Twice a month, we feature our favorite literary links. As ever, we promise: You’ll laugh. You'll ponder. You won’t get any writing done.

In the Huffington Post, Poet and teacher Tara Skurtu isn't sure creative writing can be taught. But she does think teachers can make a space for students to see "beyond their conscious and unconscious limits."

Writer Allison Scott shares her experience at the VONA/Voices summer workshops, an organization founded by Junot Díaz, Diem Jones, and Elmaz Abinader, authors who wanted to support growth in, and create a platform for, writers of color. VONA now makes its home at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Already getting excited about next year's The Muse & the Marketplace conference? So are we. And we're over the moon to announce that #Muse18 dates are confirmed! Next year's Muse will take place April 6-8, 2018. In the meantime, we're reliving the highlights from this year's #Muse17. Today, Muse Presenter David Mura reflects on the Writers of Color Track, new this year. 

By Katrin Schumann

The best advice comes from people who have been in the trenches. Battled the highs and lows, enjoyed successes and perhaps been disappointed--or delighted--by the unexpected.

I recently asked some of my writer colleagues, friends, clients and former students--all now published--for advice they wish they'd known before launching into the process. Here are the top twenty tips:

GrubStreet runs on coffee, printer ink, and community. This series features just some of the Grubbies who make our community strong. In this edition, meet Grub instructor Shuchi Saraswat. Shuchi's writing and photographs have appeared in Ecotone, Quick Fiction, and Juked