Writers for Migrant Justice
On September 4 hundreds of poets and writers will come together to raise funds for detained and formerly detained migrants in the United States.
Article Archive
Articles from Poet & Writers Magazine include material from the print edition plus exclusive online-only material.
Ten Questions for Jillian Weise
“Sometimes the discourse on disability infringes on my imagination.” —Jillian Weise, author of Cyborg Detective
Ten Questions for Crystal Hana Kim
“I’ve learned that writing is not for the impatient.” —Crystal Hana Kim, author of If You Leave Me
Ten Questions for Jonathan Vatner
“I ride a commuter train forty minutes each way to work. That’s when I write. Having to come to the page twice a day for short bursts gets me writing very fast; there’s very little wasted time. I’ve never been so productive in my life.” — Jonathan Vatner, author of Carnegie Hill
Agents & Editors: The Complete Series
This series of interviews with nearly forty book editors, publishers, and agents offers a unique look at the past, present, and future of the book industry and what writers can do to thrive in today’s publishing world.
Agents & Editors: Ben George
Ben George, a senior editor at Little, Brown who works with some of the biggest names in literary fiction and nonfiction, talks about the author-editor relationship, the plight of the midlist writer, and the art of revision.
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Q&A: Manuel Muñoz Directs Arizona MFA
Manuel Muñoz, the new director of the MFA program at the University of Arizona, discusses his new role, healthy creative environments, and common missteps he sees in applications.
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Literary MagNet: Andrea Cohen
The poet discusses the journals that published pieces from her sixth collection, Nightshade.
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Small Press Points: Acre Books
The University of Cincinnati Press imprint publishes books of poetry and fiction that continue the successes of its affiliated literary journal, the Cincinnati Review.
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The Future of Barnes & Noble
Publishing insiders weigh in on the challenges facing the U.S. bookstore chain, which was sold to a hedge fund in June for $683 million.
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Furious Flower Grows in Virginia
The nation’s oldest academic center dedicated to preserving Black poetry celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary.
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Page One: Where New and Noteworthy Books Begin
The first lines of a dozen noteworthy books, including Everything Inside by Edwidge Danticat and Make It Scream, Make It Burn by Leslie Jamison.
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Merwin’s Garden
The Merwin Conservancy will become the official owner and steward of the garden that poet W. S. Merwin nurtured for more than forty years.
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Indelible in the Hippocampus: Writings From the #MeToo Movement
Contributors to the anthology Indelible in the Hippocampus discuss some of their thoughts on the current state of the #MeToo movement and their experiences writing on the topic.
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Reviewers & Critics: Daniel Mendelsohn of the New York Review of Books
One of the most prominent and liveliest critics in the United States discusses whether or not literary criticism can be taught, the value of negative criticism, and more.
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Historical Fiction: The Pleasures and Perils of Writing About Other Eras
How do you handle research? How indebted do you feel to stick to the historical record? Two novelists discuss their experiences researching, imagining, and depicting earlier times.
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Ten Questions for Karen Skolfield
“Throw pencils, get mad, take a walk. Swear off poetry, read a chapter of a post-apocalyptic novel, wash the dishes. Feel better? Back to writing.” —Karen Skolfield, author of Battle Dress
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Craft Capsule: Looking Elsewhere
The author of the story collection Black Light finds the best writing lessons in the most unlikely places.
Manuals for Living: What Our Favorite Novels Teach Us About Ourselves
We return to certain novels not only to be enchanted and inspired, to be transported out of ourselves, but also to know ourselves more deeply.
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Ten Questions for Jess Row
“Writers are artists, which means that...we have to work hard to protect our creative time, our imaginations, in the midst of all the other parts of our lives.” —Jess Row, author of White Flights
Craft Capsule: The Art of Brutal Editing
The author of Black Light explores the pleasures of cutting a manuscript down to size.
Paris Review Names Vijay Seshadri Poetry Editor
The storied publication has announced that Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Vijay Seshadri will serve as its twelfth poetry editor.
Ten Questions for Sarah Elaine Smith
“Debt is the last thing writers need, and the least helpful aid to actual real-life writing.” —Sarah Elaine Smith, author of Marilou Is Everywhere
Craft Capsule: In Praise of Writing in Longhand
The author of the story collection Black Light explores the problem-solving benefits of writing in longhand.
Ten Questions for Jana Prikryl
“Crucial to writing the book was the panic I started feeling about halfway through.” —Jana Prikryl, author of No Matter