On Writing

This guide lists creative writing organizations in many English speaking countries taking a strict stance against the use of artificial intelligence by publishers. Find out the regional and national organzations creative writers can join and support. These groups actively lobbying for creator rights, implementing protective model contract clauses, and defending original human storytelling worldwide. Learn exactly how you can join these guilds to protect your creativity and li

Writer Beth Mims on the craft of writing. She shares how a rural childhood, faith, and teaching shaped her style, and how she overcame harsh college critique to publish her book, Wrapped in Grace. Mims discusses her spontaneous editing process. She also explains why connecting with other authors is vital to overcoming isolation. Ideal for writers seeking inspiration on perseverance and community. Writing can be solitary, so get involved with other writers

In this author interview Alison McBain shares writing shaped by roots, travel, and studies. She discusses how her diverse life experiences shape her style, her expansive reading habits, and how she balances pantsing short fiction with plotting novels. McBain also offers candid advice for aspiring writers drowning in industry noise and highlights her defiant "Author Versus AI" project, where she aims to write 52 books in a single year with zero AI tools.

This interview explores Jaime Forsythe’s poetic craft and professional journey. She discusses how reading widely and engaging in workshops have shaped her writing style, and shares how mentorship from Stuart Ross led to her first published collection. Forsythe addresses contemporary writing challenges, expressing skepticism toward generative AI due to ethical and environmental concerns, and highlights her passion for editing, noting that rewriting is the most rewarding part o

In this interview, writer, poet, and activist Crystal AJ Smith shares insights into her creative process and advocacy. As a proud mother rooted in Haisla, Ts’ymsen, and Heiltsuk cultures, she uses her writing to help end stereotypes about Indigenous people by highlighting human rights issues and historical harms. A dedicated "pantser," Smith relies on inspiration to strike in the moment, editing only after her thoughts are on paper. She encourages aspiring writers to persist

Author Jennifer LoveGrove discusses her latest poetry collection, The Tinder Sonnets, the evolution of her writing, and paying attention to form. She explores her evolving relationship with poetic form, enduring feminist themes, and the challenges of the digital age. Jennifer also contrasts her creative processes across genres, detailing her shift from rigid outlines to learning to trust intuition in fiction writing, while relying on the subconscious to shape her poetry.

In this interview, Governor General’s Award winner Richard Harrison explores the profound connection between language and life. He reflects on his father’s recitations, noting how he learned that poetry is both high art and intimate confession. Harrison discusses his evolution as a poet, the importance of reading, and his concerns regarding generative AI’s impact on human consciousness. Finally, he describes rewriting as an adventurous journey of discovery rather than a mere

A.M. Mawhiney explores the evolution of her creative writing style, transitioning from academia into fiction. Academic habits and teaching in French initially created an 'objective distance' in her prose, requiring deep revision to achieve immersion. Now a dedicated 'pantser,' she relies on intuition and a multi-stage editing process. By engaging with online communities and beta readers, the author has developed an authentic style that balances social themes with fluid storyt

This interview with Jun-long Lee explores the deep intersections of memory, landscape, and the poetic craft. Lee discusses how personal history and sensory fragments coalesce into the chimeric inner country of memory, driving a writing style that is inherently "inward." The conversation traverses recurring themes of botanical decay and ruination, Lee’s preference for poetry disguised as prose, and a unique editing philosophy that likens the evolution of a manuscript to a vast

In this review, author Ken Wilson explores Kasia Van Schaik’s Women Among Monuments, which probes the "historical resistance to recognizing women’s achievements." Beginning with a rejected statue in Italy, Wilson tracks Van Schaik’s move from literal monuments to the "inner flint of artistic permission." He praises her "braided essays" for making abstract patriarchal barriers permeable, noting that even those outside marginalized groups will find their own struggles for space

Author Jaclyn Desforges explains why cross-training is essential for creative writers. She discusses her shift from "top-down" planning to a subconscious, image-led process in her short stories. Desforges shares her growth in overcoming the need for immediate perfection, now embracing a "messy" first draft for her novel. She says AI is an invitation to creative writers to be weirder, more yourself, and more human in your writing.

Author Patrick Sangimino, a veteran journalist of 40 years, reflects on moving from journalism to fiction writing. It too about ten years of writing each day unlocked a creative rhythm. He appreciates for Steinbeck and Wolfe. After facing gatekeepers agents of traditional publishing, Patrick Sangimino went the self-publishing route. He also voices strong concerns about gen AI's threat to human artistry and details his disciplined routine of morning writing followed by active

Poet Maria Giesbrecht discusses her collection A Little Feral and her evolution from confessional writing to surrealism. She shares how leaving her Mennonite faith fueled her early craft and explains why Sustaining a Creative Writing Life depends on finding community rather than working in isolation. From her morning routine of "play" to her ethical stance against generative AI, Maria emphasizes the importance of protecting the singular power of human perception.

In this interview, author Kerri Huffman discusses her debut poetry collection, Juniper. She explores how childhood solitude shaped her focus on the "emotional core" of everyday details. Kerri reflects on her preoccupation with the female body and the "savagery" of relationships, often drawing inspiration from visual art. She looks at how she explores fragile connections in poetry, the editing process, emphasizing the importance of seeking feedback to bridge the gap between in

Ann Cavlovic’s debut novel, Count On Me, navigates the "transactional" nature of human intimacy. Drawing on her background as an environmental economist, she discusses the tension between love and money and the importance of the don't draft and craft rule. Cavlovic shares her evolution from a stilted "edit-as-you-go" writer to a plotter who uses Scrivener to build a narrative spine. She also reflects on the "dysthymia" of social media and her don't-draft-and-craft approach to