Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

How to Write a Fiction Book: Advice From Expert Storytellers

Do you ever read books you wish you’d written? Do you want to see your own book on the bookstore and library shelves? We’ve collected and distilled fiction-writing advice from successful authors and storytelling experts, including Stephen King, Robert McKee, and Lisa Cron. We’ve highlighted common ideas shared by many of these diverse experts as well as areas in which they disagree about this highly personal art form. Read more to learn how to write a fiction book.

4 Money Habits of Freelancers—and Others on a Tight Budget

How comfortable are you with financial insecurity? Where could you cut expenses? How can you get supporters to give you more money? In the traditional workforce, you have a steady stream of income, and—according to society, at least—you should be consistently building wealth for the rest of your life. In contrast, self-employment rarely comes with a stable income, and you’re not likely to become very wealthy. Read more to discover four money habits that freelancing guru Paul Millerd recommends.

Free Will in Criminology: 3 Ways We Can Be More Fair (Sam Harris)

Should justice be punitive or restorative? Are people really to blame for the criminal choices they make? Sam Harris contends that free will is an illusion; our thoughts, desires, intentions, and choices are determined by events outside our control. Of course, this view impacts the way we regard the choices people make, even when those choices are criminal in nature. Continue reading to understand Sam Harris’s perspective on free will in criminology and the three steps he thinks we should take to treat people more fairly.

Woke Science: How the Left Masks a Lack of Consensus

Is some science being canceled? If so, why? What issues are being targeted? Douglas Murray says that woke ideology harms free speech in a number of ways, not the least of which is in scientific discussions. He argues that science hasn’t corroborated many of the core assumptions now associated with Leftist views of certain topics, but the ideology presents these assumptions as settled facts. Continue reading to learn about “woke science,” according to Murray.

3 Ways to Reset Your Attitude Toward Work and Life

How do you define success? What do you value most in life? What fears do you have about making a living? We’re taught that prioritizing work is the best or only viable life path. But, Paul Millerd says there’s a better way. To make a change, you must first unlearn convention and open your mind to alternatives. He recommends the “pathless path” of freelancing, but his advice about work attitude is widely applicable. Keep reading to learn how to reset your attitude toward work by reinventing success, facing your fears, and discovering new values.

Voice in a Story: How to Reveal Yourself to Your Audience

What does it mean to infuse your stories with your unique voice? How authentic should it be? You’re unique, so your voice as a storyteller is unique. No one else can provide the same blend of experience, personality, and style. Your unique voice is a powerful way to connect with your audience and set your work apart from the crowd. Keep reading to learn how to use your voice in a story and let your audience in on you as a person.

Free Will and Moral Responsibility: Sam Harris’s Apparent Paradox

If free will is an illusion, are we responsible for our behaviors? Can we just blame external factors for our misdeeds? Many argue that, if we throw free will out the window, moral responsibility goes with it. Sam Harris rejects free will as a reality and asks us to consider moral responsibility in that context. And, he contends that embracing the illusory nature of free will actually helps us think and act in more ethical ways. Read on to understand Harris’s intriguing view of free will and moral responsibility.

Linking Natural Resources and Wealth: For Richer or Poorer

Do natural resources make a country wealthy? What if natural resources are the primary driver of a nation’s economy? A key factor of geography theory is access to natural resources—everything from farmable land to oil to fresh water. These resources can determine whether a nation becomes rich or poor. But, it’s not necessarily a straightforward proposition. Continue reading to learn about the complex link between natural resources and wealth.

Geographic Inequality: How Resources & Topography Impact Wealth

When are natural resources a detriment rather than a benefit to a nation? How can the presence of a coastline make a country richer? The geography theory of international inequality argues that differences in the physical locations of countries determine—or at least strongly influence—their economic success. Proponents of this theory point to two main geographical factors: natural resources and topography. Read more to learn about these factors that can lead to geographic inequality among nations.

3 Ways to Maintain a Sense of Agency in the Absence of Free Will

If free will is an illusion, does that mean that we must be disillusioned? Can we still somehow have a sense of self and agency? Sam Harris argues that we don’t have free will. But, he doesn’t believe that accepting free will as an illusion—which requires a major shift in perspective for many of us—has to undermine everything we believe about ourselves and others. Keep reading to discover three ways Harris says we can maintain a sense of agency even in the absence of free will.