Joan Schweighardt conducts this Spotlight interview with Cynthia J. Sylvester, author of The Half-White Album

Spotlight on Minrose Gwin in this interview by Five Directions Press author Joan Schweighardt about Gwin's new novel "Beautiful Dreamers"

Spotlight interview with Mary Fleming, whose third novel, Civilisation Francaise, appeared in July 2024

Spotlight Interview with the memoirist, children's novelist, and micro-fiction writer Faye Rapoport DesPres

Spotlight interview with the psychotherapist, poet, and artist Alison Stone, conducted by Joan Schweighardt

Spotlight interview with the author Lynn C. Miller, who has just published a short story collection, The Lost Archive

The Writer's Life: Joan Schweighardt discusses the inspiration for her characters Ben and Lola in her new novel "Under the Blue Moon"

When, how—and how not—to use weather to reveal character and setting in fiction

Joan Schweighardt shines a spotlight on flash fiction writer Chelsea Stickle in this month's interview.

The importance of setting in a novel—so long as you don't overdo it.

Joan Schweighart discusses magical realism: what it is, and why you might want to use it in your writing.

Interview with Jen Michalski, whose new short story collection, The Company of Strangers, will appear in January 2023.

Tips for keeping background research from overwhelming a story.

Interview with author K.B. Jensen, a successful self-published writer of short stories and novels

As Five Directions Press winds down its anniversary months (ten years!), individual authors reminisce on their experiences.

Jayne Martin talks to Joan Schweighardt about her new memoir, The Daddy Chronicles, and flash writing.

Clothing may appear to be a superficial indicator of character, but there is more to it than you might think.

Joan Schweighardt discusses character development through interviews as preparation for writing a novel.

A couple of months ago, we discussed getting into character when you are writing a novel in the third person—whether it reflects one...

Jordan Rosenfeld is receptive to inspiration but knows how to work without it when she has to. She can build out a plot step by step, but...