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Ploughshares is the award-winning non-profit literary magazine based at Emerson College in Boston. Most of our print issues are guest-edited, and our mission is to present varying viewpoints. Our blog is an extension of our print publication, and so we feature writing from guest-bloggers. We present their opinions to our readers in order to foster a lively discussion, but do not necessarily endorse all viewpoints published on our blog.
Comments: We moderate all comments on this blog, both to prevent spammers and keep the conversation civil. Comments will be published whether they agree or disagree with the post, as long as they are expressed respectfully and without personally attacking the author or other commenters.
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Tag Archives: advice
Episodia 1.6: The Five Pillars of Place
As a writer, reader, and a creative writing teacher, I am—for now and forever—a staunch proponent of the place-based narrative. When we think of stories, we tend to focus on those bound to particular characters or events. And yet, some … Continue reading
Writing is Like Mixing a Drink
Mixing a drink is seductive in a way writing will never be. The ice sweating in the glass. The chucka, chucka of the metal shaker growing cold in your hands. The invisible melding going on inside that shaker, alcohols blending … Continue reading
Posted in Ploughshares Bloggers
Tagged advice, Caitlin O'Neil, cocktails, craft, drinking, process, writing
3 Comments
Episodia 1.5: Mad Men’s Tell-Tale Heart
For six seasons now, television viewers have been transfixed by advertising phenom Don Draper’s troubled smolder as he winds his way through Manhattan’s boardrooms, bedrooms, and bars. Each episode is loaded with literary jewels for writers to fawn over: the … Continue reading
Posted in Ploughshares Bloggers
Tagged advice, Dave Eggers, Edgar Allan Poe, Episodia, Mad Men, music, narrators, rules of writing, television, writing
6 Comments
Roundup: Spring Cleaning
In our Roundups segment, we’re looking back at all the great posts since the blog started in 2009. We explore posts from our archives as well as other top literary magazines, centered on a certain theme to help you jump-start your week. This … Continue reading
Posted in Roundups, Uncategorized
Tagged advice, fresh, prompts, Roundup, Spring, Spring cleaning, tips, tricks, writing
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Relationship Rescue! Courting Your Long-Lost Writing
First, a confession: I’m lousy at prioritizing fiction writing. I let everything else in my life take precedence. I even let other writing take precedence—articles, book reviews, syllabi, comments on student work, status updates, replies to all. And yet, good … Continue reading
Posted in Ploughshares Bloggers
Tagged absence, advice, anxiety, creative writing, fiction, prompt, return, writing, writing process
13 Comments
Episodia 1.2: Dissecting the Downton Craze
When PBS first aired “Downton Abbey” two years ago, viewers across the nation had no idea that our lives were incomplete—but judging from the show’s reception we were all missing this episodic saga of one British aristocrat’s struggle to maintain … Continue reading
Posted in Ploughshares Bloggers
Tagged advice, British Literature, characters, Episodia, history, rules of writing, television, writing
1 Comment
How to Leave School (Without Leaving Your Writing Behind)
At the risk of sounding like a John Mayer song, I’ve never believed in the real world. Or rather, I’ve never believed in the non-real world, some supposed realm that acts as a cozy womb for practitioners of glorified hobbies, … Continue reading
Posted in Ploughshares Bloggers, Uncategorized
Tagged advice, fiction, MFA programs, PhD programs, poetry, writing
3 Comments
Writing is Like Walking
Writing is a mysterious task. Unlike changing a tire or tying your shoelaces, there is no prescribed list of steps that must be undertaken to succeed. Which is why I often find myself comparing the act of writing to different … Continue reading
Posted in Ploughshares Bloggers
Tagged advice, Caitlin O'Neil, craft, writing is like, writing process
4 Comments
From the Slush Pile…
It seems clear that what you all want to know is, “How do I get published in Ploughshares?” So, lets start at the beginning. Literally. If you want to get out of the slush pile, one of the worst things you … Continue reading
Episodia 1.1: Making Comedy and Paper with Liz Lemon
If you didn’t have the pleasure of viewing “30 Rock” before its finale on January 31, allow me to introduce you to the funniest female sitcom character since Lucille Ball. Her name is Liz Lemon, and — as the head writer … Continue reading
Posted in Ploughshares Bloggers
Tagged advice, comedy, Episodia, humor, mentor, rules of writing, short stories, television, writing
15 Comments
