“Why does fiction do such a bad job of portraying fat characters?”
publishing
Posted inEditor's Pick
Days of the Jackal
How Andrew Wylie turned serious literature into big business.
Posted inEditor's Pick
Blue Daniel
“The more the Editor and I talked, almost daily, at this point, the more I sought ways to create space between us—asking about his children, talking about my boyfriend.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Joan Didion’s Magic Trick
Caitlin Flanagan goes on a road trip through California — including Sacramento, Berkeley, and Malibu — visiting the homes of the late Joan Didion and exploring why her writing has had such a powerful effect on people. Slouching Towards Bethlehem and The White Album created a new vocabulary of essay writing, one whose influence is […]
Posted inEditor's Pick
‘This Is Going to Change the World’
“As the new millennium dawned, a mysterious invention from a charismatic millionaire became a viral sensation—then went down in flames. Ever since, I’ve wondered: Was it all my fault?”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Why I Paid Tenfold to Buy Back the Rights for Two of My Books
Kiese Laymon on revision, radical friendship, and community.
Posted inEssays & Criticism, Feature, Nonfiction, Story
Grieving, but Calmed by a Different Kind of Storm
In isolation, Stephanie Land finds surprising relief from PTSD — and discovers she is able to write again.
Posted inAuthor Notes, Blog Post, Commentary, Essays & Criticism, Highlight, Nonfiction
Why I’m Giving Myself Permission to Keep Writing at This Time
Our stories matter. And they are our legacies for future generations. (Plus: some free writing resources.)
Posted inBooks, Essays & Criticism, Story
American Dirt: A Bridge to Nowhere
“Jeanine Cummins can write about Mexico — but she will be judged on whether her writing actually captures the experiential and emotional and ethical complexity of that place, and she will be judged with extra care because she is an outsider.”
Posted inEssays & Criticism, Feature, Nonfiction, Story
Why I Wanted To Finish My Father’s Life’s Work
Karen Brown recalls the pain and joy of fulfilling a deathbed promise.