On March 1919, shortly after publishing her first novel, The Voyage Out, famed author Virginia Woolf wrote in her Writer’s Diary, “Is the time coming when I can endure to read my writing in print without blushing—shivering and wishing to take cover?” I am no Virginia Woolf, but at 1:00 a.m. on March 15th, 2023, struggling […]
Type. Think. Type again. Delete, delete, delete. Type. Delete, delete, delete. Ask “Why am I even doing this?” Fold laundry. Take a walk. Have a brilliant idea. Forget the brilliant idea. Take a shower. Remember the brilliant idea. Type, type. Delete. Go to bed. Eight hours later– Take a sip of tea. Read yesterday’s words. […]
If you’re like me, typing is faster than writing by hand. Often I get stuck staring at a blinking cursor. Recently, I discovered a trick to get the words flowing. Print the piece you’re working on. Close the computer. Find a notebook and pen. Let your mind wander on the page. Write for ten minutes. Don’t […]
What better month to reignite that creative spark than April? A month of spring, blooming, and renewal – nature is enough to inspire some beautiful writing. Whether you write fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry, we have writing prompts to help you get ink on the page this month. 1.Fiction/CNF: Write a story about a prank […]
We’re excited to launch a new project at Literary Mama that will bring youth voices (ages 13-21) to our blog. We’re seeking submissions in the following categories: * From teen and young adult children of mama writers. How has your mother’s writing life impacted your life? Has it influenced or inspired you? Has it clarified for you that a writing […]
Several Literary Mama staff members are attending this week’s AWP in Seattle, Washington, and we’re excited to hear what they learn from the event. If you’re in the area, please visit Literary Mama’s table (T1504) and introduce yourself or plan to see Senior Editor Rudri Patel on Saturday, March 11 when she joins a panel […]
I published a short story called “All My Wrongs” on Literary Mama’s website ten years ago. The story was originally called, “Daughter,” and I wrote it before I had daughters. The idea came to me in response to a prompt for a craft class at Sarah Lawrence in 2006, but I pulled the story back […]
Where I live in Arizona, March and April make up their own little season. Warmer than spring, way cooler than the triple-digit temps of summer – it’s an unnamed time of absolutely perfect weather. And after daylight savings takes effect in most of the country, the Arizona sun comes up earlier. The mornings become just […]
Come see Literary Mama at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference! Not familiar with AWP? You can find more information here, including a full schedule of events. Want to know where to find us? Literary Mama will be at Table T1504 in the exhibition hall. Our staff will wear t-shirts and carry tote […]
I always advise students to be wary of workshopping a poem like a checklist. Still, there are keys to a successful poem: arresting images, attention to metaphorical and sensual language, a wariness of abstraction, an awareness of sound and form, effective line breaks and an unpredictable ending. But what writers of poetry often overlook is […]
Mama writers, it’s your time to shine. We want to publish your writing right here on the Literary Mama blog! In honor of our 20th anniversary, we want to celebrate the voices in our community. Here’s what you need to know. Blog Submission Prompt and Guidelines We’re asking for blog submissions on the prompt: What […]