The May 2023 edition of "Writing Life Essentials" is a monthly hand-curated list of contests, grants, scholarships, submission calls, and awards. We try to prioritize opportunities that are at least one of the following: local, free to apply, and/or committed to celebrating and supporting writers from historically marginalized communities. We do the research, so you have more time for what matters: the writing. Or, doing some spring cleaning. That’s important, too.

In the May 2023 edition of "Best of Boston," we bring you our top Boston lit events this month, taking place virtually and in-person. See below for our list of local literary happenings.

Rory Power, author of In an Orchard Grown From Ash, in conversation with CL Herman

We are delighted to announce that #1 New York Times bestselling author R. F. Kuang will headline our May Muse and the Marketplace Publishing Summit. The critically acclaimed author of Babel and the Poppy War trilogy enters new literary territory with her forthcoming book Yellowface (May 16). 

Kuang will be joined by two members of her HarperCollins editorial team — May Chen and Mireya Chiriboga — whose own experiences as industry professionals informed the plot of the book. Together, they will pull back the curtain on how …

This post was originally published on Dead Darlings, a blog about novel writing run by alumni of GrubStreet's Novel Incubator program.

When a runway model in 1940s Hollywood makes a split-second decision meant to protect those she loves, she triggers a cascade of secrets and lies that threaten to upend her life decades later

Porter Square Books: Boston Edition, located on the first floor of GrubStreet's Center for Creative Writing, is open and ready to fulfill all of your book-browsing desires! Staff Picks are 20% off, so you can add to your TBR pile guilt-free. Whether you want to immerse yourself in a world of fandom obsession and self-destruction or introduce your little one to the wonders of nature, PSB has a pick for you. We're located on the southeast side of 50 Liberty, facing the Marina and the ICA. Come visit!

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Lucy by Jamaica Kincaid If …