I'm amazed by writers who stop reading in their genre while writing their own books. The majority of them seem to be worried about becoming overly influenced by the voice, themes and even plot of the book they're reading.

Personally, I can't imagine not reading fiction for the many years it takes me to complete a novel. And in terms of being influenced: I'm actively looking for inspiration and ideas. I want to be influenced.

In our race-conscious society, white people are asked, often reluctantly, to define themselves as racial beings, a process to which people of color have been socialized since birth. Racial identity is the psychological connection we have with our race; its resolution process occurs for everyone, regardless of one’s identified race. 

As writers, how might our characters, arguments, and storylines reflect any conscious and unconscious racial bias that we hold

Dear GrubStreet Community,

We hope you’re safe and well during these uncertain times. We’re writing with a special announcement about Muse 2021.

After reviewing many options, we’ve decided that we simply cannot host our April 2021 conference in-person without compromising two of our highest values: safety and equity. Even if we could ensure in-person social distancing for our 1,000+ attendees, we know that Grubbies who are age 60+, immunocompromised, and/or in communities of color would shoulder a greater risk in coming — with many simply unable to come altogether.

We want to host a Muse that *every* Grubbie ...

In the August 2020 edition of "Best of Boston," we bring you our top Boston lit events this month, taking place virtually. See below for our list of local literary happenings.

Virtual Event: Romalyn Ante: Antiemetic for Homesickness w/ Kimberly Quiogue Andrews, Marianne Chan, Joseph O. Legaspi, Kabel Mishka Ligot, + R.A. Villanueva 

Teen writers, learn how to create characters we can obsess over, build your own unique worlds and environments, and how the pacing of fanfiction “chapters” translate to the scenes and beats of a novel.

How many writers in the world first developed a love of writing and a diligent practice through fanfiction? As fanfic writers, we engage characters we love and know deeply, giving them new adventures, at times filling in gaps in their stories