From the blog

When It Is Time to Take a Break from Writing

When it is time to take a break

For the last few weeks, I have been taking a break from writing. Instead, I’ve been gardening, going on walks, reading books that fall in the “fluff” category (i.e. not genre research). This decision was deliberate and followed a recent rejection that stung deeper than usual and came on the heels of a year of building momentum. It has been a relief to take a break from the specter of “what I could achieve if I persist.” I feel like I’ve been on vacation.

books on the craft of writing fiction memoir and short story

4 Favorite Creative Writing Craft Books

Many writers find it challenging to locate craft books that meet them where they are in their writing development. There are hundreds of texts to choose from whose topics range from plot-centric to memoir-esque to publishing to process, and anything in between. Having read two dozen or more books on the craft of writing, I decided to put together a post of the books I most often recommend to others, depending on their needs and experience.

Literary Magazines That Accept Translations

If you speak more than one language, you may find yourself wishing that some of your favorite foreign-language writing could be published in English. Well, you’re in luck! There are many journals out there that solicit and accept translated work.

Even if a journal does not specifically mention translated work, they may still be open to it–don’t be afraid to reach out and ask!

James Agee A Death In The Family Review Response Writer Workshops

Book Response: A Death In The Family

James Agee’s A Death In The Family follows a young family in the early 20th century directly before and after the unexpected, sudden death of the patriarch, Jay Follet. Agee beautifully illustrates how each family member copes with Jay’s death, following their journey from anxiety to anger to confusion to acceptance. But despite the beauty […]

The Birds Tarjei Vesaas book review literary fiction workshops

Book Response: The Birds

Difficulty Categorizing This Book I have never read a book quite like this before. Perhaps that’s because it was written by a Norwegian author. Or perhaps it’s because of the original publication year (1957). Despite the novel’s tiny cast and contained setting, I found that I did not want to put it down. Ironically, there […]

Blue Nights quote by author Joan Didion

Book Response: Blue Nights

Every time I read a book by Joan Didion, I am struck by her skill. Blue Nights is no exception. This non-fiction rumination centers around what it means to raise a child and to lose that child prematurely, all while dealing with one’s own aging. It is a powerful look into Didion’s psyche. “When we […]

The Lover by Marguerite Duras

Book Response: The Lover

The Lover by Marguerite Duras What a perfect novel to read following Robert Olen Butler’s From Where You Dream. There are several things I admire about Marguerite Duras’s The Lover. First, the prose itself is lyrical and unique. Her analogies and themes are consistent and poignant throughout. In fact, the entire novel reads like one […]