⋙ The Basics Every Fiction Writer Needs, No Streak Required ⋘
Save Your Writing Streak
Revive your streak. Or get it started. Every Monday I publish 7 free streak savers you can use to jump into writing fiction. Feeling blocked? No ideas? Let’s hope you bookmarked Writing Streak.
Hi, I’m Robb, and I love writing almost as much as I love my air fryer. After publishing nearly 400 exercises on my previous newsletter, I realized I’d picked a name that was trying to be too clever. Clever is never clear.
While rebranding I changed my approach. These new “streak savers” are inspired by a learning paradigm focused on building adaptable skills rather than isolated techniques.
Let’s get a taste.
⋙ Sample: Low Agency Dialogue
Setup: A character is questioning a decision that could have major consequences but feels hesitant to speak openly.
Goal: Immerse the reader with believable subtext. Write a short dialogue where the character uses low agency speech to reveal vulnerability or uncertainty.
Constraints:
Avoid phrases that reference direct action.
Attribute decisions to things outside the character’s control.
Stop when the dialogue fits in a square.
Modification: For an extra challenge, the character cannot show any direct disagreement, even indirectly.
Reflection: Would the character's language shift if the decision were less important or if the character felt differently about the other person?
Shape the Future
If you ever lose your streak, visit the Writing Streak website to memorialize your streak with a tombstone. Then come on back and dive into writing. Be part of a community of people who share your interests. Participate in the comments section, or support this work with a subscription.
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