Writers Ask

All sixteen pages of this quarterly newsletter are packed full of useful techniques, informed perspectives, and inspired nudges. In Writers Ask Issue 54, you'll hear from dozens of accomplished writers and writing teachers on these topics: Beginnings, Research, Character, Voice, and Writing as Responsibility. You'll also get these two Focus pieces: On Coincidence and What Was Meant to Be, by Susann Cokal, and Researching the Rhythms of Voice, by Ted Morrissey.

I was rather close to the end of A Man of Feeling, and I still hadn't decided if someone was going to die or not, and, if so, who. Of course, once a book is finished, it seems impossible that the story would be different from the way it finally was.—Javier Marías, interviewed by Eli S. Evans

Ordinary people deal with lawyers only when something crucial and possibly extreme is happening in their lives, and so it's rich territory for stories.—Maile Meloy, interviewed by Joshua Bodwell

It's hard for me to talk about a character in terms of his or her purpose. If they're fully developed, I don't think they have anything quite so simple as a purpose. I mean, what's my purpose? What's yours? We could talk about the work we do, the people we love, and all kinds of things, but that's not quite the same as purpose.—Michael Cunningham, interviewed by Sarah Anne Johnson

Most of that history is not known, and that's where we get assumptions, prejudices, and misinformation, which causes a lot of suffering. Literature can address some of that. It is entertainment, but all great literature also enlightens.—Charles Johnson, interviewed by Jennifer Levasseur and Kevin Rabalais.

A few Focus examples from earlier issues:

Monica Wood: Creating Context
K.L. Cook: A Family Theme, a Family Secret
Lee Martin: Deepening Character

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1-year subscription to Writers Ask (U.S.) $22.00	2-year subscription to Writers Ask (U.S.) $34.00	3-year subscription to Writers Ask (U.S.) $46.00	Issue #54 Beginnings, Research, Character, Voice, Writing as Responsibility$7.00



Issue #53 Transition/Translation, Theme, Writer's Block, Writing Programs and Workshops$7.00	Issue #52 Making a Living, Inspiration, How Reading Shapes Writing, The Writing Life$6.00	Issue #51 Literary Fiction; Structure, Pacing, and Scale; Autobiographical Material; Publishing$6.00	Issue #50 Structure and Pacing, Relationship to Reader, Forms, Writing Away from Home$6.00



Issue #49 Bringing Writing to the Screen, Place and Setting, Editing, Writing Programs and Groups.$6.00	Issue #48 Character, Research, Publishers and Agents, The Writing Life.$6.00	Issue #47 Finding Your Material, Voice, Taboos and Secrets, Reviews and Awards, Moving On to the Next Piece.$6.00	Issue #46 Approaches to Writing, Description and Detail, Theme, How Reading Shapes Writing$6.00



Issue #45 Naming and Titles, Inspiration, Writing What You Know, Forms, Writing as Art.$6.00	Issue #44 Early Roots; Structure, Pacing, and Scale; Beginnings; Writing Programs.$6.00	Issue #43 Editing, Point of View, Endings, The Writing Life, Publishing.$6.00	Writers Ask Archived Issues

Every story we publish is unsolicited, and 86% of the stories we accepted last year came to us directly from the writer.
That's exactly how we like it.

One of the most respected short-story journals in print, Glimmer Train Stories is represented in recent editions of the Pushcart Prize, New Stories from the Midwest, O.Henry, New Stories from the South, Best of the West, and Best American Short Stories anthologies.