My Debut Poetry Collection!

The Ship and the Storm

The Ship and the Storm is a conversation through poetry between two unique voices, exploring themes of nature and nostalgia, struggle and the self. Diane Callahan and David Dixon take readers from Ohio’s familiar landscapes to the battlefields of America’s War on Terror—and everywhere in between. Callahan brings her incisive wit to examinations of wanderlust and womanhood, while Dixon casts a veteran’s sincere-but-jaded eye toward violence and regret. The Ship and the Storm is a collection that rewards contemplation, with each revisit uncovering new threads of meaning and connection.

Release Date: September 1, 2025

Available in ebook, audiobook, paperback, and hardcover.

Preorder!

GCAC_PrimaryLockup_minimal_Black_edited.

How to Write Better Subplots

A subplot is “a secondary plot string that runs parallel to the main plot,” as ScreenCraft puts it. I invited fellow editor, book coach,...

2 days ago1 min read

NEW VIDEO!

POPULAR WRITING ADVICE

How to Write Better Subplots

A subplot is “a secondary plot string that runs parallel to the main plot,” as ScreenCraft puts it. I invited fellow editor, book coach,...

Fantasy and Sci-Fi Worldbuilding Fundamentals

These fantasy and sci-fi worldbuilding fundamentals can act as the foundation of your story so you can start writing sooner rather than...

Quotidian Writer Episode 1: Starting New Writing Projects

Podcast Episode Medium Transcript What’s the most engaging way to start a story? How do you approach returning to an old project? Diane...

The Key to Great Storytelling

Countless elements contribute to great storytelling, but one in particular will strengthen your story’s potency on a character, plot,...

How to Write Engaging Descriptions in Fiction

Many writers dread writing descriptions. It’s difficult to know what to include, and it requires a lot of mental energy to summon...

How to Punctuate Dialogue

Incorrectly punctuated dialogue is one of the most frequent mistakes I see in manuscripts from writers who are just starting out....

Writing Q&A with Daily Prompt

I did a writing and editing Q&A with Daily Prompt over on their YouTube channel! We chatted about a smorgasbord of topics: + What makes...

4 Writing Lessons from a Novel Contest Judge

After judging novel openings for the Page Turner Awards this summer, I decided to write a Medium article filled with writing tips I...

Can You Be a Writer if You Don’t Read?

Can you be a writer if you don’t read? No one is stopping you from being a writer if you don’t read; however, if you truly want to be a...

How to Write a Strong Story Concept (Reverse Book Blurb Exercise)

A story concept is the general idea of what a story will be about in terms of the plot, characters, and setting. As a writing exercise,...

10 Common New Writer Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

As a developmental editor and writer, I’ve noticed patterns in the types of problems new writers often face. This video covers ten of the...

How to Title Your Novel (All Genres)

Titles shine a spotlight on the heart of the novel, directing readers’ attention to an important element that thematically ties the story...

Diane Callahan has lived almost all her dream jobs as a fiction editor, writing teacher, art gallery aficionado, and cat wrangler. Now she just needs to own a bookshop in the Irish countryside. On her YouTube channel, Quotidian Writer, she provides practical tips for aspiring authors. You can read her work in Consequence, Translunar Travelers Lounge, Paper Butterfly Flash Fiction, Short Édition, and The Sunlight Press, among others.