When I spoke to Jane Smiley, author of Some Luck, she suggested that novelists’ ideas—their political, philosophical, experiential concerns—frequently motivate the writing of great books. But then a ...

An invitation came by email to contribute to a teaching volume. A brief piece, only a few hundred words long, was needed. Describe a favorite teaching exercise from your literature classes. The word ...

When we think about relationships, we tend to think about our connections with others—our partners, friends, family members, and co-workers. This post focuses on a relationship that often gets ...

We’re total suckers for self improvement: The self-help industry brings in billions of dollars each year from countless books. All that encouraging advice can feel empowering and commonsensical, ...

Writing fiction is not an intellectual exercise. One of the keys to creating powerful fiction is to evoke emotion in your writing. You want your writing to create an emotional response in the reader.

Just the name Ernest Hemingway conjures up ideas about some of the best and most succinct writing of all time. But you can't compare yourself to legends. These pillars of writing are people just like ...

The relationship between yoga and writing seems like a natural correlation. One twists the body while the other twists the mind, and the result is a feeling of release and relief. Much like exercise, ...