resources for writing!

Short of visiting the Writing Center (which I shall do, after we bury my friend who just passed away, and I get through two exams next week) does anyone have any good or helpful suggestions for writing fiction and/or poetry?

Is there anything that you personally like to read or watch that has helped you in your process?

I think this video is pretty straightforward and short enough to keep the viewer's attention [about 17 minutes].

I hate cliches, predictable plot lines, and flat characters, but I feel like I fall into these bad habits unconsciously and when I read my writing back to myself, I'm embarrassed. "Do I really sound like that?" Highly self-conscious. I can't even read my own journal entries without feeling weird.

I don't exactly struggle with subject material, every day seems to present a new story idea (Pandemic! Billionaires thwarting the democratic process! Say we really did return the land back to Indigenous folks! Sorry, it's kind of a wasteland!) I just struggle with everything else. "What's the point of telling this story?" I think to myself.  Just having it make sense, as the man says in the video, can be a time-consuming task. Are there any easy ways to organize a coherent plot?

Also, poetry. How does that work?

Maybe we can help each other out and share some tips.