Katie Chase
“My approach to short stories is to think of each as its own world, with its own parameters, and even its own aesthetics. The tradeoff for the fun and satisfaction this brings
Writers Recommend
In this online exclusive we ask authors to share books, art, music, writing prompts, films—anything and everything—that has inspired them in their writing. We see this as a place for writers to turn to for ideas that will help feed their creative process.
Tyehimba Jess
“When I'm stuck, when I'm really stuck and the words can't seem to get out, there are a few things that I do to try to jar myself into action.
Kali VanBaale
“Like most writers, I frequently rely on trusted early readers to give me constructive feedback for my work-in-progress. But after a certain point,
Chris McCormick
“My tricks to break through writing barriers are pretty much indistinguishable from distractions.
Adam Clay
“As opposed to an art that occurs because of inspiration (divine or otherwise), I view writing as a skill that should be cultivated and developed. Inspiration happens, yes, but one must be ready for it.
Lynn Steger Strong
“I’ve had to learn in those moments—when I’m desperate to get it right, when I’ve fought for the time to have the chance to write—not to let the defeat
Kim Fu
“For a while, writing was everything to me: my identity, my job, the meaning of my life, the site of my deepest anxieties. Whenever the writing wasn’t working, I went to a very dark place.
Rita Mae Reese
“The one thing I’ve discovered about writing over the years is that not-writing is like a virus—it’s always mutating, always trying to overcome
Ocean Vuong
“When I am stuck, I don’t like to force out work/words. If I’m having difficulty, I just walk away from the desk—sometimes not returning for weeks at a time. I find
Manuel Gonzales
“When I get stuck, I jump mediums, which reminds me of the one time I was driving to high school so fast that the police officer, who was going the opposite direction from me, jumped the median and drove over a grassy patch at least twenty yards wide just to pull me over.