Every day Poets & Writers Magazine scans the headlines—from publishing reports to academic announcements to literary dispatches—for all the news that creative writers need to know. Here are today's stories:
In honor of Labor Day, GalleyCat rounded up union resources for writers.
This week marks the publication of many anticipated new books, including Zadie Smith’s NW, Emma Straub’s Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures, and the paperback release of Mat Johnson's Pym. (Emma Straub is profiled in the September/October 2012 issue of Poets & Writers Magazine.) (Millions)
Meanwhile, David Abrams, the author of Fobbit—another anticipated first novel—details the road to publication from querying his agent, rejections from editors, and the eventual acquisition by Grove/Atlantic editor Peter Blackstock. Fobbit was the young editor's first acquisition, and Blackstock explains how it happened. (Quivering Pen)
Caleb Crain weighs in on the subject that "recently preoccupied the literary corners of the Internet: How rude should a book critic be?" (Paris Review Daily)
Richard Bach, the author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, was injured this past weekend in a small plane crash. (USA Today)
New York Times Book Review editor Jennifer McDonald explains what makes Joan Didion's “Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream” a great essay. (Nieman Storyboard)
Since it's the start of a new school year, Annie Murphy Paul looks at NoRedInk—a website that helps teach grammar skills. (Brilliant Blog)
Flavorwire lists a dozen beautiful online literary magazines.
"Every single moment of my life has been incredible, I’ve loved it, I’ve savored it, it’s been beautiful…" Brain Pickings features a 2010 audio interview with the late Ray Bradbury.