Write into the Week: March 30, 2025
Elle LaMarca | March 29, 2025 |
“The solution was to write my way out of the problem. That meant writing early in the morning, late at night, and on weekends. It meant carving out time, claiming it for myself…This is the thing I want to do.”
–Jami Attenberg
Dear Writer,
I hope you’re having a good start to your week. In this newsletter:
- A writing prompt to inspire your creativity.
- Reading and listening recommendations in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
- Publishing, residency, and retreat opportunities available now.
- Join our free Friday write-in, and meet our community of writers.
Happy writing this week!
—Elle, Curriculum Specialist & Community Manager
Writing Prompt
Write about a memory triggered by scent. What is a scent that instantly transports you (or a character) to another time? What memory rushes in uninvited? How does it shift the present moment? Consider where the scent transports you to, and how that affects your other senses.
Reading Recommendations:
On Writing Fiction:
- Story Genius by Lisa Cron. If you’ve ever gotten stuck halfway through a novel draft wondering what your story is really about, Story Genius could be your new best friend. Cron walks you through how to build a story from your character’s inner world out— helping writers move past plot points and into the emotional core of what makes a story truly work.
On Writing Nonfiction:
- I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home by Jami Attenburg. Part memoir, part craft book, Attenberg offers a sharply honest, deeply human look at the writing life—its wanderings, obsessions, and hard-won moments of clarity. It’s a memoir for anyone who’s ever chased a dream, doubted it, and kept going anyway.
On Writing Poetry:
- Finger Exercises for Poets by Dorianne Laux. An invitation to poetic meditation, Finger Exercises for Poets offers a quiet, rhythmic way back to the page. These gentle prompts help poets attune to sound, breath, and image—reminding writers that the poem begins in the body as much as on the page.
Listening Recommendations:
- From The Lit Hub Podcast: “March 28, 2025”. Like every episode of this podcast, it’s mashup of all things literary. Specifically, this episode is celebration of joyful literary culture—from prize-winning work to bold, new voices.
- From the Book Exploder Podcast: “George Saunder – Victory Lap” Saunders joins host Susan Orlean to explore a pivotal moment from his short story “Victory Lap.” Saunders reflects on the story’s early, almost playful tone—just before it shifts into something far more unsettling.
Publishing Opportunities:
- Boulevard Magazine Poetry Contest for Emerging Poets – Submission Deadline: June 1, 2025. $1,000 and publication awarded for the winning group of three poems by a poet who has not yet published a book with a nationally distributed press. Visit the website for more details and submission guidelines.
- THEMA Literary Magazine – Submissions Deadline: July 1, 2025. THEMA publishes fiction, essays, and poetry. Each tri-annual issue has a unique, predetermined theme. The theme for this deadline is “I wish I’d said that…” Previously published work is accepted. Check the website for more submission details.
Monday and Friday: Free Group Writing Sessions
Come write with us! Community write-ins are a great way to meet other writers, and carve out space in your calendar for your writing.
Monday: Write Into the Week with Elle
Join me (Elle) for an hour of goal setting, community, and dedicated time to write! We’ll meet on Monday at 11 AM Eastern time, at this Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83999379617
Friday: Open Write-In
Join the Writers.com staff for a 90-minute writing session each Friday from 11 AM to 12:30 PM Eastern time. We will write together for the first hour. In the last, optional half hour, we’ll share our writing with one another and connect.
To add yourself, join our newsletter using the join box above, and add yourself to the “Friday Write-Ins” list at the bottom of any email. We’ll send you a Zoom link the morning of the call.
Join us on Instagram for more writing inspiration!
We’re sharing writing tips, creative prompts, and a steady stream of encouragement—follow us @writersdotcom. Click below to check out one of our latest posts on mood in literature.
