IST 605: Creative Writing: Craft & Industry Resources

Jane Friedman incorporates her 25 years of experience in the book publishing industry into managing her blog. Gearing her content towards emerging and professional authors, her newsletters and posts cover topics like traditional and self-publishing paths, industry news, publishing-forward writing advice and more. Friedman offers newsletters tailored to blog developments and online classes on writing and publishing, but some content is paid only. With frequent interviews, collaborations and guest post contributions, Friedman's blog cultivates a strong publishing community for writers and those interested in learning more about the publishing industry alike.

From Grove Atlantic & Electric Literature, Literary Hub is a resource on classic and emerging literature. Lit Hub publishes excerpts of upcoming book publications and articles on literature, news and culture from diverse and contemporary writerly perspectives. Most relevant to student writers are the "Craft and Criticism" section and podcast, "The Lit Hub Podcast," which offer recommendations and insights on writing techniques and processes. Users can sign up for numerous free newsletters ranging in content and regularity to keep up with Lit Hub's postings.

One of the longest-running writers' resources, Writer's Digest was originally published as a physical periodical in the 1920s. These days, the website publishes useful information for writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and screenplays. Online, users can browse articles, access publishing resources, sign up for Writer's Digest's free weekly newsletter or connect with fellow writers. Writer's Digest is recommended to new and emerging writers alike, with one note that the writing advice bestowed can tend to skew more towards publishing than craft techniques and elements.

ARCH is UAlbany's official online undergraduate literary magazine. This community-oriented magazine accepts works of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, art and plays. For student writers, ARCH offers opportunities to submit work for publication or read it at weekly open mic nights. There are also opportunities to contribute to ARCH as an editor or on an internship basis. For up-to-date information on when such opportunities will next become available, it's best to refer to ARCH's website or affiliated social media channels or sign up for ARCH's newsletter.

Barzakh is an internationalist multi-genre journal with a focus on work that's experimental, innovative and socially engaged. Supported by UAlbany's English department, it accepts works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, visual art and hybrid/multi-genre or digital pieces. Barzakh's issues are all published and archived online. To learn more about upcoming submission periods or opportunities to get involved at Barzakh, it's best to refer to their website or affiliated social media channels.

The New York State Writers Institute (NYSWI) is a literary organization that fosters a community working space for writers across diverse genres and industries. To support these creatives, NYSWI offers numerous events, including its visiting writers series, classic film series, symposia and annual book and film festivals, among others. Hosted by the University at Albany, there are numerous ways for students to get involved at NYSWI, such as writing workshops and internships. For news on upcoming events and opportunities, it's recommended to check the NYSWI website or affiliated channels.

Gotham Writers Workshop offers online and in-person writing workshops at their New York City location. Gotham's classes span a myriad of genres: fiction, nonfiction, scriptwriting, comedy, poetry & song, as well as offer professional development and general craft instruction. In addition to this, Gotham hosts community-building events like write-ins, industry talks, conferences and more. Though most classes and events are paid, some events are free; up-to-date information on this can be found on the Gotham Writers Workshop website.

From the New York State Writers Institute, this is a summer writing workshop hosted annually at Skidmore College. The month-long program includes workshops, readings and other community events for writers of fiction, poetry and nonfiction. Each workshop is led or taught by notable authors within their respective genres. Conferences like this are a good opportunity to find friends within the larger writing community, but they can be costly. New York State Summer Writers Institute offers a limited number of merit scholarships each application cycle.

The Southampton Writers Conference is an annual writing conference hosted at Stony Brook University's Southampton campus. This five-day conference offers workshops in the fiction, nonfiction/memoir, poetry and children's literature genres and a more general generative writing workshop. Participants can also attend lectures, readings and panels and partake in daily community-building events. Southampton Writers Conference offers several scholarship opportunities for workshop participants to offset program costs as well as lower-cost lecture passes for those who only want to attend non-workshop events at the conference.

Lit Mag News is a bi-weekly Substack newsletter crafted by writer, instructor and editor Becky Tuch. This newsletter includes updates about literary magazine launches and calls for submissions and opportunities to apply for industry jobs, writing fellowships and grants. Tuch also explores relevant publishing trends, controversies, scams and gossip and gives space to diverse perspectives via interviews, guest-contributed columns and reader discussion threads. A useful resource for the literary magazine sphere, some content is only accessible through paid subscription to Lit Mag News.

Intended as a continuation to his craft book A Swim in the Pond in the Rain, Story Club is a growing collection of craft lessons from author and professor George Saunders. In this newsletter, Saunders shares short stories with thoughtful analyses of them, offering opportunities for followers to engage with his posts and ask questions for him to answer. This instructional newsletter fosters a positive learning experience and community for readers and writers of literature alike. However, it should be noted that some content is only accessible through paid subscription to Story Club.

Poet, author and professor Nancy Reddy created this newsletter with busy writers in mind. As a mother, Reddy understands the difficulty of finding time to write and so focuses her content on "why writing is hard and how to do it anyway." Pieces take the shape of essays, interviews and notes-style reflections, which are all made to be encouraging and practical. Monthly intention posts, writing prompts and questions also pose opportunities for readers to make space for writing and interact with the writing community. An all-around resource on writing craft and career advice, this newsletter is recommended to student writers interested in making writing a part of their daily routines.

Joanna Penn melds her writing and publishing experiences into her Podcast, The Creative Penn. With her many years of expertise, Penn doles out practical advice and wisdom in each episode. Episodes often feature interviews with notable literary or industry figures and are inclusive of diverse perspectives and experiences. Also including informative blog posts and other useful resources, The Creative Penn is recommended to writers interested in learning how to publish and market their work in either traditional or self-publishing settings.

The New Yorker offers several podcasts that may be of interest to emerging writers. The first is their Fiction Podcast, whose monthly installments include readings and conversations with the magazine's fiction editor. The second is The Writer's Voice, which features readings from fiction writers of works published in the magazine. Then, the third is their Poetry Podcast, which features readings and conversations with the magazine's poetry editor. These podcasts are informative of contemporary literary publishing voices and values and are recommended to writers of fiction and poetry. All of The New Yorker's podcasts are linked above; no subscription is necessary to listen to them.

Comprised of compact and easily digestible 15-minute episodes, Writing Excuses is an efficient podcast (and newsletter) to consider tuning into. Cohosted by five working writers and featuring interviews with other authors and industry experts, the show focuses on publishing-oriented writing craft advice. Each episode highlights a specific writing element, explored through conversations or close readings of specific exemplar works. Intended for creatives at all stages of their careers, Writing Excuses is recommended to busy writers looking to fit learning about craft and writing for publication into their daily schedules.

As can be ascertained from its name, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing is a no-frills resource on the publishing industry. Cohosted by author Bianca Marais and literary agents Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra, this trio offers a behind-the-scenes perspective on the publishing industry. Through honest conversations, interviews with industry professionals and critiques of listener-submitted query letters and opening pages, this podcast is both informative and entertaining. Also available as a Substack newsletter of the same name, this podcast is recommended to writers interested in eventually publishing their work.