Editor's Note by Martha Nichols
Forget the muse. My attention thief looks like Harpo Marx. He’s the guy honking his horn or grabbing my leg, whether I’m sitting at the computer or under a tree.
Advice
The Reluctant Multitasker
Oct 01, 2013
What Writing About Trauma Can Do
May 07, 2018
Book Excerpt by Jen Cross
An experience of trauma—either long-term or instantaneous—rocks us out of our familiar relationship with words.
Twelve Tips for Living in the South
Sep 18, 2017
Feature by Allison Futterman
I’ve learned to live among the blooming trees, Sunday church traffic, and love of bacon.
Eight Novels to Prepare You for the End of Civilization
Mar 20, 2017
Feature by Tim Weed
If you’re stocking the shelves of your survival shelter, don’t forget to throw in a few gripping novels.
Getting Beyond “Someday I’ll Write”
Feb 01, 2016
Theme Essay by Steve Adams
Don’t worry about the expectations you imagine others have; play with the mud you’ve found, like a child.
How I Learned to Love the Void
Dec 28, 2015
Theme Essay by Marlene Adelstein
It felt like being on a ledge, with vast emptiness below my feet. I wasn't writing—but I wasn't not writing.
Hooking Teens with the Real World
Oct 05, 2015
Theme Essay by Marina Budhos and Marc Aronson
You can’t assume that teenagers are interested in what you have to say—it’s your job to pull them in by intriguing and delighting them.
The Silent Voice of Your Story
Sep 21, 2015
Essay by Lynne Gessner
No wonder readers often skip description—they were with the character, and suddenly the author steps in with dry facts.
How to Win—and Lose—a Literary Competition
Jun 08, 2015
Essay by Susan Terris
Writing is hard. Entering is hard, but being rejected for any prize should make you more determined to write with passion.
How Not to Become a Writer
Jun 08, 2015
Essay by Lâle Davidson
Write your stories very slowly, word by word, trying to please everyone but yourself.
