On Writing

A.M. Mawhiney explores the evolution of her creative writing style, transitioning from academia into fiction. Academic habits and teaching in French initially created an 'objective distance' in her prose, requiring deep revision to achieve immersion. Now a dedicated 'pantser,' she relies on intuition and a multi-stage editing process. By engaging with online communities and beta readers, the author has developed an authentic style that balances social themes with fluid storyt

This interview with Jun-long Lee explores the deep intersections of memory, landscape, and the poetic craft. Lee discusses how personal history and sensory fragments coalesce into the chimeric inner country of memory, driving a writing style that is inherently "inward." The conversation traverses recurring themes of botanical decay and ruination, Lee’s preference for poetry disguised as prose, and a unique editing philosophy that likens the evolution of a manuscript to a vast

In this review, author Ken Wilson explores Kasia Van Schaik’s Women Among Monuments, which probes the "historical resistance to recognizing women’s achievements." Beginning with a rejected statue in Italy, Wilson tracks Van Schaik’s move from literal monuments to the "inner flint of artistic permission." He praises her "braided essays" for making abstract patriarchal barriers permeable, noting that even those outside marginalized groups will find their own struggles for space

Author Jaclyn Desforges explains why cross-training is essential for creative writers. She discusses her shift from "top-down" planning to a subconscious, image-led process in her short stories. Desforges shares her growth in overcoming the need for immediate perfection, now embracing a "messy" first draft for her novel. She says AI is an invitation to creative writers to be weirder, more yourself, and more human in your writing.

Author Patrick Sangimino, a veteran journalist of 40 years, reflects on moving from journalism to fiction writing. It too about ten years of writing each day unlocked a creative rhythm. He appreciates for Steinbeck and Wolfe. After facing gatekeepers agents of traditional publishing, Patrick Sangimino went the self-publishing route. He also voices strong concerns about gen AI's threat to human artistry and details his disciplined routine of morning writing followed by active

Poet Maria Giesbrecht discusses her collection A Little Feral and her evolution from confessional writing to surrealism. She shares how leaving her Mennonite faith fueled her early craft and explains why Sustaining a Creative Writing Life depends on finding community rather than working in isolation. From her morning routine of "play" to her ethical stance against generative AI, Maria emphasizes the importance of protecting the singular power of human perception.

In this interview, author Kerri Huffman discusses her debut poetry collection, Juniper. She explores how childhood solitude shaped her focus on the "emotional core" of everyday details. Kerri reflects on her preoccupation with the female body and the "savagery" of relationships, often drawing inspiration from visual art. She looks at how she explores fragile connections in poetry, the editing process, emphasizing the importance of seeking feedback to bridge the gap between in

Ann Cavlovic’s debut novel, Count On Me, navigates the "transactional" nature of human intimacy. Drawing on her background as an environmental economist, she discusses the tension between love and money and the importance of the don't draft and craft rule. Cavlovic shares her evolution from a stilted "edit-as-you-go" writer to a plotter who uses Scrivener to build a narrative spine. She also reflects on the "dysthymia" of social media and her don't-draft-and-craft approach to

True crime writer and podcaster Alan Warren explores how his craft has evolved through a blend of formal education and hands-on experience. He believes in mastering the basics, such as grammar and composition, to build confidence. Alan's advice to creative writers is to protect one's authentic writing voice by ignoring external noise and trends. Alan details his technical process, balancing spontaneous dialogue with disciplined revision to ensure his stories remain both raw a

Author and Brick editor Liz Johnston discusses her debut novel, The Fall-Down Effect, and her growth within the literary ecosystem. A self-described "pantser," she views writing as a process of discovery and constant revision. Johnston emphasizes the value of community, mentorship, and reading literary journals to find one's place as a writer. She also offers a candid critique of generative AI, citing its environmental costs and the risks of outsourcing human thought to machi

Jennifer Bowering Delisle discusses her evolution from traditional memoir to hybrid forms and literary community. She reflects on finding her voice through poetry-prose fusion and the importance of mentorship. Centering her work on human connection—from ancestral ties to strangers—she warns that generative AI is a "theft-based" threat to creativity. Delisle advocates for writing communities over networks and shares her slow, iterative approach to the editing process.

In this interview, Liisa Kovala explores her half-century evolution in the writing craft. From her early days of childhood storytelling to earning a Graduate Certificate and being mentored by renowned authors, Liisa emphasizes the necessity of lifelong learning. She shares her "plantsing" method—a balance of structured outlining and creative freedom—and discusses her shift from traditional to self-publishing, including her Global Book Award win and her thriving Substack commu

In an audio essay for On Creative Writing, author Michael Mirolla explores metafiction, a genre that rejects the "mirror of reality" to examine its own artificiality. Tracing its roots from Henry Fielding to Italo Calvino, Michael says metafition's construction takes the place of imitation. He then introduces fictocriticism—a blend of creative and critical forms—and discusses his novel, How About This?, to show how self-reflection and imagination provide a path to literary im

Susan Grundy explores how a childhood spent as a "family fixer" prepared her for a career in literary fiction. As a late-entrant author to the writing world, Susan transitioned from a 30-year marketing career in her early 50s to tackle themes of inherited trauma and psychosis. Now an editor living between Montreal and the UK, Susan shares how reinventing oneself in unfamiliar territory is the key to overcoming intimidation and finding the courage to write what you don’t know.

Iryn Tushabe explores honouring the oral tradition in writing by embedding Rukiga and East African knowledge systems into her English prose as a form of resistance. She shares her "pantser" approach to fiction and essays, stressing the importance of being open to self-discovery during the creative process. From her beginnings at the Humber School for Writers to her belief in nourishing friendships to survive the "arduous" nature of craft, her insights offer a soulful look at