Devoted to publishing, publishers and to those who craft the written word

Question: What's the most straightforward name for a writing website, ever?  

Answer: YouDon'tNeedNoMFA.com. I love their focus on community, and they have an essay by Jim Harrison that is well worth your time if you are considering enrolling in a MFA writing program. Check it out: "'The Bourgeois Poet' should be taught to the thousands taking M.F.A.’s in creative writing who wish to become poet-professors. As I said I tried it myself but found the work too hard. There’s a subdued but relentless hurly-burly in academia that swallows up discretionary time. It’s like living with a slight backache, not fatal but enervating." (Thanks Gordon Hurd.)

Susan Henderson is going on vacation, and she's taking stock of her web stats. People find your website for the craziest reasons. She leaves the comments section open, so look for hundreds of lonesome quotes from Litpark fans. 

Don't forget that next week, novelist Lance Olsen will stop by to discuss his new book, Anxious Pleasures. I just want to reiterate how much I agree with about finding your writing community (with or without an MFA!): "it's a tiny handful of voices I've learned to trust that can and do continually challenge my writing in fruitful ways," he told me, describing his favorite readers.

Publishing Spotted collects the best of what's around on writing blogs on any given day. Feel free to send tips and suggestions to your fearless editor: jason [at] thepublishingspot.com.