Literary Events Writing Life Advice

Jodi Picoult’s Award Speech at GrubStreet’s Lit Up 2025

Watch Jodi Picoult’s award acceptance speech from GrubStreet’s Lit Up 2025 celebration, where we honored Jodi, celebrated founder Eve Bridburg, and reflected on 28 years of building a vibrant community for writers.

Special Series Writing Life Advice

Writing Is Supposed to Be Fun (Remember)?

The (Almond) Joy of Writing: How to Jump Start Your Creativity is starting on November 6th. We are pleased to share instructor, Steve Almond's, philosophy and approach.

Special Series Writing Life Advice

How Much Do I Have to Share? Tips from the Writing to Heal Immersive Program

Writing to Heal is an immersive program designed to give nonfiction students a deep dive into how the writing process can serve as a healing tool for adversity. We are pleased to share instructor, Jennifer Crystal's, philosophy and tips for applying.

Writing Life Advice

What’s My Essay About? Tips from the Essay Incubator

The Essay Incubator is a 10-month intensive program for essay writers interested in drafting, revising, and publishing their work. Apply now for the 2025-26 Essay Incubator! Deadline is Wednesday, July 16th.

Writing Life Advice

What I Wish I Knew About the Business of Publishing (And How You Can Use It on Your Path to Success)

GrubStreet instructor, author, and Manuscript Month Mentor, Lori Goldstein shares three things she wish knew before her first novel was released that are entirely under a writer’s control.

Special Series Writing Life Advice

Memoir Generator Instructor Statement

The Memoir Generator is an intensive program designed to help students in the early stages of writing a full-length memoir. Read more about the philosophy of the instructor, Michelle Seaton.

Writing Life Advice

There and Back Again: Ethan Gilsdorf's GrubStreet Journey

We asked our Essay Incubator instructor Ethan Gilsdorf to share his GrubStreet journey with us. If you are considering our writing community for your personal craft exploration please join us on May 1st for our Summer 2024 Open House and Showcase where Ethan will be a featured reader.

Writing Life Advice

Muse and the Marketplace: Manuscript Mart Prep Day

Make the most of your Muse and the Marketplace Manuscript Mart appointment! Join us on Wednesday March 20th for an online Manuscript Mart Prep Day Seminar lead by literary agent Sorche Fairbank.

Writing Life Advice

Muse and the Marketplace - A Literary Homecoming

Short Story Incubator graduate and Muse presenter Frankie Concepcion shares her journey from her first workshop at GrubStreet through her return to this year's Muse and the Marketplace where she will lead a craft session.

Special Series Writing Life Advice

Writing Your First Novel? Be Messy and Be Radical

Novel Generator Instructor Elizabeth Santiago shares how craft books can help you without writing your novel for you.

Special Series Writing Life Advice

“The Fellowship Transformed the Way I Saw Myself”: How Teen Writers are Creating Community at Grub

For three weeks every summer, GrubStreet's Teen Summer Fellowship immerses high school students in the writer's life of creative craft and publishing, working with published authors and receiving a stipend for their commitment to the program and their work as artists. 2017 Fellow Justin Celebi reflects on the community he found in the program, and how the friends he made transformed the way he felt about himself as a writer.

Writing Life Advice

Meeting Yourself Where You’re At: A Gentle Approach to Writing

Teaching Fellow Claudia Wilson shares the importance of meeting yourself with kindness in your writing practice.

Writing Life Advice

Getting An Agent Won’t Change Your Life

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

Writing Life Advice

What To Do When You Don’t Know What To Write

GrubStreet Instructor Katherine Yeh shares how to get writing when the blank page is daunting. You can learn more in Katherine's upcoming multi-week class, Jumpstart Your Writing, starting October 11th in-person at our Seaport location.

Writing Life Advice

Podcast Archive: What Makes a Good Workshop Citizen?

Writers often say that the workshop experience is crucial in developing their art. Creating a vibrant and productive workshop is not a matter of luck — there are things we can all do to be better workshop citizens. For this special edition of our podcast, we asked a selection of the dedicated writers, authors, and instructors in our community what we should all be doing to ensure we become valuable, productive, and responsible members of any writing class. From focusing on writerly intent to embracing contradiction, overcoming shyness to accepting all genres, these snippets of advice provide a sound starting point.