September/October 2024

Garth Greenwell, a white man with brown hair, light skin, and blue eyes, stands in front of a waist-high set of shelves crammed full of books. He wears a dark blue long-sleeve button-up, black pants, and black shoes with white soles. The Poets & Writers logo is above him in orange, and various headlines in blue in green are at the top of the cover above the logo.

Our September/October issue features a special section on how writers learn their art, including eight lessons in perspective and perseverance; profiles of Garth Greenwell and Edwidge Danticat; essays by five of the year’s best debut nonfiction writers; an Agents & Editors interview with Viking executive editor Ibrahim Ahmad; Amor Towles on the element of surprise in short fiction; articles on book distribution, MFA program closures, and how data modeling can help you finish your next big project; plus writing prompts, contest deadlines, and more.

Features

The Triumph of a Heart: A Profile of Garth Greenwell

by Brian Gresko
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In his third novel, Small Rain, Garth Greenwell explores mortality and meaning-making, asking deep questions about what it takes to live a full life oriented toward art, open to the bewildering beauty of our own humanity.

Alone Together: A Profile of Edwidge Danticat

by Renée H. Shea
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In a new essay collection, We’re Alone, Edwidge Danticat reflects on environmental catastrophe, the ongoing trauma of colonialism, and the challenges of motherhood, all with an artist’s awareness of the delicate precarity of life.

Visions and Revisions: How Writers Learn Their Art

What I Learned the Hard Way: Eight Lessons in Art, Perspective, and Perseverance

by Various
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Eight writers share the hard-won lessons that made them savvier at their craft, clearer about their own intentions, and more committed to their art.

Older in the MFA: Drafting a Rich Second Half

by Laura Spence-Ash
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Despite initially feeling out of place as a first-year MFA student decades older than her classmates, the author found joy in community as she “met her peers through their work” and issues of age dissolved.

So Much to Fall in Love With: Finding Ease in Making Your Art

by Natalie Goldberg
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A veteran writer shares some of her writing principles, emphasizing the importance of not letting the idea of perfection get in the way of progress and encouraging fellow writers to keep going with spirit and nerve.

News and Trends

Rows of empty dark green chairs in a lecture hall.

More MFA Programs Closing

by Calvin Hennick

Despite decades of explosive growth, factors including financial pressure and low admissions have left many MFA programs with no choice but to close. Faculty and administrators reflect on the fallout for their communities.

Tags: 
MFA | education | writing life

The Practical Writer

The Nuts and Bolts of Distribution: How Your Book Ends Up in Stores

by Michael Bourne
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Once a book receives its final edits, it enters a complex network of distributors and booksellers. The author of Blithedale Canyon reveals the largely opaque system that drives publishing decisions about placement and pricing.

Building a Community of Readers: Best Practices for Authors Who Truly Love Bookstores

by Jimin Han
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The author of The Apology explains the most helpful and effective ways to collaborate with local bookstores and some best practices for being in community with the booksellers who champion your work.

The Literary Life

The Time Is Now: Writing Prompts and Exercises

by Staff
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Write a poem that draws on specific observations of your neighborhood, a speculative story in which existing technology is put to fantastic use, or a personal essay about a time you were persuaded by a narrative.

Getting Real About Time: How Data Modeling Can Help You Complete Your Next Big Project

by Judith Wilding
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After years spent on frustrating, time-consuming drafts, creating visual models helped one writer to assess the current state of a manuscript, estimate a completion date, and build confidence.

Family Farms and County Fairs: A Different Kind of Book Tour

by Carla Panciera
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Before the author of Barnflower was a writer, she was a farm kid. The memoirist shares moments from her book tour, which included meeting cows and visiting corn mazes alongside reading at local bookstores and reconnecting with friends.

Surprise! The Role of the Unexpected in Short Stories

by Amor Towles
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Unlike a novel, which has time to build and reach a satisfying ending, a short story often relies on moments of discovery. A respected author explains how the nature and construction of short stories can lead to surprising reveals.

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