Resources
From Category: Advice for Writers
“That’s Not How I Remember It”: Creative Nonfiction and the Art of Dealing with Doubters
Essayist Megan Galbraith shares tips for writing about sensitive family stories | Visit source
A Basic Guide to Getting Permissions & Sample Permissions Letter
Copyright advice for quotes and excerpts from other writers | Visit source
A Literary Agent’s Guide to Publishing Terms Authors Should Know
Basic contract terms explained by Mark Gottlieb of Trident Media Group | Visit source
A Selection of Fine Poems from the Winning Writers Community: What Makes Them Great
Poems by Stephen Derwent Partington, Thelma T. Reyna, Dana Curtis, Robert Savino, and Veronica Golos; critique by Tracy Koretsky
Advice from Arthur Powers, Judge of the Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
Arthur Powers shares advice on the kinds of stories and essays that win contests
Advice from Ellaraine Lockie, Judge of the Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest
Ellaraine Lockie describes the kinds of work she likes to see in the Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest
Advice from Judy Juanita, Judge of the Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
Judy Juanita shares what she likes to see in stories and essays
Advice from Soma Mei Sheng Frazier, Judge of the Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest
Advice for poetry contestants from Soma Mei Sheng Frazier
Advice from the Judge of the War Poetry Contest
Jendi Reiter, judge of the War Poetry Contest from 2002-2011, shares her advice | Visit source
Advice from the Judges of the North Street Book Prize
What Jendi Reiter and Ellen LaFleche like to see in self-published books
American Life in Poetry
Weekly column by former US poet laureate Ted Kooser presents contemporary American poems and a short discussion of the techniques that make them effective | Visit source
Amorak Huey on Writing Funny
Musings on the role of humor in poetry | Visit source
An ABC of Translating Poetry, an essay by Willis Barnstone
Master poet Willis Barnstone explores the act of translation, "a friendship between poets...a mystical union between them based on love and art | Visit source
An Honest Answer by Ginger Andrews, reviewed by Dr. Joseph S. Salemi
Poet and classical scholar Joseph Salemi (see bio and poems) probes the limitations of contemporary free- verse confessional poetry | Visit source
Anatomy of a Poetry Contest
See how a judge weighs poems in this essay by Virgil Suarez | Visit source
Art Has an Effect (Make Sure It’s the Effect You Want)
Fiction editor May Peterson on the purpose of sensitivity readers | Visit source
Australian College of Journalism Blog
Basic advice for creative and freelance writers | Visit source
Author Salon Craft Essays
Expert advice on narrative structure, query letters, scriptwriting and more | Visit source
Autistic Representation and Real-Life Consequences
A call to move past harmful stereotypes in writing autistic characters | Visit source
Bad Poets, a short essay by Randall Jarrell
Mr. Jarrell (1914-1965) was a leading American poet and critic | Visit source
Biographile
Penguin Random House website for memoir and nonfiction writers | Visit source
Book Review Directory
Site matches authors with reviewers by genre | Visit source
Boston Comment
Hard-hitting essays on the state of contemporary poetry, by poet and critic Joan Houlihan | Visit source
Can Poetry Matter? an essay by Dana Gioia
Poetry is imprisoned in the cozy cells of academia and specialty publishers | Visit source
Christopher Fielden’s Writing Advice and Competitions Listings
British writer-editor's blog links to top fiction competitions | Visit source
Comstock Review: The Poet’s Handbook
Detailed guidance for poets from the Comstock Writers' Group | Visit source
Critique Corner Finale: Our Best Advice for Poets
Our best advice for poets from a decade of Critique Corner
Daily s-Press
Dorothee Lang, editor of BluePrintReview, an English-language online literary journal based in Germany, began this blog in March 2010 to review new books of poetry and prose from small independent presses | Visit source
David Biespiel: Follow Your Strengths, Manage Your Weaknesses
How to focus on your strengths as a writer | Visit source
Death to the Death of Poetry, an essay by Donald Hall
Poetry has been dying all its life | Visit source
Dispoet
Insightful blog about poetry and disability includes brief reviews and discussions of contemporary poets writing about the subject | Visit source
Djelloul Marbrook
Award-winning poet and journalist's weblog features essays on contemporary poets, contextualized with reflections on politics and culture | Visit source
Does Poetry Matter? an essay by William Waltz
Prizewinning poet William Waltz investigates why there are more writers than readers of poetry. Today's highbrow poets, he ventures, should plumb their playful side | Visit source
Don’t Make Violence and Abuse Just Another Plot Device in Your Novel
Bestselling novelist Rene Denfeld's advice on responsible writing about trauma | Visit source
Erika Dreifus: 13 Questions to Ask Before Submitting to a Literary Journal
Editor of The Practicing Writer newsletter shares advice for targeted submissions | Visit source
Essay Daily
Curated by DIAGRAM editor Ander Monson, Essay Daily is a space for ongoing conversation about essays and essayists of note, contemporary and otherwise | Visit source
Facing Altars: Poetry and Prayer
Poet and memoirist Mary Karr muses on the resemblance between poetry and prayer as "sacred speech" that eases the soul's isolation | Visit source
Finding Communion in Disability Poetics
Poet Lizz Schumer surveys important texts of the movement | Visit source
FlashFiction.net
Updated daily, this site features short craft essays on writing and marketing your flash fiction | Visit source
Four Hidden Dangers of Writing Groups
Publishing expert looks at pitfalls of group input in the creative process | Visit source
From Page to Pixels: The Evolution of Online Journals
In this article from the May/June 2009 Poets & Writers Magazine, award-winning poet Sandra Beasley discusses the growing prestige of online publication and the advantages it offers for disseminating your work | Visit source
Gently Read Literature
Daniel Casey's blog publishes essays and criticism of contemporary poetry and literary fiction | Visit source
George Saunders on Storytelling
Video by acclaimed short story writer | Visit source
How Novelty Ruined the Novel
Current Affairs essay on worn-out postmodernist tricks | Visit source
How to Be a Good Beta Reader
Quick tips for giving useful manuscript critiques | Visit source
How to Find the Poetry Contest that is Best for You
By Jendi Reiter | Visit source
How to Respond to Criticism of Your Poetry
By Tracy Koretsky
How to Write a Killer Fairy Tale Retelling
Timeless Tales Magazine editor shares advice for an original twist on classic stories | Visit source
How to Write in 700 Easy Lessons
In this essay from The Atlantic's 2010 fiction issue, novelist Richard Bausch argues that writers' manuals are a poor substitute for honing one's aesthetic sense through immersion in great literature | Visit source
Ingrid Wendt: “The Unknown Good in Our Enemies”
This essay honoring the poet William Stafford reflects on how literature can foster mutual understanding and empathy in order to break the cycle of violence | Visit source
