The Workshop Should Be a Model of Diversity—It’s Not
The novelist and author of Craft in the Real World traces the historical origins of the creative writing workshop and its tradition of silencing writers of color.
Article Archive
Articles from Poet & Writers Magazine include material from the print edition plus exclusive online-only material.
Craft Capsule: Queer Characters Who Behave Badly
The author of I Know You Know Who I Am seeks to approach his characters without judgment.
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GalleyCrush: Great Circle
Maggie Shipstead’s Great Circle, forthcoming from Knopf on May 4, 2021.
Agents & Editors: Sarah McGrath
The editor in chief of Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, talks about her start in publishing, acquiring books, editing as a creative process, and more.
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Ten Questions for Alex Dimitrov
“I hate saying goodbye.” —Alex Dimitrov, author of Love and Other Poems
GalleyCrush: The Renunciations
Donika Kelly’s The Renunciations, forthcoming from Graywolf Press on May 4, 2021.
Ten Questions for Randa Jarrar
“Commit to completing a scene each time you write” —Randa Jarrar, author of Love Is an Ex-Country
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Craft Capsule: Poets’ Prose
The author of Anodyne takes a poetic approach to prose writing.
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GalleyCrush: The Souvenir Museum
Elizabeth McCracken’s The Souvenir Museum, forthcoming from Ecco on April 13, 2021.
Ten Questions for Edward Carey
“Every day without fail. Small marks with a pencil.” —Edward Carey, author of The Swallowed Man
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Craft Capsule: The Arc of Understanding
The author of Anodyne shares her methodology for determining the order of poems in a collection.
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GalleyCrush: Tributary
Carey Salerno’s Tributary, forthcoming from Persea Books on April 20, 2021.
Ten Questions for Jana Larson
“I can’t imagine myself without this book.” —Jana Larson, author of Reel Bay
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GalleyCrush: Double Trio
Nathaniel Mackey’s Double Trio, forthcoming from New Directions on April 6, 2021.
Ten Questions for Torrey Peters
“It was a bit of an exorcism.” —Torrey Peters, author of Detransition, Baby
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Craft Capsule: Rethinking Theory and Poetics
The author of Anodyne prioritizes joy in her poetics.
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GalleyCrush: White Magic
Elissa Washuta’s White Magic, forthcoming from Tin House on April 27, 2021.
Ten Questions for Robert Jones Jr.
“Writing is revision. Period. That’s not glamorous, but it is rewarding.” —Robert Jones Jr., author of The Prophets
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Craft Capsule: Creating a Seasonal Writing Practice
The author of Anodyne envisions a new writing practice inspired by the natural world.
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GalleyCrush: Water I Won’t Touch
Kayleb Rae Candrilli’s Water I Won’t Touch, forthcoming from Copper Canyon Press on April 20, 2021.
Ten Questions for Yxta Maya Murray
“I leapt into it and wrote it like a banshee.” —Yxta Maya Murray, author of Art Is Everything
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Ten Writers on Writing Advice
Ten writers, including Brandon Taylor and Kate Zambreno, share the best writing advice they’ve ever heard.
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Craft Capsule: Who Cares?
The author of Thin Places urges writers to consider the reader.
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Ten Author Readings to Mark the End of 2020
Ten author readings that reflect the beauty, hope, resilience, and strength of writers to confront the failures of the past and to rejoice in the promise of what lies ahead.
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GalleyCrush: Index of Women
Amy Gerstler’s Index of Women, forthcoming from Penguin Books on April 6, 2021.