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