The author of six books, including most recently the novel Bowlaway, out this month from Ecco, talks family, myth, feminism, humor, and the stories we inherit. 

“I think a lot of contemporary editors, myself included, push too much for clarity when sometimes a little muddiness is just the thing.” —Juliet Lapidos, author of Talent

“Butt in chair, do the work. It’s the most basic and important writing advice there is.” —Laura Sims, author of Looker

“I have learned that it isn’t wise to wait for inspiration; inspiration will meet me at my desk.” —Oyinkan Braithwaite

“I love getting into the nitty-gritty of a novel, right down to the sentence and the word level.” —Claire Fuller, author of Bitter Orange 

“I’m for an industry-wide ban on the blurb.” —Patrick DeWitt, author of French Exit

A fiction writer discusses five journals that published stories from his debut collection, Friday Black.

“I’m still amazed by the decisions that get made that can make or break a book before it even hits the shelves.” —Lee Martin, author of the story collection The Mutual UFO Network, published today by Dzanc Books

“There’s no such thing as writer’s block.” —Akil Kumarasamy, author of the debut story collection Half Gods, published today by FSG.