workout</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Alyssa Beatty - Third Place, Magicfest 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[We interviewed the Magicfest Third Place Overall winner, Alyssa Beatty! WW: What encouraged you to participate in Magicfest? AB: I’ve been in a bit of a writing slump and wanted to remind myself that writing is something I do for the joy of it. In short fiction I find fantasy the most fun genre to write in; I always end up with characters or a voice that I really love. I’m deep in the weeds of writing a fantasy novel and it’s becoming a slog, so I wanted to re-ignite that spark of fun. WW:...]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/alyssa-beatty-third-place-magicfest-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f360f3bba4a2ace46f6628</guid><category><![CDATA[Fest]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 18:00:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/931adf_62d9a3ae84fb405bbfa19b6536e43037~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>The Writer&apos;s Workout</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Quick Guide to Writing a Query Letter]]></title><description><![CDATA[Learn about the exciting topic of writing query letters!]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/a-quick-guide-to-writing-a-query-letter</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69fb5f9f6d919e5ce8730b52</guid><category><![CDATA[Writing Career]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 03:59:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ea4902_2f27dedf288645039e7fa16b98c340dc~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ida Rosenstein</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Foreshadowing: The Power of Planting Clues]]></title><description><![CDATA[Read all about foreshadowing and the power of planting clues in your narrative.]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/foreshadowing-the-power-of-planting-clues</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f7a3bd7b1c42fb24f8acd3</guid><category><![CDATA[Writing Career]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 10:01:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ea4902_d3fd40ec0f904b5081eaf6381f04fe71~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alyson Tait</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Proofreading]]></title><description><![CDATA[This post is all about proofreading.]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/proofreading</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f25a4ad3f2ae6dd9178c77</guid><category><![CDATA[Writing Career]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:00:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ea4902_48038dc693374bbcbc1db4fedb904354~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Bhagwati Narwate</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Indie Author Spotlight, Episode 27]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello! Jennifer Martin here! I'm a budding short story writer and a new volunteer at The Writer's Workout as well as a recent graduate. I have learned that breaking into the literary world can be daunting feat and so I am taking every opportunity to meet new and interesting people in the literary community, like today's guest Marcelina LoBue. Starting her publication journey at a young age, Marcelina is a mystery romance YA author with an unrelenting passion for the craft. Juggling high...]]></description><link>https://www.writersworkout.net/post/indie-author-spotlight-episode-27</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69e6c14201c0bb7bd80a1fa5</guid><category><![CDATA[Writer Spotlight]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:00:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3d916_cd0371819c95482b87b8a80525d447f2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Martin</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>