WRITING

Swimming, Scotch, and Jazz: Kurt Vonnegut’s Daily Routine During His Teaching Stint at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop

“I numb my twanging intellect with several belts of Scotch and water.” —Kurt Vonnegut during his Iowa Writers’ Workshop era.

You just know which one Goldilocks is going for.

Em Dash vs. En Dash vs. Hyphen: What’s the Difference?

Deciding when to use an em dash instead of some other punctuation mark is largely up to you—except in situations that call for an en dash or hyphen.

Go ahead and persuade yourself that you need this.

This Special Edition of Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion’ Includes Handwritten Letters and More

Anne Elliot got to keep Captain Wentworth’s letter forever. Now you can too with this deluxe edition of Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion.'

Writers and reality TV: a match made in heaven?

A New Reality Show Is Looking to Find America’s Next Great Author

The list of best books of the 21st century is still being written. Could yours be on it?

The singular 'they' is far from a recent development.

The 600-Year History of the Singular 'They'

The singular form of 'they' has been endorsed by writers like Jane Austen and William Shakespeare.

'To Kill A Mockingbird' author Harper Lee smiles before receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007.

8 Surprising Facts About Harper Lee

Before winning the Pulitzer Prize for her 1960 novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' Harper Lee worked as an airline ticket agent.

Books Are Magic, Emma Straub's beloved shop in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.

16 Must-Visit Indie Bookstores Owned by Writers

Judy Blume, Louise Erdrich, and many other authors also have ‘independent bookstore owner’ on their résumés.

11 Things You Should Know About Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde’s poems, speeches, and books helped write the future of feminism. Here are some facts about the woman behind the work.

How do I tell if thee is a sonnet? Let me count the lines.

Poem vs. Sonnet: What’s the Difference?

Plenty of poems are love poems. Why aren’t all of them considered sonnets? In short, rhyme scheme, length, and structure.

Martin Luther King, Jr. addresses a meeting in Chicago, Illinois, on May 27, 1966.

The Profound Effect Henry David Thoreau Had on Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s approach to resisting injustice came straight from the playbook of 19th-century writer Henry David Thoreau.

Maya Angelou at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in 2010.

Maya Angelou Is Now the First Black Woman to Appear on a U.S. Quarter

The U.S. Mint has officially shipped its Maya Angelou quarters—earning the ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ author another “first” to her name.

Unclear whether this is a memoir or an autobiography.

What’s the Difference Between a Memoir and an Autobiography?

What’s an autobiography? The story of someone’s life as told by them—which isn’t exactly the same thing as a memoir.

The 50 Best Screenplays of the 21st Century, According to the WGA

From Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’ to Rian Johnson’s ‘Knives Out’ (and Meg LeFauve’s ‘Inside Out’), these movie scripts deserve a standing O.

7 Fantastic Facts About Terry Pratchett

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Terry Pratchett’s first novel, here are some things you might not know about the architect of Discworld.

If you're writing a conditional statement, then you should use then.

Then vs. Than: When to Use Which

‘More than’ or ‘more then’ isn’t a matter of opinion. But there was a time when they were interchangeable.

Disinterested vs. Uninterested: What’s the Difference?

Should you use ‘disinterested’ or ‘uninterested’? It depends on the context, the era, and how much you care about the grammar sticklers in your life.

Anna Rich knows what you should read after Outlawed.

6 Genre-Defying Westerns to Read, Recommended by Author Anna North

Today’s best Western books don’t revolve around John Wayne wannabes and other Old West tropes. ‘Outlawed’ author Anna North recommends her favorites.

11 Illuminating Secrets of Paleographers

Paleographers know exactly why your dog might get weirdly excited if you whip out a medieval manuscript.

It's OK if Joan Didion's favorite book doesn't make your list.

Make the Most of Your Reading Experience With The Curious Reader: A Journal for Book Lovers

The perfect place to keep track of all your favorite books and also your list of dream guests for a literary dinner party.

8 Cool Bookstores and Libraries You Can Spend the Night In

Paris’s Shakespeare and Company has hosted some 30,000 “Tumbleweeds” passing through town. Want to be the next one?

The Most Popular Children’s Book From Every Country

The best children’s books of all time come from all over the world, from Ed Young’s ‘Seven Blind Mice’ to Ana María Machado’s ‘Niña Bonita.’

Edgar Allan Poe is depicted in an engraved portrait, circa 1845.

9 Intriguing Facts About Edgar Allan Poe

The life of Edgar Allan Poe, author of 'The Tell-Tale Heart' and other horror stories, was as strange as his fiction.

5 Fascinating Facts About bell hooks

Gloria Jean Watkins, who was better known by her pen name bell hooks, is widely considered as one of the most influential intellectuals and writers of the late-20th century.

New Teeth author Simon Rich recommends some funny books to add to your to-read pile.

9 Hilarious Books to Read, Recommended by Comedy Writer Simon Rich

‘Saturday Night Live’ alum and ‘An American Pickle’ screenwriter Simon Rich shares which books he considers comedic genius.

PREV NEXT