Reviewers & Critics: Sam Sacks of the Wall Street Journal
In this continuing series, a book reviewer discusses the art of literary criticism—from the value of negative reviews to critics he admires.
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Article Archive: The Practical Writer
Articles from Poet & Writers Magazine include material from the print edition plus exclusive online-only material.
Agent Advice: Regina Brooks of Serendipity Literary Agency
An agent answers questions on referrals, pitching a self-published book, and what to do if you’re dropped by an agency.
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Reviewers & Critics: Laila Lalami of the Nation
An author and book reviewer discusses both sides of the writer-critic divide.
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The Art of Publicity: How Indie Publicists Work With Writers
Independent publicists Lauren Cerand, Kima Jones, and Michael Taeckens on what they do for authors.
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Publishing Your First Book: Advice for First-Time Authors
What to expect once you’ve published your debut book.
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Reviewers & Critics: Leigh Haber of O, the Oprah Magazine
The books editor at O, the Oprah Magazine discusses how she got her start in the literary world, the selection criteria behind Oprah’s Book Club picks, and her favorite books of the year.
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Agent Advice: Annie Hwang of Folio Literary Management
A literary agent answers readers’ questions—from how seriously agents consider a writer’s previous sales to how to responsibly seek new representation.
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Reviewers & Critics: Kevin Nguyen of GQ
The digital deputy editor of GQ discusses his Best Books of the Month feature and the state of diversity in publishing.
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Agent Advice: The Complete Series
The industry’s best and brightest agents respond directly to readers’ questions in this regular column dating back to 2010.
Inside Indie Bookstores: The Complete Series
Inside Indie Bookstores, a series of interviews with the entrepreneurs who represent the last link in the chain that connects writers with their intended audience, ran in all six issues of 2010.
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Reviewers & Critics: Parul Sehgal of the New York Times Book Review
Parul Sehgal discusses her path to literary criticism, her passion for international literature, and today’s finest reviewers.
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Agent Advice: Kirby Kim of Janklow & Nesbit Associates
Kirby Kim offers valuable counsel on when to query, how to keep revising, and the market value of horror fiction.
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Reviewers & Critics: Laura Miller of Slate
Laura Miller discusses how she chooses books, the effect of the Internet on literary criticism, and her belief that reading is as profoundly creative as writing.
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Brand You: Questioning Self-Promotion
A writer considers the art, discomfort, and necessity of self-promotion, as well as its evolution in the digital age.
Agent Advice: Anna Ghosh of Ghosh Literary
Anna Gosh answers readers’ questions—from why poetry agents are seemingly nonexistent to whether or not it is possible to be “too young to write.”
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The Savvy Self-Publisher: Jonathan R. Miller
In a continuing series, Deborah W. Englander consults an author and events manager, as well as a CEO of a book-marketing firm, to provide self-published author Jonathan R. Miller valuable book-industry advice on his novel The Two Levels.
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Reviewers & Critics: Steph Burt
Steph Burt, acclaimed critic, poet, and Harvard professor, talks about their path to becoming a poetry critic, working as both a poet and a critic, and how the internet has greatly expanded the conversations surrounding poetry and poetics.
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Reviewers & Critics: Carolyn Kellogg of the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times book editor Carolyn Kellogg talks MFAs, publishing optimism, and how she’s revolutionizing her new position in the shifting landscape of book reviews.
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Reviewers & Critics: Pamela Paul of the New York Times Book Review
New York Times Book Review editor Pamela Paul shares her insights on the ethical and practical challenges of being the head of the last of the stand-alone newspaper book review sections.
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The Savvy Self-Publisher: Vinnie Mirchandani's The Last Polymath
Can the publishing industry’s traditional business model compete with today’s marketplace? The president of a technology advisory firm and self-published author tries to answer that question through an analyst’s lens. Literary agent Cynthia Zigmund and publicist Rob Nissen weigh in.
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First: Rajiv Mohabir’s The Taxidermist’s Cut
In another installment of First, contributing editor Rigoberto González talks with Indo-Caribbean poet Rajiv Mohabir, discussing his debut collection, and how the poet uses language as identity and resistance while “feeling trapped inside a puzzle of ancestry.”
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Reviewers & Critics: Michael Schaub
The latest installment of Reviewers & Critics features Michael Schaub, an incisive—and hilarious—literary critic and former Bookslut contributor.
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The Savvy Self-Publisher: William Hertling's Avogadro Corp
A successful self-published novelist talks about how he used his background in programing and knowledge of artificial intelligence to write and market his best-selling techno thriller series. Editor Jessica Page Morrell and publicist Jessica Glenn weigh in and give advice to burgeoning self-publishers.
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Agent Advice: Betsy Amster of Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises
The agent of authors such as María Amparo Escandón and Joy Nicholson offers advice on query letters, editing, and what not to do when submitting a manuscript.
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The Poet’s Job: How I Make a Living in Poetry
Alaska’s Fiddling Poet, who over the past twenty years has been playing his fiddle and reading poems for audiences across the country, talks about how he has built a career—and a life—out of touring and sharing his music and poetry with others.
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