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 Guardian, from Dickens to Ishiguro, Catherine Lacey discusses why her favorite book openings compel her.

"Top 10 opening scenes in books." 

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 Novel Generator student Mariya Taher. Mariya has worked in the anti-gender violence field in the areas of research, policy, program development, and direct service

It's never too early to start mentally prepping for next year's Muse & the Marketplace conference, especially as the Muse is happening earlier next year—April 6-8, 2018, to be precise. Get a jump on your #Muse18 strategy with this advice for first-timers—and anxious young writers in general—from GrubStreet's Program Coordinator, Lauren Smith.

Before going to war, the Vikings would chant "Jafnan er hálfsögð saga ef einn segir!" which is Old Norse for "We want writing prompts!" Channel your inner Viking and get writing with this prompt brought to you by Grub Instructor Heather Wells Peterson.  

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 Kelly J. Ford. Kelly's debut novel, Cottonmouths, came out June of this year. She is a GrubStreet Novel Incubator graduate and a current contributor/editor for Dead Darlings, a writing-focused website. Her short fiction has appeared in Black Heart Magazine, Fried Chicken and Coffee, and Knee-Jerk Magazine. Catch Kelly in action during her Jumpstart Your Novel class starting August 3rd or her #OurVoices LGBTQ teen writing camp from August 7th to ...