AWP Recap: Grief, TikTok & Diverse Writers

One of the largest literary conferences in the U.S. delights and surprises, always. February 28th, 2024 Dear Writers, Thank you for signing up for Writing with Hart: News and Opportunities for Writers. I’m so glad you’re here! Shout out to my friend Miriam Gershow whose book of stories, Survival Tips, comes out in March. See all of

Why Writers Need Coffee with Friends…and with Strangers

You may dislike critique groups, but don’t discount the power of the coffee date. January 3, 2023 Dear Writers, Thank you for signing up for Writing with Hart: News and Opportunities for Writers. I’m so glad you’re here! First, big congratulations to my Oregon colleague Emily Grosvenor for her publication of this inspiring personal essay: “Ditch the

August 3,2023 Dear Writers, First, a shout-out to my former student and amazing poet/essayist Cricket Matthews for this newly-published poem (scroll down to read it; it’s titled “Hypothesis”) Notes | Pearl Press (pearl-press.com) And are you following author Jan M. Flynn’s blog? I certainly hope so. She was my student in a personal essay class,

So Many Opportunities for Creativity

The AWP Conference Reminded Me that Writing Can Be Play April 2,, 2023 Dear Writers, This is from my Substack newsletter, Writing with Hart: News and Opportunities for Writers. I’m so glad you’re here! First, a shout-out to my new friend Andrea Ross, who wrote this gorgeous piece titled “…to play, to engage, to stop and

Raccoons, Raptors & Girls on the Run

How Volunteering Deepens your Characterization, Setting & Sensory Details First, a shout-out to my dear sister-in-law, poet Amanda Smith-Hatch. April is National Poetry Month; Amanda’s poetry centers me and renews my gratitude for small, lovely actions like making my bed in the morning (see her “Paean to Morning” in Plants and Poetry) and challenges me