Our annual Inspiration Issue features essays on writing about trauma as a subversive act, finding inspiration in rejection, the art of collaboration, the importance of publishing black writers, and our twelfth annual look at the year’s best debut poets; plus writing prompts for the new year, advice from agent Anna Ghosh, an interview with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, information about more than a hundred contests with upcoming deadlines, and more.

Our Independent Publishing issue features a profile of best-selling novelist Michael Chabon, an in-depth interview with Tin House editor Rob Spillman, a roundup of debut authors over the age of fifty, nine new lit mags you need to read, Steve Almond on the author’s role in jacket design, Annie DeWitt on becoming your own publicist, Laura Maylene Walter on submission fees, writing prompts, and much more.