“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” 

― Stephen King, On Writing, A Memoir of the Craft

Every writer knows the importance of reading. A good book doesn’t just entertain; it teaches writing craft, strengthens word choice and voice, and inspires you to get back to the page. From the classics to the contemporaries—Kafkaesque narratives to Sally Rooney’s romances—every piece of prose has something valuable to offer. 

With summer revving into full swing, we asked our author-instructors for a few recommendations to add to your Summer Reading List. Whether you’re lounging on the beach, drinking coffee on the patio, or catching a quick break between work, errands or picking up the kids, these works of fiction, memoir, essays and more are sure to brighten your summer. Check out our list and pick out one or two…or read them all!

(In case you missed it, we have book recommendations for middle grade and teen readers, too!) 

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From Liz Alterman, TWC instructor, author of psychological thrillers, a memoir, and laugh-out-loud fiction

Horror at Home

Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra

Nightwatching is perfect for thriller fans looking to cool down during a heatwave. The story opens as a mother who’s just put her children to bed hears footsteps on the staircase leading to their bedrooms. As a blizzard descends, the family is trapped in their isolated home. I’ll say no more but the audiobook is fantastic and gave me goosebumps. I believe a film is in the works and I can’t wait.

Loyalty, Heartbreak, and Daughterhood

Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur

In the memoir category, summer is the perfect time to pick up Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur. This reads like fiction and the Cape Cod setting will transport you. Readers who enjoyed Belle Burden’s Strangers will find this “wild” tale of betrayal hard to put down. 

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From Colleen Markley, TWC instructor, memoirist, and author of humor and feminist fiction

“Living Thinkingly Alongside Death”

Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li

When I first heard about this memoir, I decided to never read it because it just sounded way too sad. Then I read it, and now I tell everyone I know, “you must read this.” It’s the good kind of sad that reminds us to appreciate the full scope of our human experience – life affirming and gratitude inducing. Yiyun Li shares her story in a way that teaches us about resilience and love and that impossible yet achievable place of radical acceptance. And she does it all with such lyrical language that the journey is pure beauty.

A Lesson on Rejection

Rejection by Tony Tulathimute

This collection of seven connected stories is a great lesson in compassion and opening our eyes with empathy for those who struggle, especially with relationships. I wasn’t aware it was possible to make such deep understanding within this tricky emotion of rejection. Tulathimute does it brilliantly, from incel men stinging from unavailable relationships all the way to his final story, a rejection letter for his story collection on rejection. 

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From Libby Cudmore, TWC instructor and author of mystery and crime fiction

A Monster Tale with an Emotional Core

The Jellyfish Problem by Tessa Yang

Yang’s prose is beautiful and tender, witty when it needs to be, and exciting. I teach her story “Princess Shipwreck” in both my adult and teen flash fiction courses classes!

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From Erin Madigan White, TWC instructor, journalist, and children’s book writer

A Reunion and A Secret

Mothers and Other Strangers by Corey Ann Haydu 

I’ve long admired Haydu’s books for middle grade readers and teens, and I stayed up way past my bedtime reading this, her adult debut. It’s a keenly observed, gracefully written story about the power of female friendship. Haydu captures so many beautiful, messy nuances of mother-and-daughter hood, with unexpected twists and turns along the way. 

Essays for the Greater Good 

Spinning Toward the Sun, Essays on Writing, Resilience and the Creative Life edited by Nora Shalaway Carpenter 

This is an inspiring collection of essays published after the floods in western North Carolina, benefitting World Central Kitchen and Beloved Asheville. The lineup of contributors includes celebrated authors such as William Alexander, Erin Entrada Kelly, Alan Gratz, Liz Garton Scanlon, and many others. It’s a book you can return to again and again for a needed dose of community, creativity, and understanding. 

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From Judith Lindbergh, TWC founder/director and author of historical fiction

Returning to the Scene of the Past 

Daytime Moon by Kerri Schlottman

In her latest novel, Kerri Schlottman follows a young woman who returns to the place of her complicated childhood on the edge of California’s toxic Salton Sea. Schlottman writes with grit and candor about neglected pockets of modern life that many have chosen to ignore. Powerful.

Complicated Sibling Relations

The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline

You can’t go wrong with anything written by the wonderful Christina Baker Kline who has been a friend and supporter of The Writers Circle since its inception. Her fascinating new novel follows two sisters in nineteenth-century North Carolina who marry Chang and Eng, the world-famous conjoined twins from Siam.

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These titles and so much more are available at your local independent bookstore. (Some of our local favorites include The Collective Bookstore in Verona, NJ, Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, NJ, The Nature of Reading in Madison, NJ, Words in Maplewood, NJ, and Howling Bassett Books in Lambertville, NJ). Or check out TWC’s bookshelf on Bookshop.org.

Here’s to many long, quiet summer days of reading!

The post Read a Lot and Write a Lot: Summer Book Recommendations for Adults appeared first on The Writers Circle.

With everything our teens have going on today – classes, extracurriculars, college applications, and more – we know how hard it is to sit down and read. Still, we constantly remind our community’s young writers that reading is the single best way to learn how to write well. Not just reading, but reading for pleasure, as widely, deeply, and often as possible.  

So we asked some of our author-instructors – accomplished writers and voracious readers themselves – for a few un-put-downable books to add to your teen’s summer TBR pile. 

This selection is for young adults–generally teens aged 14 and up, but YA is often also read by adults! (Think The Hunger Games, The Twilight Saga, and Divergent.) Our selection is full of different genres and formats, fiction and non-fiction, new releases and classic titles. There’s a little something for everyone. Check it out, or better yet, encourage your teens to do it themselves. 

(In case you missed it: Here’s our middle grade book list, and we’ll have one for adults soon!) 

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From Talia Tucker, TWC Instructor, YA Romance and Horror novelist who is teaching at this year’s teen Summer Intensives

Identity, Mental Health, and Belonging
The Golden Boy’s Guide to Bipolar by Sonido Reyes
This book was such an important read for me. It was like some of Cesar’s experiences were ripped straight from my diary. It has important queer and mental health rep written in a relatable, empathetic way. 

Food, Friendship and Fun
Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar by Anahita Karthik
This rom-com is just so fun and takes place on a road trip through India. It’s full of laughter, chaos, and, most importantly, food. It really made me want to go on a road trip with my friends. 

A Fantastical Read 
Prodigal Tiger by Samantha Chong
This fantasy novel has Southeast Asian rep! It also discusses legacy, family, and the idea of home.

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From Mike Allegra, TWC Instructor, dad to college-age kids, children’s book author extraordinaire

A Powerful Story of Trauma and Healing
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson 
This is possibly the best YA novel I’ve ever read. Melinda, a high school freshman suffering the effects of a recent trauma, refuses to speak. Her story (as she tells it) is powerful, cathartic, and often very funny. 

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From Erin Madigan White, TWC Instructor who writes for children and young adults (and who has a few of her own)

Art, Identity, and Opportunity
Maybe an Artist, A Graphic Memoir by Liz Montague
This inspiring graphic novel is full of humor and heart. Montague got her start as a New Yorker cartoonist at age 22 after reaching out to ask the magazine why their cartoons were not more diverse. When they asked her to recommend an artist, she raised her hand.

Bonus graphic novel pick: Huda F. Are You? By Huda Fahmy. This one’s a great example of using humor to tell a story about serious topics. 

Serving Up Interconnected Stories
Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories, edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith
This 2026 Printz-Award winning collection features short stories by best-selling and debut Indigenous authors alike. Each story includes a shared location, Sandy June’s Legendary Frybread Drive-In, but with each writer’s unique imagined take on it.  

A Practical (and Empowering) Guide
How to Start by Jodi Kantor 
This slim non-fiction book is written by a Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist about finding meaningful work. It’s based on a graduation speech she delivered at Columbia University. It’s a quick, empowering read that’ll help teens think about purpose, craft, and forging their own path. 

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From Joanne Ruelos Diaz, TWC Instructor, yoga teacher, children’s book author, and mom

More than a Celebrity Memoir 
Born a Crime (Adapted for Young Readers) by Trevor Noah
This is such a good introduction to the memoir genre. Trevor Noah is funny, charismatic, and his story is remarkable. I highly recommend that parents and kids read it. I read the original edition and my 8th grader read the adapted version. There’s a lot of opportunity for great conversation.

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From Judith Lindbergh, TWC Founder/Director who is still a teen at heart, which might be why she started teaching young people in the first place.

Historical Verse Novels: thick in pages, but a breeze to read
Call Me Athena by Colby Cedar Smith
If you’re looking for beautiful language, complex characters, and worlds that are rich with scents and sensations, you can’t go wrong with Colby Cedar Smith. Her two beautiful novels take you deep into historical settings with characters whose lives feel relevant and timely, no matter the era. Call Me Athena follows a young girl living in a tiny apartment with her immigrant family in 1930s Detroit as she wrestles with what it means to become an American.

The Siren and the Star by Colby Cedar Smith
This dual timeline verse novel toggles between modern day Lulu’s struggle to become a star singer she’s trained to be all her life and 17th-century female composer Barbara Strozzi’s fight to be recognized for her music. The two young women’s voices intertwine across time and space to a taut, gorgeous climax. If you love singing, dream of Venice, or just adore the music of language itself, it’s a thrilling read. 

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From Sarah Casarez, TWC’s Communications Coordinator, who is an expert at storytelling on the stage 

Classic Sci-Fi
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
This collection of short stories about robots and their interactions with humans explores themes of artificial intelligence, ethics, and the future which are surprisingly relevant today considering it was published in 1950. It is the first book in Asimov’s Robot Series that could end up occupying the whole summer, inspiring family conversations and watching the 2004 film.

Historical Fiction
The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff
In 117 A.D., the Ninth Legion of the Roman Army marched into the mists of Caledonia and were never seen again. This book tells a fictional tale of a son in search of his father who was among the disappeared. I adore the main character’s loyal friendships as the coming of age story and vivid history lesson all get rolled into one big adventure. 

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These titles and so much more are available at your local library or independent bookstore. (Some of our local favorites include Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, NJ, The Collective Bookstore in Verona, NJ, The Nature of Reading in Madison, NJ, Words in Maplewood, NJ, and Howling Bassett Books in Lambertville, NJ). Or check out TWC’s teen/young adult picks shelf on Bookshop.org. 

Here’s to many long, happy summer days of reading and writing!

The post Kick Back and Pick Up a Book: Summer Reads for Teens appeared first on The Writers Circle.

Ask any author which book first kept them up reading all night. That book is probably why they became an author. In fact, reading is the single best way to learn to write well. Not just reading, but reading for pleasure, as widely, deeply, and often as possible.

We asked TWC’s author-instructors for a few recommendations to add to your summer reading list. This selection is for middle grade readers–generally kids between ages 8 and 12. Here you’ll discover unique genres, formats, and authors to enchant young readers. Each book has its own special magic, even if there’s no actual magic involved. Check out our list and encourage your kids to grab one or two this summer–or read them all!

(More recommendations coming for teens and adults coming soon)! 

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From Erin Madigan White, TWC Instructor who writes for children and young adults, and who has a few of her own

Have an Adventure
Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller
This Newbery Honor book is part mystery, part adventure and takes place in New York City. Magnolia, age 10, sets out to find the owners of all the socks left at her family’s laundromat. A fun, sweet read for early middle grade readers (ages 7 – 11).

Secrets, Sports and More
Where Ella Went by Laurie Morrison
My 8th grader and I both loved reading this recent release. It’s a creative, multi-format mystery told in texts, emails, journal entries, and more. It features an 8th grade girls soccer team in New Jersey! Funny, sad, heartfelt, and relatable for upper middle grade readers (ages 10 – 14).

What a Mystery!
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
This award-winning mystery was inspired by Ellen Raskin’s The Westing Game. It alternates between the present time where 12-year-old Candice and her neighbor Brandon are trying to solve a puzzle in her grandmother’s South Carolina hometown, and the historical figures involved.

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From Mike Allegra, TWC Instructor, dad to college-age kids, and children’s book author extraordinaire

Fantastic Fantasy
Here Be Monsters! by Alan Snow
This book is a warm, whimsical, steampunk-y delight. The eccentric cast of characters includes boxtrolls, cabbageheads, sea cows, and the evil members of The Cheese Guild.

Unlikely Friends
Ivy and Bean (vols. 1-12) by Annie Barrows
This is my favorite chapter book series (for emerging readers). Annie Barrows understands how kids think, behave, and connect with one another. Because of this, Ivy and Bean aren’t just well-drawn characters, they feel real. You like them, you root for them, and you’re happy to join them on their adventures.

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From Joanne Ruelos Diaz, TWC Instructor, yoga teacher, children’s book author, and mom

Make Time for a Classic
Harriet the Spy by Louis Fitzhugh
I know I’m not the only writer who will recommend this book. In fact, I have a special anniversary edition that features tributes written by 14 authors including Judy Blume, Rebecca Stead, and Meg Cabot. I think we all relate to Harriet scribbling in her notebook. And I imagine, all of us wanted a special tool belt and to spy from a dumbwaiter!

One Airport, Many Stories
You Are Here Connecting Flights edited by Ellen Oh
I found this book incredibly interesting, and I think young writers will, too. It features interwoven stories set in a Chicago airport, and each chapter features one character that is written by a different award-winning and bestselling East and Southeast Asian American author. So cool.

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From Talia Tucker, TWC Instructor, YA Romance and Horror novelist

Never Too Old for a Picture Book
Jeong is Jeong by Jessica Yoon
We think middle grade readers, and adult readers, too, can find meaning and enjoyment in a good picture book! The one explores the Korean concept of Jeong that is hard to define but felt everywhere. It’s cozy, sweet, and gives us a word for that connection we feel with our loved ones that we build over time.

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From Judith Lindbergh, TWC Founder/Director whose kids are now grown, but whose first writing teacher was the illustrious Madeleine L’Engle!

Tesser Well
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
How could I recommend anything more perfect for middle-grade readers than A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle? A journey through space and time of epic proportions where children discover the power of their deepest convictions as they try to save their father and, in the end, themselves. Madeleine is well known for her timeless quote: “You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” If you haven’t read this yet, even if you’re already grown up, you are missing something truly magical.  

Mystery, Time Travel, and more
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Inspired by and deeply infused with the experience of reading A Wrinkle in Time, this novel takes place on the Upper West Side of Manhattan where Madeleine lived (and where I first took her class). Stead’s novel about sixth grader Miranda and the mysterious note she finds in her school library book feels fully alive with the unique experiences of a kid growing up in that slightly scruffy part of town in the late 1970s.

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These titles and so much more are available your local independent bookstore. (Some of our local favorites include Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, NJ, The Collective Bookstore in Verona, NJ, The Nature of Reading in Madison, NJ, Words in Maplewood, NJ, and Howling Bassett Books in Lambertville, NJ). Or check out TWC’s kid picks shelf on Bookshop.org. 

Here’s to many long, happy summer days of reading! 

The post Endless Adventures in the Pages of a Book: Summer Reads for Kids appeared first on The Writers Circle.

It was February when I was home sick from work, exhausted and feeling gross, that I got a call from the poet Deborah Landau informing me that I had been accepted into NYU’s creative writing Master’s program for fiction. She told me that I have been chosen as a Goldwater Fellow, meaning my entire tuition would be waived and I would receive a generous living stipend. She said more, but in truth, I blacked out from joy and told her that I was going to cry and that I was home sick from work and that I couldn’t believe this. 

She said, “I like that reaction.” 

I called my parents first and then, right after, I texted Judith Lindbergh in caps, telling her the news and then saying THANK YOU A MILLION. I AM THE WRITER I AM BECAUSE OF THE WRITERS CIRCLE. 

I joined TWC when I was a sophomore in high school. Back then I thought I would be a poet, which on reflection I can’t help but laugh at, as I am an obsessive fiction and short story writer. 

I remember coming to TWC every Saturday morning at SOPAC and instantly feeling like I entered a safe haven. The other people I met there treated me with respect, kindness, and honesty. It was an amazing feeling to be mentored and guided. I learned that my writing doesn’t need to live in my notebook. That it can be shared and can be more than just a hobby. 

It was through TWC that I also built a community. The people I met I often referred to “my writing friends” because it was true. They challenged and pushed me to be a writer. At TWC everyone wants everyone to succeed. There was something beautiful about being able to connect with people both as writers and friends that I valued so dearly. 

When I went to college I took the lessons TWC taught me and began to submit my writing for publication. Thanks to TWC, I have had pieces in The Adroit Journal and The Washington Square Review. I have received support and generous funding for my writing from The University of Iowa, The University of Massachusetts Amherst, and starting this fall, at NYU.  

It felt beyond full circle when I became a teacher. When Judith asked me, she said, “You’re a paid and published author, and you know how we work. You’re qualified.” 

There is something uniquely special about The Writers Circle. It is a program that helps you find the right words, that guides you in sharing your thoughts. And yet when I sit down to write about how TWC shaped me into the writer I am, I am unable to find all the words I want to say, except to trust me. 

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Livvy Jean is a short story writer who specializes in experimental and hybrid forms. She has been previously published in The Washington Square Review, Cult Magazine, and elsewhere. A recent graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, she has won the 2023 and 2024 Five College Prose Award and the Class of 1940 Creative Writing Award. Livvy was a finalist and awarded an honorable mention for The Washington Square Review‘s New Voices award in Fiction. In Fall 2026, she is heading to NYU to begin her MFA in creative writing as a Goldwater Fellow.

Livvy teaches in TWC’s children’s and teen programs.

The post Livvy Jean on Winning NYU’s Goldwater Fellowship appeared first on The Writers Circle.

Here, Prisha offers advice that any writer can use on making those all-important essays memorable.

Tell me about your journey with The Writers Circle?
It’s been incredible!… I credit TWC with so much of my development as a writer, as a teacher, and as a human being. I can’t believe how lucky I was to get to join this community at such a young age. I mean, how many elementary school bookworms get to start participating in real-life, weekly, kid-friendly writing workshops at eight years old? Huge shout out to Judith Lindbergh and Michelle Cameron for the amazing spaces they’ve created over the years. 

What do you enjoy about essay writing?
Essay writing is a lot more creative than a lot of people expect. With the word counts, it can almost feel like a form of writing-with-constraints, like a six-word story or a haiku. 

Students don’t always get exposed to creative writing in high school, so when they face down their college essays, many find themselves suddenly needing to think about things like imagery, voice, and storytelling for the first time. For some kids, it’s a whole new way of considering language, and it can be overwhelming. I think having someone to guide them through the process can be incredibly helpful, and I love being able to show up for my students during that pivotal juncture.

College essays are a part of my job where I feel I can make a real, tangible difference in a student’s academic journey. Writing a good personal statement can help a kid find their way to a place where they’ll thrive—and be well-resourced to chase their passions for chemistry, history, English, or music. And the writing skills they pick up as they work with me (framing, specificity, drafting and re-drafting) often end up helping them later in their lives, too, on graduate school applications, job apps, cover letters, and the like.

What makes a college essay memorable?
What makes any personal essay memorable: when it gives you an authentic, specific, and well-articulated window into its author’s world. A good essay seeks to make a genuine connection with its audience. Admissions officers want to understand you: how you think, how you feel, how you move through the world, what matters to you, what you find funny and fascinating and astonishing. 

Generally, the more specific you get—both in your content and in your language—the more you’ll pull your reader in. You want to be as clear, as vivid, and as vibrant as you can.

What helps a student’s essay stand out in the admissions process?
Above all, authenticity and specificity. Admissions officers read thousands of these, and they know the ring of truth when they hear it. The best way to win them over is to really let them into your life—your real life, not just the version of it that you think they want. 

You should write an essay that no one but you could have written. If you don’t think you have anything like that to write about, I promise, you do—it’s just a matter of asking yourself the right questions. I have yet to meet a person who doesn’t have an interesting story to tell.

What advice do you have for students who don’t know what to write about?
My advice to any stumped students out there: start by making a list of things that you care about. Not just things you theoretically care about—things you would talk a parent’s ear off about, or would stay up until 2 AM researching. These can be academic topics (the more niche the better!), hobbies, or experiences from your life. 

Robert Frost famously said, “No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader,” and it’s the same principle here—if your college essay doesn’t matter to you, it won’t matter to the admissions officer, either. Write about something that excites you, moves you, or thrills you—even if it’s slightly unexpected or odd, or if it doesn’t quite fit your idea of what a college essay “should” look like.

How do you help students tap into their authentic voices?
Many of the students I work with are used to very formal, academic modes of writing—critical essays, lab reports, document-based questions, that kind of thing. College essays are much more conversational and fluid. It’s not that kids don’t know how to use language in these more narrative ways—they do it all the time, every day, when they tell stories to their friends at lunch or vent about their math homework or recount the events of third period over text to their brother. It’s just that they need to give themselves permission to apply that skill set to an academic context.

Everyone has an authentic voice—it’s just a matter of getting yours from your head onto the page. And a lot of that is in how you frame the task to yourself. Sometimes, it’s helpful to speak your first draft into a voice memo on your phone, to say it out loud to your sister while she transcribes, or to write it in a text message to your best friend. Once you have that, put the transcript into Google Docs or Word and start revising. 

What advice do you wish you knew before writing your own college essay?
Before you make it good, make it exist! I was a perfectionist in high school, so that was hard for me when I was working on my own personal statement. These days, though, I live by that motto. First drafts are supposed to be messy. That’s why they’re first drafts. Write them today, and then come back to them tomorrow and make them better.

Also, break up the revision process into manageable chunks. Don’t try to do everything in one session. Instead, set realistic goals: “Today, I’m going to focus on how I want to structure my paragraphs.” Then, the next day: “Today, I’m going to make sure that all my sentences are as specific and compelling as possible on the level of the line.” And so on.

How many drafts does a great essay usually take?
I think five, at least! But don’t be intimidated by that—a draft doesn’t always entail rewriting everything on the page. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it, right? Each time you revise your essay, you want to focus your attention on something specific that needs improving—working your way from big things (like essay topic, paragraph structure, and framing) down to smaller things (like line-level specificity, grammar, and word count). It’s easier to consider one thing at a time than to try to tackle everything at once!

Anything else you want to share?
If you want to know more, join the college essay writing workshop I’m teaching this July at Drew University or the online session in August. And if you like creative writing, I can’t recommend TWC’s year-round youth workshops enough. 

Also, to any rising high school seniors out there: Good luck! You got this!

Prisha Mehta is a writer from northern New Jersey, and they love teaching, writing, and teaching people to write! A graduate of Yale University’s English, Creative Writing, and Education programs, they are the recipient of both the the John Hubbard Curtis Prize for an Outstanding Creative Writing Portfolio and the Jonathan Edwards Creative Writing Prize. Among other literary magazines, their work has appeared in The Baltimore Review and Mud Season Review. Prisha loves teaching short/flash fiction, speculative fiction, and personal essay. They also love working with soon-to-be college students on their personal statements, helping them build up the foundational writing skills that will make their essays feel genuine, lively, and memorable. When they’re not writing, you might find them reading, cooking, needle-felting, or designing tabletop games.

The post Yale Grad Prisha Mehta Shares Tips for Writing a Standout College Essay appeared first on The Writers Circle.

Into the woods, it’s time to go
I hate to leave, I have to though
Into the woods—it’s time, and so
I must begin my journey

—Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim

“I love taking writers into the woods. For me, nature is almost always the source of my inspiration, even if it’s deeply hidden in my writing.” When we posted this quote on The Writers Circle’s social media, someone commented that taking writers into the woods sounded slightly ominous. Indeed, it’s not hard to think of almost every Grimms’ fairytale and the truly terrifying things that might happen when you leave your comfort zone.

But when I think of the woods, I think of sanctuary. The moment I step away from the parking area and onto the trail, I feel my body relax. More than relax: I literally transform.

As all the trappings of civilization fall away, I find my senses opening. In this place of wind and bird song and wild whispers, I remember that I am an animal, too. My footsteps soften as I move from hard pavement to soft ground. Suddenly my progress slows and is no longer linear. My feet lift slightly higher as I step over tree roots or move sideways to avoid jutting stones.

As movement becomes more natural, I take in the sounds of birds I have learned to recognize even when I can’t find them among the branches: a wood thrush’s distinctive melody, the heavy pounding of beak-on-bark the differentiates a red-bellied woodpecker—which looks like it should be called a red-headed woodpecker, though that’s not common in our forests—from a huge, “Woody Woodpecker” pileated, which is.

You don’t have to be a bird-nerd to fall in love with the woods. No binoculars are needed to be amazed. Tiny flowers ripen to blueberries in our New Jersey forests, along with wineberries. (For years, I thought they were raspberries, but they’re still tangy and delicious.) And along some sunny trails, blackberries create a wild, thorny hedge that is worth tackling to get to the delicious fruit in midsummer.

Of course, northern New Jersey forests are hardly pristine—especially not those within viewing distance of New York City. On the paths I know well, I like to show writers the decaying evidence of human presence. Foundations of abandoned buildings secreted away. Graffiti carved into beech bark left by teens and lovers decades ago, some with dates that bring to mind history. 1970 on one trunk on a high, lonely trail. On another, May 1942. Each presents wonderful possibilities for creative writing. 

While writing my historical novel, AKMARAL, I would use my time on the trail to grow closer to my characters. It helped bring authenticity to my story of ancient nomads who lived deeply connected to their environment. And in imagining their perspectives, I found a wilder part of myself.

So, if you want to deepen your writing and maybe even discover something about yourself, come with me into the woods. Bring your notebook and your favorite pen, and be ready to open your senses—all of them.

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Step into the woods with Judith’s Writing in Nature workshop – four site-specific writing excursions, Fridays starting May 22.

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Founder/Director of The Writers Circle, Judith Lindbergh is the author of two novels set in wildly unfamiliar locales: AKMARAL in 5th century BCE Central Asia and THE THRALL’S TALE in 10th century Greenland. She has spoken at and published with the Smithsonian Institution and provided expert commentary for The History Channel’s documentaries. Judith received a 2024 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

The post Step Into the Woods to Write with Judith Lindbergh appeared first on The Writers Circle.

My debut novel, Odessa, comes out today.  I’ve wanted to be an author all my life, and I’ve been working toward that goal for as long as I can remember.  I definitely had unrealistic expectations about the publishing process, and it’s taken longer than I thought it would, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

All of my failures and rejections have only made me work harder and become a better writer.  Odessa is not the first novel I’ve ever written, but it’s the first novel I’m publishing.  It’s easy to get disheartened, but one of my favorite things to tell my students is that getting published requires relentlessness.  To be honest, it never even occurred to me to stop trying.  I would have kept trying for the rest of my life.  I would have written one hundred novels.  And even if I had never gotten published, I would still be writing.  I think that’s the essence of my beliefs about writing: it’s a craft, a practice– not something you do once, or all at once, but little by little, every day.  It’s something you try and keep trying.

Getting published requires relentlessness.  To be honest, it never even occurred to me to stop trying.

My brain loves writing.  It even loves editing.  It wants to create.  I’ve always searched for a writing community wherever I could find it, because I also love talking about writing.  It’s a million times better when you have consistent feedback for your work, and when you get in the habit of critiquing and thinking critically about a piece of writing.  It’s one thing to write alone, into the void, and another to write in a community where you have a supportive environment that challenges you to improve.  The Writers Circle was the first writing community I found.  I took classes in high school, interned in college, then after I went away to grad school for writing, I came back and became an instructor over a decade later.  I still hold my first students very dear to my heart.  I knew immediately that I was in the right place.  I found a writing community again, and surrounded myself with people who love to write and are so warm and supportive of each other. 

One of my favorite classes to teach is called Where Do I Begin? It’s for people who want to start writing but don’t know where to start, or haven’t written in a long time and want to get back into it.  I love the energy of that class.  It feels like we’re all embarking on a new adventure together, learning a new skill– the ability to create worlds, to translate our imaginations into  stories.  I always tell my students that writing is a habit like any other.  We find ways of incorporating it into our everyday lives, even just a little at a time.  We learn to observe the world like writers, to read like writers.  It’s a wonderful way to think, and to exist in the world.  I hope that my students leave feeling inspired and motivated to try and keep trying. 

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Join Gabby’s Where Do I Begin? workshop this summer, starting July 16.

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Gabrielle Sher attended Hamilton College, where she earned the Rosenfeld Chapbook Prize for her novella Bowerbird. She received her MFA and PhD in Creative Writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.  Her first novel, Odessa, originated as part of her doctoral dissertation titled “Who Made Us Monsters? Narrative Psychology and The Female Jewish Gothic.”  She currently lives and writes in New Jersey with her husband Jamie and their dog Bo.

The post Debut Novelist Gabrielle Sher on Writing Practice, Relentlessness, and Community appeared first on The Writers Circle.

Nature was smiling on us this past Sunday for our nature-inspired and very special workshop, “The Nature of Poetry,” taught by award-winning poet Catherine Doty. Cat led writers and poets through creative prompts and poetry exercises to celebrate National Poetry Month and Earth Month together. There was plenty of time for connection and sharing, with beautiful flowers and spring-inspired treats.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for this glorious afternoon, and to our perfect hosts at The Nature of Reading Bookshop in Madison, N.J.

Next up: TWC’s Spring Mini-Retreat on Sunday, May 17, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Lord Stirling Park in Basking Ridge, N.J. Details and registration here.

The post Inspired by Poetry and Nature – our special Earth Month/Poetry Month workshop with poet Catherine Doty appeared first on The Writers Circle.

Award-winning author Libby Cudmore has been teaching at The Writers Circle since 2018. Her virtual class on short stories and flash fiction always gets rave reviews. But what exactly is flash fiction? And why should every writer give it a try?

Here’s what Libby told us, in under 100 words, of course!

“Flash fiction s a great place to experiment with form, voice, and to fully explore the expanse of what a story can be. From stories inside of grocery lists to fairy tale retellings, from second-person narratives to the folding of time and memory, flash invites the writer to stretch beyond tradition, beyond their comfort zone. Writing in flash can also teach writers of all genres how to self-edit and distill the beauty of sentences. Where does a story begin, and where is the molten-hot center? What must be said, and what can remain unheard?”

Perhaps the best know flash fiction is the famous six word story attributed to Ernest Hemingway: For Sale: baby shoes, never worn. But flash fiction is so much more. Consider masters like MacArthur Fellow and Man Booker International Prize winner Lydia Davis.

Flash fiction teaches writers to pare down their words to the most incisive and necessary. It focuses on efficiency and the power of a single image to tell a larger tale. There’s so much to learn, even if you plan on writing novels.

Want to give flash a try? Start your short-form journey with Libby’s spring workshop beginning April 22.

• “This class helped me start writing again!”
• “Libby was very informative and covered a wide range of short fiction genres and styles…. The majority of class time was devoted to writing which was great.”
• “It’s a real hands-on workshop, where we wrote in class and outside class. Great discussions, too!”

The post Focus on Flash Fiction: What It Is and What It Can Do for Your Writing appeared first on The Writers Circle.

Holly Rizzuto Palker’s journey with The Writers Circle started back in 2012 as a student. Since then, she embarked on a career as a writer, editor, podcast host, and stand-up comic. Now, she’s TWC’s newest instructor, helping others learn the craft of humor writing.

“Even though I’m teaching, I’ll never stop taking classes with TWC because I believe I’ll never stop learning more about the writing craft,” Palker said. “TWC has been there for my journey.” 

Here, Palker shares how she literally fell into her own funny, what to do when a joke flops, and offers practical advice for delivering a punchline.

How did you get into stand-up comedy?
I registered for the Erma Bombeck Comedy Writing conference in 2024, and entered their stand-up contest called Erma’s Got Talent. I placed as a runner-up, which allowed me to perform in the stand-up show at the conference. The experience was exhilarating. When I returned to New Jersey, I was selected to compete in another comedy contest called Ladies of Laughter, where I performed a set at the South Orange Performing Arts Center. Although I didn’t place as a finalist, I was bitten by the comedy bug. After that, I took a local stand-up class and attended open-mic nights. I thought, why can’t I start my own troupe so I can do this all the time? After all, I started writing and performing in my basement as a kid by forcing my family to be my audience and my cousins to perform my theatrical works. So, I thought, even if it was just family and friends who came, it would just be a grown up version of my basement shows. My mom knew this idea was brewing so she suggested reaching out to the owner of The Vintage Tea in Staten Island, that they should hire The Mom Coms for our first gig. And that’s how we got our start, performing comedy at a tea house, of all places. And our audience included strangers (not just family and friends) who loved the show. Thanks, Mom!

When did you realize/know you were funny?
When I was in 4th grade, I solo tap danced in a school talent show. I flap-ball-changed onto the super slippery stage because there wasn’t any resin for my tap shoes. As I performed, I slid all over the stage and even fell a few times! Embarrassed, I kept a smile glued to my face because quitting in the middle of a performance wasn’t an option in my mind. When I curtsied, the crowd applauded, stood up, and laughed simultaneously. Oddly, my embarrassment dissipated as I realized I made them laugh, even if it was at my own expense. It’s difficult to explain, but I could tell the audience was supportive, and they weren’t laughing in a mean-spirited way. They laughed because they related to the fact that I persevered under the pressure in this absurd situation. I liked making them laugh. Is that twisted?

What’s a common misconception about writing humor?
That it’s easy and/or low-brow.

What advice do you have for writers who might not see themselves as funny or who write about serious subjects?
I believe humor is one of the most complex forms of literary art because it’s difficult to execute. Humor requires timing and the ability to tell a story in the fewest words possible. Because humor often tackles serious subjects with relatability, it is nuanced. If you don’t think you’re funny, but you write about serious subjects well, then you’re equipped to be funny. Everyone is funny! The key is to stop trying to be funny, and just be yourself (or your character). You already possess the expertise. Now you just need to plug in some different techniques to make it work.

How do you handle a joke that flops (IRL or on the page)?
It’s easier when a joke flops on the page than in real life. If it doesn’t work on the page, I can just edit the joke. When a joke falls flat IRL, I have to think in the moment and improvise. Luckily for me, I enjoy the feeling of “falling without a net” on stage. I know, it’s weird. I’ve taken improv classes with The Groundlings and improv rap classes with Freestyle Love Supreme, so I try to employ techniques I’ve learned. One important technique to follow is taking whatever the audience gives you, addressing it instead of rejecting it, and then moving on. But it is easier said than done, and there are times that I’m unable to make it work, I feel awkward, and I move on, admitting to the audience that I’m thrown. 

How can you tell if humor is landing on the page if there’s no audience laughing back?
Sometimes it is hard to tell if humor is landing on the page because you know the joke so well in your mind that you fill in the blanks. But you could be missing an element that connects the reader. Whether it is a small detail, the order in which you present the meat of the humor, or wonky sentence structure, the only way that I’ve found helps is to read the bit to another person. Sometimes I read to my 12-year-old to judge how the joke hits. I need to understand why it is or isn’t working. She doesn’t need to laugh hysterically, but her reaction usually provides clues, and I even ask her questions about the joke. For me, all writing is a collaborative process at some point along the way.

Tell us about some writers who make you laugh and why? Who shapes the way you think about the craft of comedy?
I love Tina Fey. She is hysterical as a writer, comedian, and actress. I loved her memoir, Bossy Pants, because it was so relatable. Some of the books I relate to most simply have humorous moments, even if they are more serious in nature. That’s life, right? I gravitate towards women’s fiction in general because the genre does that well. Jennifer Weiner is The Queen. I fangirled over getting to interview her a few years ago for Literary Mama. I think her work illustrates employing humor but tackling more serious situations. As a comedian, I love Sebastian Maniscalco and his Italian-Jewish subject matter. His life is the male version of mine.

Do you practice humor writing?
Yes. I always practice my writing on a weekly basis. I write essays, work on my novel, and write joke sets all the time. I also keep an ongoing list of situations I encounter that might be funny or could be fleshed out into jokes in my phone’s notes app.

If you had to offer one piece of advice on writing funny, what would it be?
Write humor with a strong P.O.V, a distinct voice, and with detail rather than in generalities. Jokes spring forth from a kernel of truth or something relatable. Practicing these writing skills has made it easier for me to conceive of and deliver jokes that land.

Holly Rizzuto Palker is an award-winning writer and journalist, an editor at Literary Mama, a co-host of the podcast, This Mama is Lit!, a board member and Secretary of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), a former freelance editor at Your Teen Magazine and a mom. She enjoys acting and stand-up comedy. She is the founder, producer and a proud member of The Mom Coms stand-up comedy troupe. Her essays and articles appear in Parents, The New York Daily News, The Independent, Newsday, Literary Mama, Kveller, Huffington Post, Your Teen Magazine, Psycom, and more.

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