Kevin Brockmeier
“I’m thinking about a quote I’ve seen attributed to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: ‘If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood
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.
Arthur Nersesian
“The best reason to live in New York City is to discover the endless hidden treasures in its many neighborhoods.
Victoria Patterson
“Always tucked in a pocket of my purse is a Moleskine journal. I try to write every day, no matter what
Daniel A. Olivas
“As with most fiction writers, I can be inspired by virtually anything: a song, a kiss, a cup of coffee, an overheard conversation.
Hannah Pittard
“I walk around my apartment and read aloud from The Norton Anthology of Poetry.
Tan Lin
“I’ve spent six or seven years reading The Man Without Qualities—sometimes I read it all the way through and sometimes random excerpts of it.
Margaux Fragoso
“I devour psychology books because they help me understand my characters
Téa Obreht
“As a teenager, I spent hours dreaming up plots for books. This was something I felt was cooler than going to the mall,
Nikky Finney
“When I was eight years old my mother found me beneath my younger brother’s crib in the fetal position and sweating. I was sick with a terrible fever. But, as she reports, I was also smiling.
Eleanor Brown
“Every week, my mailbox explodes with magazines—National Geographic, the New Yorker, O, and People.