Community Highlights

Marc Olmsted Reading

September 7, 2021

Congratulations to our instructor ​Marc Olmsted​​, who read 3 of his poems on Don Campbell’s “Mechanics of Poetry” Youtube channel. 

writers.com Interviews with The Lisa Show

August 28, 2021

writers.com sat down with The Lisa Show to talk about the creative writing process, how beginners can form a writing habit, and the ways that writing helps you learn about yourself. 

Kate Sullivan Publishes in RUSH Magazine

August 24, 2021

Congratulations to Kate Sullivan, whose artwork and poem “Ode to a Teardrop” were published in RUSH Magazine. Kate’s poem includes mention of our “whizz-bang” poetry instructor Barbara Henning. 

Barbara Henning Reads from Her Poetry Book “Digigram”

August 3, 2021

Congratulations to Barbara Henning, who read from her poetry book Digigram. Filmed by poet Don Yorty, Barbara’s readings concentrate on her life and the lives of others during her time in the East Village, NY. 

Joy Hoppenot Publishes in Entropy Mag

July 14, 2021

Congratulations to Joy Hoppenot, who published her essay “THE BIRDS: CO(R)VID CATHARSIS” in Entropy Mag. Joy wrote her essay in Margo Perin’s course Let’s Get Personal: The Art and Craft of the Personal Essay. 

Susan Vespoli Publishes in “Under the Gum Tree”

July 7, 2021

Congratulations to instructor Susan Vespoli, who published her essay “Pointers for Spending 24 Hours with a Five-Year Old” in Under the Gum Tree. Susan wrote the piece last summer in Gretchen Clark’s course The Lyric Essay. 

Barbara Henning Interviews with Rain Taxi

June 30, 2021

Instructor Barbara Henning interviewed with Rain Taxi about her writing process, yogic philosophy, and her recent poetry book Digigram. 

Threefold Press Publishes Excerpt from Barbara Henning’s Forthcoming Manuscript

June 28, 2021

Our instructor Barbara Henning published an excerpt of her forthcoming manuscript, Book of Ferne: A Detroit Story, in Threefold Press. Barbara’s biography/memoir centers on her mother’s life in Detroit during a transformative time period for women in America. Congratulations, Barbara!

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Community Journal

Read poetry, fiction, and essays from our community members in the writers.com Community Journal. New issues published regularly.

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Ebook: Character Development: From Fundamentals to Flesh and Bone

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Publication Opportunities

Drexel’s MFA Program Launches Scholarship for Marginalized Writers

Drexel University’s MFA program in creative writing recently announced a fully funded scholarship for marginalized writers. The goal of the scholarship is to fund writers whose marginalization contributes to the body of work they seek to produce. Drexel defines the term “marginalized” loosely, and seeks to support writers from a variety of backgrounds, including those with disabilities or routine financial hardship. Learn more about the scholarship, and consider applying today!

Pause for Paws

Pause for Paws, a quarterly journal which celebrates love for wild and domesticated animals, is open for submission. The journal welcomes poems by new and established poets. Submissions to the Spring 2022 issue must be sent in the month of February. 

Feeling More Alive

Instructor Giulietta Nardone’s book “Feel More Alive! 30 Brilliant Ways to Reignite Your Inner Spark” is a year old. One way she chose to market the book was to hold a writing contest. The contest will be fun and down to earth, open to writers of all levels. No credentials needed. Creativity welcomed. Judged by a panel of Citrine Publishing authors and editors.

The idea is to read the book, choose a chapter or even a couple, and write a personal essay about Feeling More Alive. Creativity encouraged! Prizes will be art from the book. A print on deep edge canvas ready to hang, a five greeting card gift set or a 144-page writing journal with divider painting on the cover.

Open to those 18 and over. 

Contest closes on February 15, 2022, with notification by the end of March. 

If you need something to get you writing, this contest deadline might be it!

More information on the contest, the rules and where to purchase the book/ebook here. 
https://giuliettanardone.com/fma-writing-contest/

the rialto

Submit to The Rialto’s 2022 “Nature and Place” Poetry Competition

The Rialto invites poets to submit to their 2022 “Nature and Place” poetry competition. Poets are invited to submit poetry that deals with any aspect of nature and place – these terms will be given a wide interpretation by the judge Gillian Clarke.

Poems must be previously unpublished and no longer than 40 lines. There is a submission fee of £7 for the first poem and £4 for every subsequent poem. Prize winners will receive the following: 1st prize – £1000, 2nd prize – £500, 3rd prize – £250. 

Learn more below!

trip fiction

Submit to TripFiction’s “Sense of Place” 2021 Contest

TripFiction is looking for fiction or nonfiction for its 2021 “Sense of Place” competition. All submissions should provide a strong sense of geographic location, launching the reader into a completely different part of the world. Submissions are open until November 6th, and the winning prize is £1,000 / US$1,350!

the letters page

Submit Your Best Epistles to “The Letters Page”

Submissions are now open at The Letters Page, a literary journal based out of the University of Nottingham, UK. Writers are encouraged to send creative writing in the form of a letter to The Letters Page by mail. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, and all published writers receive a gift subscription to a literary journal or small press. 

Cesar Egido Serrano Foundation

Submit Your 100 Word Story to The César Egido Serrano Foundation

The César Egido Serrano Foundation is now open for submissions to its 100 word story contest. Stories must be submitted by September 30, and can be written in Spanish, English, Arabic, or Hebrew. The winning story will receive $20,000!

a moment of your time

Read Your Story for “A Moment of Your Time” Podcast

The podcast A Moment of Your Time is seeking 1-5 minute recordings of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, centered around “solidarity and hope.” All submitted work should be uplifting and positive. Cheer the world with your voice!

Recent Student Testimonials

Janice Cafaro — Death Riding Shotgun

Lisa’s readings helped me explore this genre and also examine my own mortality and that of my beloved family members. Her discussions and writing projects further helped me explore the multi-faceted layers of mortality as expressed in the unique voices of the poetry we studied.  Lisa’s class offers an excellent foundation into existential poetry, and I will continue to explore the genre and the writers she exposed us too. Thank you for everything!

writers.com Courses Starting Soon:

Next-Level Creative Nonfiction: Elevating Essays, Memoir, Travel Writing & Literary Journalism

August 15, 2014

Elevate your memoir, travel writing, literary journalism, & lyric and personal essays.