Reading in the Bardo: Seeking Comfort in the Absence of Ritual
The author finds solace in rereading George Saunders’s novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, while mourning the death of her father during the pandemic.
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Department: The Literary Life
The Infallible Continuum: A Scientific Theory of Writing Education
The author presents his theory of the writing life as a “toilsome, magical, unpredictable road,” and illustrates the hurdles an ambitious writer might encounter.
The Time Is Now: Writing Prompts and Exercises
Write a poem considering the beauty of a vestigial organ, a story in which the main character is reflected in the setting, or a lyric essay on memories of intimacy from the past.
The Time Is Now: Writing Prompts and Exercises
Write a series of poems that acts as a family album, a short story with an apocalyptic premise, or a personal essay about a time when a dramatic event caused a shift in your life.
Why We Write: And Why We Stop
The author relates how becoming a father helped him find peace in not writing and deepen his understanding of what drives writers to the page.
Telling #Stories: Can Social Media Make Us Better Writers?
The effects of social media on the creative process—although it can help writers identify and pay attention to the quotidian moments of their lives, does it siphon off their storytelling energy?
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What We Found in Writing: Authors on Creativity in Quarantine
Thirteen writers, including Alexandra Kleeman, Ada Límon, and Nicole Sealey, describe writing—or not writing—during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Time Is Now: Writing Prompts and Exercises
Write a poem with the help of Merriam-Webster’s Time Traveler tool, a short story split into parts by the passing of a decade, and an essay that describes memorable photos.
The Time Is Now: Writing Prompts and Exercises
Write a poem that celebrates the everyday people in your life, a short story about a character coming face-to-face with an old friend, and an essay about a time you experienced a stroke of luck.
Young and Adorable: Rewriting the Narrative of Women Writers’ Success
The author of the novel Goodnight Stranger reflects on her writing career and the cultural myths about success, youth, and appearance that women writers must navigate.
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