Inspirational Quote of the Week

  This Emily Dickinson quote is one of my favorites, because it does not focus on getting a book published, or writing the best poem possible, but on the fact that all those things and others are possible, with writing and with life. It is a quote about hope, as much as it is about…

The Red River Review: Closing to Submissions

The Red River Review is an online journal that publishes poetry. It was was founded in 1999 when online literary journals were a rarity. After a brief break from publishing in the late 2000’s The Red River Review is back. They publish several issues a year. They are currently reading for the August issue and…

Writing Prompt: No Description

I often create characters by picturing what they look like first. For example, I think of their hair, the color and length of it, or I think of how tall they might be. If I am worried the characters looks too much like me, I always make them short, because one of my most noticeable…

Camaroc Press Review

Camaroc Press Review is an online literary journal that specialize in short prose and poetry. None of the short stories or poems they publish are over 550 words. They have low acceptance rates, a good reputation, and a very fast response time. If you write short pieces you want to submit here. CPR does not…

The Labletter: Just Opened To Submissions

The Labletter is a beautiful print journal filled with visual art, poetry, and short fiction. It is one of my favorite journals to read because the art is carefully chosen and the journal is put together so wonderfully. They just reopened to submissions this week and will close in October. They only have one reading…

Inspirational Quote of the Week

I included two inspirational quotes this week because I felt strongly about both of them and the way they interact with each other is compelling to me. Writers have long had the reputation of not being stable or particularly sane. A reputation that Byron helped develop and solidify. However both Lord Byron and Jeanette Winterson…

Moon Magazine: A New Journal

Moon Magazine is a new online journal. Every month the work they publish is based around a theme. June’s theme was Animal Intelligence.  If you are an author who is new to writing or new to publishing, journals that are just starting out are a good place to submit. In the industry new journals are…

Slice Magizine Review

Slice is a Brooklyn based print journal that has published many famous authors and has been praised by other very famous authors. If they accept your work they pay you for the right to publish it. Slice is a non-profit magazine that was established in 2007. Slice prints two issues every year. They publish short…

Writing Prompt: Two Robbers

When I teach creative writing I always use this exercise. It helps teach students a very basic lesson about plot: That it is not what happens that matters, but how you portray it. It is a lot of fun to do with a larger group of people because when they read their work out loud…

Author’s Inspiration: Remember This Moment

As an author it is good to keep in mind that what you are creating is something special, something unique. A book can  takes something that you feel is important and make it clear to others.  A short story that can entertain someone during their darkest hour. A poem can show the importance of a…

Spark: Literary Journal Review

Spark is a quarterly creative anthology that has a print and e-book edition. Spark was founded by Brian Lewis with the idea of creating a high quality publication that featured established professionals and fledgling authors side by side. As part of this mission, Spark pays all of their contributors. Spark’s print edition is beautifully illustrated…

Writing Prompt: Someone That You Used To Know

Sometimes it is hard to create characters from scratch, sometimes you just need a starting point. That is why a lot of authors include fictionalized versions of their family members in novels. However sometimes it hard to write honestly and with perspective about someone you know. This exercise is an easy way to create a…

Graduate Degrees in Creative Writing: A Must Have?

I have a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from a respected liberal arts school. I loved the program I was in. The Professors truly helped me improve and explore as a writer. I used my degree to start down a career path I find fulfilling: Teaching writing at the college level. I…

Punchnel’s: A Review

Punchnel’s describes itself as a “general-interest web magazine written for a smart, discerning audience of adults around the world.” They publish articles about all kinds of things, from music to the news, but they also publish poetry, fiction, and memoir. They have an easy to use, aesthetically pleasing website that receives a fair amount of…

Quote of the Week