A Guide For Writers
You've probably already heard the greatest advice there is on writing: WRITE! There is no greater way to develop your writing skills than to put it into practice.
First of all, let me say this: A writer is a writer is a writer. I don't care if you publish for the masses or write for your eyes only. If you communicate in a way that moves you or others in any way, you have graduated from the school of writing. This site does not delineate much among poets, fiction writers, or journalists. For our purposes, we are all of the same flesh and blood.
The purpose of this section of The American Scholar website is actually two-fold. As a writer, I continually accumulate materials that may prove useful during my own development. I keep a sharp eye on trends, styles, and general information on writing. So the first purpose of this site is to establish an easy-access reference database for myself. Another reason for the website (and the reason I have tried to make it attractive with color and graphics) is so that you, my fellow writer, will have access to the same data that I have so painfully sought after. (Okay, most of it has been pretty easy to find.)
I have catagorized the pages under four topics: THEORY, CHARACTER, THEME, AND PLOT. You might start by familiarizing yourself with the layout of the site, which should prove to be pretty simple. Anything pertaining to character (i.e. names, personalities, etc.) will be found on the character page.
This site is dynamic. I will add new data as I gather it. I may subtract data that seems irrelevant or defunct. Check back often for additional stuff. Also, if you have information that you think might help the writers of the world, please contact me. I will give credit where it is due.