I had the pleasure of speaking with Effy Kousteni, Co-Editor-in-Chief of Spellbinder, an independent literary and arts magazine committed to gathering creative voices from around the world. Spellbinder has grown into a vibrant space for poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, drama, and visual art — a quarterly publication that […]
Rita Dove’s “Daystar” is one of my favorite poems, especially for the moment of building something beautiful where there was nothing before. This is how I think about both teaching and writing. In my high school English classes, I start each day by being a person with my […]
What they look like, how to spot them, and why you should never respond TL;DR: AI-generated emails are flooding writer inboxes and often look legitimate. They use fake flattery, invented book titles, and fabricated awards to hook you. Legitimate presses do not cold?email writers with offers. Before responding, […]
So, you have a new book out. Congratulations! Now for the hard part. Who do you share the news with, and what are your options for celebration? Let’s start with a given: Some form of marketing and promotion is going to fall to you. Publishers can only do […]
Maybe you picked up a pen again after years away. Maybe you never stopped writing but never shared a word. Maybe you started late and wonder if it is too late. It is not. Some of the most alive, most fearless, most honest poetry being written today is […]
Writers looking to generate new work, strengthen their craft, and learn how to navigate the literary submission process are invited to join me for a two-session online workshop this November. I’m delighted to partner again with Oyster River Pages (ORP), a literary nonprofit known for championing underrepresented voices, […]
The Gay & Lesbian Review / Worldwide is currently open for submissions across all of its nonfiction and poetry categories, with a special emphasis on its weekly online column, Here’s My Story. LGBTQ+ writers from all backgrounds are warmly encouraged to submit work that reflects the depth, complexity, […]
Recently I was asked the themes of my third collection of poems, Call Me Yes, forthcoming from The Word Works in October 2026. I launched into a description of the book: it traces the breakdown of my long first marriage, the terror and excitement of dating again as […]
The Penn Review was founded in 1951, making it the oldest continuously published literary magazine at the University of Pennsylvania. It was very exciting to have my poems “Three Miracles” (included in my new book A Godless Ascends) and “Preparation” previously featured at The Penn Review. They are […]
Where my head’s at on reaching this landmark: six questions answered In December, it’ll be 20 years since I first performed a poem on stage. Last week, I submitted my début (adult) collection for typesetting. This is where my head’s at. There are six key questions I’ll address […]
