Every day Poets & Writers Magazine scans the headlines—publishing reports, literary dispatches, academic announcements, and more—for all the news that creative writers need to know. Here are today’s stories.
“To be Asian in America during the time of coronavirus is to feel very alone.” At the New York Times Magazine, Cathy Park Hong writes about the anger and hurt of observing more and more incidents of overt anti-Asian racism at home and across the globe.
Publishers Weekly checks in with literary agents to find out how the pandemic is affecting book deals. Although agents are continuing to submit manuscripts to publishers, most are being cautious and strategic about which projects they send out.
“On the page, Berlin struck me as very much alive, as though I were listening to a close friend speak to me about her life.” Alexandra Chang celebrates Lucia Berlin’s technical skill. (Literary Hub)
At Kundiman, writers share memories of Kimarlee Nguyen, who died on April 5 at age thirty-three due to complications from COVID-19.
“We make our plans. We change our plans. We make other plans. This is the new world order.” Ann Patchett writes about running Parnasssus Books during a pandemic. (Guardian)
In a new graphic short, Mira Jacob depicts her family’s decision to leave Brooklyn as the city began to shut down. (New York Times)
Ben Lerner discusses his new story—or prose poem—in this week’s New Yorker and the instability of genre.
“I tried to write a book for people who have always found the prospect of normality scary, whatever their reason.” Tom Rasmussen, author of Diary of a Drag Queen, recommends further reading that celebrates living outside “the norm.” (Electric Literature)
And the Daily Shout-Out goes to the LeVar Burton for his live-streamed readings every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on Twitter. (Forbes)
