“Show, don’t tell” isn’t just a writing cliché—it’s the heartbeat of immersive storytelling. In this piece, Clay Stafford explores how sensory details, specificity, and subtext transform simple narration into a living experience. Learn how to make readers feel your story, not just read it.
Great writers are always great readers—and not by accident. Clay Stafford explores how reading with purpose strengthens a writer’s craft, voice, and imagination. Learn to turn every book into a classroom, expand your creative vocabulary, and transform reading into an essential part of your writing practice.
Writing Tip of the Day: Introduction to Layered Writing — What Is It and Why Should You Care? Layered writing sounds pretty much like it is. It involves weaving multiple narrative elements into the same passage or scene, such as plot, character, theme, emotion, and...
I’m interviewing writer Thomas Perry in a few days, and I thought it might be fun to return to his first book, The Butcher’s Boy, his first novel and the winner of the Edgar Award that year. It’s easy to see why it separated itself from the competition. It exemplifies...
In my years of teaching at universities and conferences, lecturing on podcasts, and conducting instructional panels and presentations, I have encountered the phrase “Show, Don’t Tell” as one of the most basic yet often misunderstood phrases and pieces of advice and...
Why A Trip to the Moon Still Matters for Writers In graduate film school, I first watched Georges Méliès’s short 1902 French film A Trip to the Moon (Le Voyage dans la Lune). At the time, I didn’t really appreciate all it had to offer. It’s a classic, for sure, often...
I do a lot of public speaking, probably one event per week. I’ve been doing it for decades. I speak to a wide variety of groups, including presentations for Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference, Bouchercon, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Chongqing...
Speaking to groups and participating in interviews or presentations is not just a task, but a joyous opportunity to connect with new people, share my passion, and increase individual awareness in the community. If you're not yet involved in public speaking, I highly...
Writing demands truth, even when it’s difficult. By sharing our stories honestly and skillfully, we free ourselves, connect with others, and create powerful narratives.
I am a gothic writer. It is my interest, heritage, and culture. One of my hopes is that, if you are not a fan of gothic literature or know very little about it, you’ll travel with me here as I explore it with you. You’ll find that many things you love about literature...