I didn’t get into Tin House (again). I didn’t get the Barbara Deming award (again). That’s fine. Part of the life of a writer. But when I check out social media and I see the tweets of people who are at the residencies and workshops where I have been rejected, I get jealous. They have a chance to enter a community of like-minded artists and writers where they can learn and grow. Places like these can provide just a jump-start on your writing and bring it to the next level.
That’s when I realized: Just because I didn’t get in doesn’t mean I can’t improvise my own.
So I am curating a list of amazing and helpful (and FREE!) sites online that help inspire me to work harder on my writing. Here’s a handful of places I currently use:
Youtube: So many of my favorite authors have done readings and discussions about craft. And many of those readings were recorded and then uploaded onto Youtube. When I am struggling with my writing, or I feel very alone, I will search an author and give a listen to their talk. Here’s a good one of George Saunders for his book Lincoln in the Bardo. There’s always a takeaway—great or small—that sends me right back to my projects.
Podcasts: So many, right? Here are a few of my favorites that are more literary-focused.
Websites: These sites have more of a literary bent.
Back Draft: This is Guernica Magazine’s column about the revision process. There are loads of great interviews here from amazing authors and poets explaining the tools and techniques that helped them shape their books.
This is just the start, but I will be searching and adding more as I go. Happy writing!