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Our sixth annual Writing Contests Issue offers advice from authors who judge literary competitions as well as the writers who win them; a look at shifting entry fees and prize amounts over the past decade of contests; interviews with poet Mark Doty, creative nonfiction writer Maggie Nelson, and Washington Post book critic Ron Charles; the anxiety surrounding prepublication praise; self-publishing tips; writing prompts; agent advice; and more.
Whether he is writing poems, essays on the craft of poetry, or a memoir about his dogs, award-winning poet Mark Doty applies a passionate intellect that drives his readers deep into uncharted territory.
In her ninth book, The Argonauts, published this month by Graywolf Press, Maggie Nelson explores the frontiers of thinking about love, language, and family, adding to a stunning body of work unconstrained by labels of form and genre.
Nine frequent contest judges—who also happen to be some of the most productive writers and editors working today—offer advice and insight about what they look for in entries, how they winnow the piles, and what it takes to win.
A breakdown of the numbers behind our Grants & Awards section, including the total amount of prize money given each year, the cost of entry, and how writing contests have changed over the past ten years.
What first struck John D’Agata as a flaw in Noam Dorr’s essay, “Love Drones,” turns out to be a strength that sets it apart, a big factor in D’Agata’s decision to select the piece as winner of the 2014 Gulf Coast Nonfiction prize.
A breakdown of the numbers behind our Grants & Awards section, including the total amount of prize money given each year, the cost of entry, and how writing contests have changed over the past ten years.
With so many good books being published every month, some literary titles worth exploring can get lost in the stacks. Page One offers the first lines of a dozen recently released books, including Toni Morrison’s Gold Help the Child and Charles Simic’s The Lunatic, as the starting point for a closer look at these new and noteworthy titles.
Literary MagNet chronicles the start-ups and closures, successes and failures, anniversaries and accolades, changes of editorship and special issues—in short, the news and trends—of literary magazines in America. This issue’s MagNet features Rattle, Poetry International, the Moth, Grain, and Barrelhouse.
Small Press Points highlights the innovation and can-do spirit of independent presses. This issue features the Fairfax, Virginia–based Civil Coping Mechanisms, whose devotion to writing that “doesn’t shy away” is reimagining what it means to cope.
Inspired by the works of Shelley, Keats, and Byron, a new video game challenges its players to get creative with writing-based gameplay.
Grove Atlantic and Electric Literature join forces to launch Literary Hub, a new site with an editorial team dedicated to curating the best literature-related writing on the Web.
Grove Atlantic and Electric Literature join forces to launch Literary Hub, a new site with an editorial team dedicated to curating the best literature-related writing on the Web.
The director of the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers program talks about the process of searching for the “extraordinary storytelling” that makes a great new book.
In Home for an Hour, an interdisciplinary collaboration between artist Adam Moser, writer Jacob Paul, and photographer Sarah Martin, seven couples are given free rein inside Moser’s apartment, while Paul composes stories about how the guests spend their time there.
Having to approach other authors, some with weighty reputations, and ask for the time-consuming favor of writing a blurb can be an unexpected source of anxiety. A debut author shares her experience with part of the publishing process that many...
Ron Charles of the Washington Post and the Totally Hip Video Book Review series gives his insights on the ethical and practical challenges of being a book critic for a major newspaper.
Should you pay to have a manuscript edited beforehand? Are there benefits to querying via snail mail versus e-mail? Danielle Svetcov of Levine Greenberg Rostan answers readers’ questions about what (and what not) to do when trying to find an agent.
A former radio executive writes about his behind-the-scenes experiences with rock stars, and puts his vast media expertise to work promoting the book. An editor and publicist weigh in.
Writing prompts and exercises in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction employing kindness, strange connections, and the timeless wisdom of Special Agent Dale Cooper.
The assistant poetry editor of Able Muse offers his thoughts on coming to terms with the inevitability—and impersonality—of rejection in the world of literary magazines.
