The Word Cave

Ask Me Anything (about writing)

exclusive invite for paid subscribers

Mar 2 • Lilly Dancyger

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February 2026

The Essay I Cut from First Love

like a deleted scene, but for books

Feb 24 • Lilly Dancyger

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Braided Essays, Three Ways

a class (and a price point) for everyone

Feb 3 • Lilly Dancyger

29

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January 2026

How Many Times Can You Write About the Same Experience?

writing advice from Ask Lilly

Jan 26 • Lilly Dancyger

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December 2025

New scholarship and deadline extension!

$600 off my upcoming Essay Collection Incubator

Dec 4, 2025 • Lilly Dancyger

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The Jelly Donut Theory of Thrillers

In 2025, I read 25 books that I would classify as thrillers or mysteries, and this post is basically me thinking out loud (on the page) about what made…

Dec 2, 2025 • Lilly Dancyger

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November 2025

Mapping the interior (of a novel)

I’d written myself into a dead-end because I wasn’t keeping close enough tabs on the shifting inner landscape of each character.

Nov 18, 2025 • Lilly Dancyger

69

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I want to read your manuscript!

upcoming editorial availability and writing classes

Nov 5, 2025 • Lilly Dancyger

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October 2025

What To Do When the Words Won't Come

writing advice from Ask Lilly

Oct 23, 2025 • Lilly Dancyger

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Ask Me Anything (About Writing)

Paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time to writing What Is a Novel?, Museum Pages, and other Word Cave essays—and this Ask Lilly…

Oct 15, 2025 • Lilly Dancyger

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What Happens When You Actually Put Writing First?

reflections on a Paris fellowship

Oct 7, 2025 • Lilly Dancyger

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September 2025

The “20k-Word Rule” of Drafting

I’ve started and restarted my novel draft from the beginning six times now. This is the “wrong” way to write a first draft, I know.

Sep 3, 2025 • Lilly Dancyger

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