Summer is here, which means our team is doing what we love almost as much as writing: reading. So we went around and asked the question we never get tired of asking: whatcha reading? The answers are stacked high this season, from sweeping family sagas to Jersey Shore romance to memoirs that sit with the hardest parts of being human. Here’s what’s on our nightstands, in our beach bags, and open on our laps right now.

Lex Bose-Boudot

“I’ll be reading anything queer and making my way through the Southern Vampire Mysteries, the Sookie Stackhouse novels behind True Blood by Charlaine Harris. I just finished Palaver by Bryan Washington, which I really loved. I highly recommend him.”

Lex is currently writing a novel in book inc’s Novel Incubator and is a PWN community outreach instructor.

Michele Cantos Garcia

“My latest public library haul includes a backlog of recent Vanity Fair issues, David Sedaris’s Calypso, and two of the big literary hits of the year, Belle Burden’s Strangers and Nelio Biedermann’s Lázár. Burden’s beautifully written divorce memoir has the added allure of her wealthy and famous relatives, while Biedermann is captivating readers for his feats as a 22-year-old Swiss author being compared to Thomas Mann.”

Michele teaches Writing Family Histories this summer, a six-week, in-person class in Red Bank that runs July 8 to August 12 on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. She’s also facilitating book inc’s 2026 Memoir Incubator.

Jennifer Chauhan

I recently read and loved Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad, a memoir about illness, identity, and rebuilding a life after cancer. What struck me most was Jaouad's emotional honesty as she navigated unexpected life changes following her leukemia diagnosis at age 22 and later embarked on a cross-country trip to connect with readers of her New York Times column, Life, Interrupted, which chronicled her years of treatment. I am now reading her most recent book, The Book of Alchemy, which I picked up because of the author not knowing what it was about. I was pleasantly surprised when I opened it to find a collection of essays and prompts by writers such as Dani Shapiro, George Saunders, and Hanif Abdurraquib, among so many others. Having felt stuck in my writing for a while, this book, which presents a 100-day journaling challenge, is just what I need right now.

Jennifer is PWN’s executive director and teaches Memoir Intensive this summer. She is also the current peer artist leader for book inc’s Memoir Incubator, where she is working on her own memoir.

Liz deBeer

“I recently read The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar, which follows an Indian American man as he digs into his family history and its secrets. Next on my list is The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. I don’t know much about it yet, but so many people have recommended it that I have to see for myself.”

Liz teaches Flash Fiction this summer, a four-week class that runs July 15 to August 5 on Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. ET / 4 to 5:30 p.m. PT.

Jen Gaites

“I cannot wait to buy and read Maggie O’Farrell’s new book Land. I didn’t even know she had a new book coming out (shame on me) and saw it on Instagram as a must read. I actually gasped because I was so excited. Of course, I’m also looking forward to the debuts of two book inc writers: Sober Mom by Elizabeth Jannuzzi and Brothers Epistle by Shanda McManus.”

Jen teaches Flash Memoir this summer, a five-week class that runs July 16 to August 13 on Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m. ET / 6 to 8 a.m. PT.

Lisa Hartsgrove

“The Nightmare Before Christmas has been one of my all-time favorite movies since childhood. It’s one of the few movies I can recite almost from start to finish, not just the songs but the dialogue too. So of course I had to read this sequel, Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw. And I have to say, I was so happy with it. Jack and Sally and all of Halloweentown were perfectly in character, the voice spot on to the original, so it flowed seamlessly in my imagination from screen to page. I loved how Ernshaw gave Sally a deeper backstory. I’m always a fan of a good heroine’s tale, and this was a great one.”

Lisa coordinates programming across PWN and leads the weekly Lunchtime Write-In on Fridays from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. ET / 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. PT. This summer she also leads the Book Writers Workshop.

Elizabeth Jannuzzi

“I just finished Elizabeth Strout’s The Things We Never Say. Strout, the Pulitzer winner behind Olive Kitteridge. For this novel, Strout stepped away from her usual recurring characters. She writes about Artie Dam, a high school teacher whose life unravels when a long-held secret surfaces. She’s the master, but this one wasn’t my favorite of her novels. For my local bookstore’s memoir book club, I’ve just started The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper, an emergency room physician’s memoir about healing herself as she heals her patients. I’m only a few pages in, but I can already tell it’s going to stay with me.”

In addition to being PWN’s program director, Liz hosts Morning Pages, PWN’s weekday morning writing group, which meets from 8 to 9 a.m. ET / 5 to 6 a.m. PT. Her debut memoir, Sober Mom, comes out July 21.

Emma Moriarty

“This summer, to prepare myself for writing memoir, I’m diving into memoirs that explore motherhood, death, and trauma. I’m currently reading Know My Name by Chanel Miller, which is heartbreaking and honest. My list also includes When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, and Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice by Virginia Roberts Giuffre.”

Emma is book inc’s intern and is currently writing a memoir in book inc’s Memoir Incubator.

Michele Prestininzi

“While on vacation last week, I read two wildly different books. Different premises, different genres, different levels of heaviness, yet both New York Times bestsellers dealt with love, loss, and grief in unique ways. When Breath Becomes Air is the posthumous memoir by Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon diagnosed with terminal lung cancer at 36. It chronicles his transformation from doctor to patient and his reflections on life, meaning, and mortality. The story will make you cry, but it’s so worth the read. Beach Read by Emily Henry is a romance novel about two rival authors, January Andrews, a romance writer, and Augustus ‘Gus’ Everett, a literary fiction writer, who are both stuck with writer’s block and find themselves in neighboring beach houses for the summer. It explores love, loss, grief, and creativity, and it’ll make you giggle out loud and root for January and Gus to the very end.”

Michele is a peer artist leader for book inc’s Novel Incubator.

Jaime Vander Velde

“I’m kicking off this summer with a former student’s brand-new book, aptly titled Have a Great Summer. Fran honed her romance writing in senior English, and I’m happy to share that her book was officially released May 26 from Penguin Random House. If you’re in the mood for a little summer romance set on the Jersey Shore, this one is for you.”

Jaime is a book inc writer and former peer artist leader.

Great readers tend to become great writers. If our team’s picks have you itching to put your own words on the page, we’d love to have you in a summer class. We’re running memoir, personal essay, poetry, flash fiction, novel writing, and more, all of it built to help you find your own voice on the page.

Browse the full catalog and register at pwnwriters.org.

I come from a long line of storytellers whose love was expressed through unforgettable stories. Some of these stories were true, some were imagined, and many others were something in between, like my Dad’s birth story.

According to his mother, she was foraging on a hillside and was so preoccupied with her task that she did not realize that her baby, my Dad, had “slipped out” of her womb and rolled down the hill, where she eventually found him asleep, peacefully nestled among some soft grasses.

The truth of his birth story is more likely that she birthed him alone in that land, unsupported and working on a day she should have been resting. It was probably terrifying and certainly painful, though not that uncommon at that time in our home country, but ultimately, a joyous moment. My Dad, who certainly inherited and refined her keen sense of fantastical humor, was born, and the details don’t really matter.

The truth of his birth, which I could probably corroborate with a few phone calls, matters less than the character, context, and relationships it reveals. This story tells you something true about her world and circumstances, at once unrecognizable and universal as that of the lives of many women today. This story brings me back to a country I lived in for just five years but now write entire books about decades later. This story, because of my writing it, is now an intellectual heirloom I will pass down to new family members, through marriage or their own births, who want it.

These stories, and the way in which my elders embodied them, taught me that storytelling belongs to everyone, not just those with formal training. Their influence is why I love memoir and why I’m passionate about helping others preserve their family stories.

In my new Writing Family Histories class, we will unearth stories like this one and explore what they reveal about our identity, culture, belonging, and, of course, our families.

Through guided prompts, readings, and workshop discussions, we will focus on the craft elements that bring family stories to life, such as voice, scene, memory, characterization, structure, and emotional truth. We will experiment with shaping family anecdotes, inherited stories, and lived experience into compelling narratives, approaching memoir as a playful space for personal discovery, self-expression, and preservation as much as publication.

Whether a writer, artist, or just a thoughtful beginner, I hope this new class gives us all a space to delve deeper into age-old questions about who we are, what we inherit, and what we hope to pass down to the next generation.

Ready to tell your story? Join Michele’s Writing Family Histories class!

About the author

Michele Cantos Garcia is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in Hispanic Executive, Next Gen Collective, and The Brevity Blog. She has profiled Kamala Harris and other leading figures in business, politics, and culture. Michele is currently revising a memoir manuscript, drafting a novel, and teaching memoir with Project Write Now and book inc, where she also writes the craft-focused column titled, the Book Writing Diaries. Connect on Instagram and Substack.

Did you know that today, May 30, is National Creativity Day? We figured we’d mark it—and kick off our first official Substack post—with an essay on creativity from book inc intern Emma Moriarty. In her essay below, Emma makes the case that writers belong amongst the artists, right alongside painters and sculptors.

Share The Imprint

Growing up, when asked if I considered myself a creative person, I would say “no.” When teachers asked us to “use our creativity for this project” or asked a “creative student to help them draw on the whiteboard,” I sank a little lower in my seat. To me, having creativity meant knowing how to paint, sculpt, or do something with my hands, something that required a unique skill. Sure, I had a wild imagination, but I didn’t think that translated into being what my teacher or others considered a “creative-minded person.”

This idea got cemented in high school, when everyone started talking about being “right-brained” or “left-brained.” (A myth, by the way.) The theory went that right-brained people were the creative ones—original, big-picture thinkers—while left-brained people were the analytical ones, good at math and logic. Part of me wondered why I couldn’t be a bit of both, but I was good at math, so I filed myself under “left-brained” and figured creativity just wasn’t mine to claim.

It wasn’t until college that I realized writing could be creative, too. So much of school trains us to think of writing as a five-paragraph essay—formal introduction, body, conclusion. But expressive writing breaks out of that mold, using the essay and other forms to explore a topic on its own terms.

That’s exactly what Project Write Now is built around. As executive director Jennifer Chauhan puts it, expressive writing “gives people a more authentic way to explore their creativity and identity”—something she sees as especially powerful for young people discovering their voice. Because the form invites you to write in first person and draw on your own experience, it makes room for the individual in a way academic writing rarely does.

And writing takes more than skill. Every author makes choices—about grammar, rhythm, structure—making the work unmistakably theirs. This is why many readers can recognize some authors from style alone.

Writing came so naturally to me that it didn’t feel like I was “creating” anything at first; after all, it didn’t require a paintbrush or getting markers all over my hands. In college, after taking one writing course after another, I ended up minoring in Creative Writing. It turns out I was right-brained after all. (But not actually because, after all, that is still just a myth!)

Below are some ways that creative writing really is about creativity, and why we writers can consider ourselves artists. Most of all, creativity is anything that lets you express yourself, and I believe we all have something we enjoy that makes us feel just a little freer.

Grammar/Sentence Structure

Some writers prefer to use shorter, more abrupt sentences that surprise the reader, and are part of a much larger rhythm. Other writers prefer long sentences that can sometimes run on. (Guilty!) These stylistic choices make the pieces that you write yours. Some writers use dashes, italics, and intentional paragraph breaks to break up their writing. How you choose to do this shows your creativity and unique view on writing!

Perspective

Just like with visual art, one moment often holds various different perspectives. A painter can paint a park with focus on a family having a picnic, a group of joggers whizzing by, or pigeons looking for scraps. A writer can do the same; there is a distinct moment that occurs, full of details and facts, which can be interpreted entirely differently by each person who wants to write about it, intertwined with their opinions, feelings, and thoughts. This is a beautiful aspect of creativity: turning a universal concept into your own and sharing your unique experience with the rest of the world!

Sensory Detail

Have you ever read something and felt like you were living the moment being described by the author? Maybe soaking up the autumn breeze, or the warmth of the sun on your skin, or the smell of freshly baked bread? The power of reading and writing creative nonfiction (and many other genres) is teleportation—suddenly you are right there with the author, living their unique experience with them, or reliving one of your own.

Just like painters have paint and sculptors have clay, writers have language. They have sentence structure, words to choose from, and ways to organize them. They can make sentences never written or spoken before in the history of humankind. So yes, writers are included in National Creativity Day, and all mentions of creativity to come—because what you have to say is unique, and you should share it with the world!

On that note, if you’re interested in creative writing, check out Project Write Now’s writing classes. Register today for a summer class.

Happy creating, everyone!

About the Author

Emma Moriarty is a recent Lehigh University graduate and award-winning writer from Shrewsbury, NJ, who is currently book inc’s Marketing and Communications Intern and is pursuing her passion for creative nonfiction.

This Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’re highlighting books and writers who have sparked conversations within the Project Write Now community and continue to shape the literary landscape in meaningful ways. From poetry and memoir to satire and novels in verse, these works remind us of the power of storytelling to illuminate both personal and collective truths.

A Poet We’re Honored to Know

We’re thrilled to spotlight Chen Chen, a two-time Pushcart Prize-winning poet whom we were honored to welcome for our Friends & Features event this month. Chen Chen writes through the lens of Asian American immigrant culture while leaning fully into his queer perspective. His collections include Your Emergency Contact Has Experienced an Emergency (2022) and When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities (2017), and his latest chapbook is Explodingly Yours. Many of his poems are available on his website or at poets.org.

A Novel That Demands to Be Pressed Into Everyone’s Hands

If you haven’t read Yellowface by R. F. Kuang yet, consider this your push. It’s a sharp, fast-paced satire about cultural appropriation, the publishing industry, and whose stories get told. As PWN program director Elizabeth Jannuzzi put it: “Two thumbs up. R.F. Kuang wrote a villain so recognizable it should come with a warning label. I blew through this novel in a weekend and immediately wanted to press it into everyone’s hands.”

A Novel in Verse That Inspired One of Our Own

After participating in Book Revision Lab, PWN program coordinator Lisa Hartsgrove was encouraged to read novels in verse that reflected stylistic elements similar to her own work. A top recommendation: Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhhà Lại—a moving story about a young Vietnamese girl and her family fleeing Saigon as the Vietnam War ends. Though Lisa’s novel explores different subject matter, she found real inspiration in Lại’s use of voice, structure, and poetic storytelling. (She also just really loved the read.)

The Writer Who Teaches Us to Slow Down

Aimee Nezhukumatathil is a writer our community returns to again and again. Her poetry and essays, rooted in the natural world, invite readers to notice beauty and reconnect with wonder. We frequently turn to her work to spark vivid imagery, sensory detail, and reflection. We’re especially excited about her latest collection, Night Owl, which explores the magic and sensory experiences of the night.

The Memoir That Started a Conversation About Food and Grief

In 2023, our Memoir Incubator cohort read Crying in H Mart as part of a larger conversation about memoir craft. Michelle Zauner’s bestselling memoir explores her Korean American identity and the grief that follows her mother’s death. One of our most memorable discussions centered on the book’s food writing: some readers found the level of detail overwhelming, while others felt those descriptions were carrying the grief that the rest of the book couldn’t quite say out loud. It became a powerful reminder of how sensory details hold memory, longing, and loss.

The Essay That Opened a Door

In our 2026 Memoir Incubator, guest instructor Shanda McManus brought in an excerpt from Ocean Vuong’s “A Letter to My Mother That She Will Never Read,” originally published in The New Yorker. We used the essay to discuss the epistolary approach to memoir and the emotional intimacy that letter writing can create on the page. We’re also huge fans of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous and his more recent novel The Emperor of Gladness.

A Historic Appointment Worth Celebrating

We want to celebrate Arthur Sze, a renowned Asian American poet recently named U.S. Poet Laureate for a second term (2026–2027)—the first Asian American poet to hold this position. We look forward to spending more time with his work and sharing it with our community.

This month—and every month—we’re grateful for the writers whose stories expand our understanding of what it means to be human. We hope these recommendations inspire you to discover a new voice or revisit a beloved one.

Who are your favorite Asian American and Pacific Islander writers? We’d love to know—share them with us in the comments.

We asked our instructors and staff to help us answer that question. Turns out, they had a lot to say.

It’s How You Become Part of Where You Live

“It wasn’t until I became an instructor for Project Write Now that I truly started to feel like part of the community where I live and work,” reflects Meredith Z. Avakian, PWN’s director of community outreach & engagement. “Three years since then, and now it seems I cannot go anywhere without crossing paths with someone from the community who I have shared space with during one of our PWN workshops, classes, or events.”

This is the ripple effect of a writing community—it extends beyond the classroom, beyond the page, and into the fabric of our daily lives. In Red Bank, Asbury Park, and throughout Monmouth County, PWN has become more than an organization; it’s become a gathering place where middle schoolers, adults living with mental illness, aspiring college students, and seasoned writers all find their seat at the same table.

“It’s incredible to work for a heart-centered organization that puts people first,” Meredith continues, “encouraging individuals across backgrounds and generations to find and express their authentic voices through writing. Sharing words, stories, and poems connects us and creates compassion.”

It’s About Way More Than Accountability

Sure, many writers come to the community seeking accountability—that external motivation to actually sit down and write. (We get it. The couch is comfortable. Netflix exists.) But as PWN program director Lisa Hartsgrove discovered, what keeps writers coming back runs much deeper.

“While it’s true that I would never write nearly as much if it weren’t for being a part of this writing community, the biggest benefits I reap are actually the deep, meaningful connections,” Lisa explains. “In a writing circle, there are essentially no secrets. I don’t have to worry about what is being left unsaid, what’s being held back. It isn’t. We are our rawest, most vulnerable selves. We are storytellers.”

This vulnerability—this willingness to show up authentically—creates something rare and precious.

“Project Write Now is so much more than just a writing space, for me,” Lisa says. “It’s a lifeline. It’s where I can be most authentically myself without fear of judgment, where I can speak my truth and listen to the voices of others.”

It’s a Powerful Force

“A community of writers is a powerful force where like-minded people can connect over their love of words and creating,” says book inc PAL Jaime Vander Velde.

And she’s right. That power shows up in real, tangible ways. Writing is often solitary work—just you, the blank page, and the voices in your head (hopefully the helpful ones). But as PWN instructor Michele Prestininzi points out, “I love being part of the PWN writing community. Our shared interest allows us to celebrate each other’s successes and support one another through challenges. Although writing can be a solitary activity, having a community to share the journey with makes all the difference.”

At a time when we may be feeling more divided and isolated from one another, Project Write Now provides an antidote by reminding us all of our shared humanity. Sharing words and stories creates meaningful connections by helping us understand one another better, generating renewed hope for what is possible in our world today.

It Gets Results (And Friendships)

Liz deBeer, a PWN instructor and book inc writer, keeps it real about what writing community actually delivers: “Project Write Now’s writing community provides me with supportive nudges, inspiring anecdotes, encouraging feedback. The result? Published stories, creative companions, some works-in-progress, plus ideas for future writing projects.”

Published stories AND creative companions? That’s the dream, right there.

From draft to publication, from uncertainty to celebration, a writing community walks alongside you. Whether it’s the Friday Lunchtime Write-In, the daily Morning Pages sessions, or the spontaneous sharing at Write Out Loud events, these consistent touchpoints become anchors in our creative lives.

It Makes You a Better Literary Citizen

“Project Write Now has been a wonderfully supportive space for me,” says Court Harler, PWN instructor. “I feel nurtured as a writer, editor, and podcaster, and just generally, as a literary citizen. What’s more—I’m daily inspired by the perseverance and hard-earned successes of my fellow PWNers. I love reading their newly published stories, poems, and essays, and I’m especially looking forward to reading several debut books on the horizon! Creativity requires community, and PWN is one of the best.”

This ecosystem of mutual support and inspiration is precisely what transforms individual writers into a thriving community. When one person publishes a story, we all celebrate. When someone shares a difficult revision, we all lean in to help. When debut books appear on the horizon (looking at you, 2026!), we all feel that collective pride.

It Extends Beyond the Page

As PWN co-founder and executive director Jennifer Chauhan emphasized when speaking to entrepreneurship students at Rider University, “It’s all about forging and strengthening meaningful relationships with your team, with your students or clients, with your community partners.”

Over eleven years, PWN has woven itself into the fabric of Monmouth County through partnerships that matter: weekly workshops at Red Bank Middle School, bi-monthly sessions at Shore House for adults living with mental illness, college essay coaching at Keansburg High School and Lunch Break’s Alliance for Success, ekphrastic writing with young women at Collier Group Home, youth journaling clubs at Asbury Park Public Library, and Community Playmaking showcases in partnership with Two River Theater.

These programs don’t just teach writing—they build bridges. When ninth graders at Collier Group Home volunteer to share their ekphrastic poems, when Shore House participants move from a 3 to a 5 on the emotional well-being scale after a single workshop, when seniors at Lunch Break discover stories that only they can tell, community happens. Connection happens. Hope happens.

“I am so grateful for all of the support we’ve received over the years from participants, community partners, and donors,” said Jennifer. “Thank you for believing in our mission, for trusting us with your stories, for embracing the healing and transformative power of writing.”

Come See What We’re Talking About

As PWN celebrates its 11th anniversary, Meredith captures the excitement many of us feel: “The thought of so many of us gathering under one roof together for our upcoming Community Celebration is exhilarating! I’m honored and excited to celebrate our greatest asset—our beautiful community.”

That celebration happens on Wednesday, October 22, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Two River Theater in Red Bank—a free evening filled with live music, light refreshments, writer performances, and the presentation of awards to this year’s Champions of Voices Educator and Volunteer awardees (Jenny Morelli, Kelly Cullen, Jennifer Gaites, and Shanda McManus) and community partners, including Two River Theater and Senator Vin Gopal. It’s a chance to come together, to witness what we mean by “writing community” firsthand, and to feel that joy and connection we keep going on about.

The spirit of gathering continues on Tuesday, October 28, with Friends & Features: Meet the Memoirists, a virtual event where national bestselling author Melissa Febos (Girlhood, Body Work, The Dry Season) shares the stage with three emerging voices from our PWN community—Elizabeth Jannuzzi, Shanda McManus, and Lou Storey—all with debut books arriving in 2026. Moderated by Court, this intimate literary salon exemplifies what makes PWN special: established authors and emerging writers side by side, celebrating both literary excellence and the power of community.

So there you have it. When we talk about a writing community, we mean a place where you can be seen and heard, where you practice empathy by listening to stories different from your own, where you discover that your individual voice becomes stronger when woven together with others. Whether you’re a seventh grader finding your voice for the first time, an adult returning to writing after years away, or a seasoned writer honing your craft, as Lisa so beautifully puts it: “There’s a place for all of these stories on the same table.”

And honestly? That table—and the community gathered around it—is pretty amazing. Come see for yourself.

Learn more about Project Write Now’s programs and register for events at pwnwriters.org.

Below, I list some rules he taught me that I will stick with for the rest of my writing career. While reading my classmates’ work, I would find myself citing his rules in my head, as he had done with me, posing questions when we delved into each piece of poetry I brought to my meetings.

Rule 1: What Work Is This Doing?

When I think of Professor W, I think about sitting in his office, in a chair near the door, balancing my laptop on my knees while we discussed my work. “What work is this doing for the poem?” was his favorite question to ask while weeding through my piece line by line.

Although imagery and extra detail are very important in poetry, Professor W taught me that they should be deliberately added with the main message or idea in mind. There have been many lines of my poetry that I adored, but did not need in my poem. I keep these lines in a “lost darlings” document. (For more on that, read my book inc Journal “Kill Your Darlings.” Lots of extra fluff will take away from your poem, and I definitely still struggle with this. Who doesn’t love fluff?

If you ask yourself Professor W’s question when reviewing your poetry, you will find that more than you think can be taken out of your lines to hone in on the true meaning of your poem.

Rule 2: Start and End Each Line Intentionally

Professor W often stressed that the words at the beginning and end of a line are among the most important decisions while writing a poem. In the time that it takes a reader’s eyes to move from line 1 to 2, the last word will linger in their mind for a millisecond longer, which is long enough to make a difference. Therefore, the last word of a line should be a meaningful word that contributes to the overall message of the poem. This also means that the start of each line should be punchy and intentional since it is the first word after that short pause, and it is up to the writer to take advantage of it. (One time, I ended a line with the word ‘the’ because of a certain rhythm I was trying to achieve, and Professor W had to excuse himself for a minute.)

Rule 3: Don’t Rhyme for the Sake of Rhyming

Rhyming has to be intentional, and if you need to go digging for a word that does not come naturally, it may sacrifice the entire meaning of the poem. When I first started writing poetry, I would write down rhyming words before I even knew what a poem was about. However, Professor W taught me that the words are supposed to support the poem, not the other way around.

Rule 4: Provide Enough Context

It’s no fun reading a poem over and over again and still not knowing what it means. It’s also true that some ambiguity and mystery in poetry can be good—poems that make the reader think hard are my favorite. However, you have to give your reader enough context to understand the framework for your idea. If there are too many lingering questions, the reader won’t connect with the piece. Remember that just because the reader is reading your words, that doesn’t mean they can read your mind, and they won’t immediately know where or when something is taking place.

With these rules and Professor W’s advice, I was able to publish my poetry in Lehigh’s magazine across two editions and win multiple poetry awards.

Class dismissed–go write!

Come Write with PWN This Spring

April is National Poetry Month, and just like Professor W helped me find my voice, PWN Writers has a few offerings this spring to help you find yours.

• On Tuesday, April 14, join instructor Eileen Toomey for Poetry, Prose, or Something In-Between (7–8:30 p.m. ET / 4–5:30 p.m. PT, virtual) — a 90-minute workshop exploring hybrid forms through close reading and hands-on writing exercises. It’s $25 and open to all levels.

• Starting Tuesday, April 28, join instructor Jenny Morelli for Poetry Intensive (7–9 p.m. ET, virtual) — a six-week feedback-based class that pairs close study of a different poet and poetic style each week with hands-on writing and peer critique. It’s $250–$275 for writers committed to strengthening their craft.

• On Sunday, April 19, head to Kula Urban Farm in Asbury Park for Poetry & Plants (3–4:30 p.m., in-person) — a free community writing circle led by Meredith Z. Avakian, set among the greenhouse and part of the Asbury Park Poetry Crawl. No writing experience necessary, just bring a journal.

• Starting Monday, May 4, join instructor Jaz for Poetry – Spring II ’26 (7–9 p.m. ET, virtual) — a six-week class exploring the fundamental elements of poetry through the works of celebrated poets, weekly writing prompts, and feedback sessions. It’s $250–$275 and open to all levels, from seasoned writers to complete beginners.

• Then on Wednesday, May 13, cap off the season with Friends & Features: Celebrate the Poets (7–8:45 p.m. ET / 4–5:45 p.m. PT, virtual) — a literary salon featuring celebrated poet Chen Chen alongside PWN community voices, moderated by Court Harler.

Whether you’re brand new to poetry or just looking to sharpen what you already know, come write with us.

About the Author

Emma Moriarty is a Lehigh University graduate, award-winning poet and creative nonfiction writer, and book inc intern from Shrewsbury, NJ.

Meredith Z. Avakian, director of community outreach & engagement

Meredith served as the host of Asbury Book Cooperative’s “Story Time” back in November, reading three children’s books to local youth and their families. On April 12, Meredith returns to ABC as the mediator for a special presentation with Thin Glass author Christine Degenaars.

Allan Bass, program participant

Allan recently completed a first draft—about 20 chapters—of a memoir about his week at Dodger Camp. He shared two chapters with his writing coach and she was very enthusiastic about the project.

Roux Bedrosian, program participant

Roux made it to the final round of NYC Midnight’s Annual Scary Story Challenge. The contest started back in October, and she was given 48 hours in each round to write a 400 word scary story that included a specific character, action, and “scare.” There were somewhere around 3,500 writers at the start, and Roux is part of the final 115. Winners will be announced next month. Roux also had a recent poem published in Obindo Literary Magazine (page 60).

Skyla Bicca, PWN Teen intern

Skyla was accepted into Bennington College with a major in literature.

Diane Bier, program participant

Diane had many publications:

• “Secrets“ Libretto, Dec. 2025

• “Bloody Backlash” DoubleSpeak, Jan. 2026

• “The Son” Double Speak, Jan. 2026

• “The Hardest Secret” Double Speak, Jan. 2026

• “Be the Change“ Steel JackDaw, Feb. 2026

• “On Our Backs“ Moonstone Arts ICE Anthology, Feb. 2026

• “Dark Night” Moonstone Arts Latinx Anthology, coming April 2026

DeAnna Brandon, program participant

DeAnna shared her blood cancer diagnosis journey, in writing, to her local theater. They displayed it and her photo in the lobby in honor of a play they were presenting. The production depicted a cancer patient who lost his battle to blood cancer. The funds raised from the production are being raised to support our local cancer center.

Lisa Carlson, program participant

Lisa applied for an appointment at the Emily Dickinson museum this summer, an NEA sponsored position.

Gabriela Lewis Celis, PWN Teen intern

Gabriela is a runner up in the Latin American & Native American Polyphony Lit.

Jennifer Devi Chauhan, executive director

Jennifer Devi Chauhan had the honor of being a part of the “Today Is the Day. Live It!” East Coast book launch as a contributing author. She sat alongside dynamic individuals who are making a tremendous difference in shaping our world into a better place and who will inspire all of us with their stories. “Today Is the Day. Live It!” is now available at bookshop.org as well as other retailers.

Mimi Cross, writing instructor

Mimi’s new song Serena, written by Mimi and former PWN student Gloria Barone, was released this February.

Jeffrey Delano Davis, program participant

Jeff’s piece “Motorcycling New Jersey’s Pine Barrens: Fire Roads and Fellowship” was published in Go World Travel Magazine, Jan. 22, 2026.

Liz deBeer, writing instructor

Liz had many publications:

• “Cappy’s Crabs” Sudden Flash, November 2025

• “Who’s That Girl?” Red Rose Thorns, Nov. 21, 2025

• “Our Mole” Red Rose Thorns, Nov. 21, 2025

• “Six Steps to Forget Your Past” Does It Have Pockets, Dec. 1, 2025

• “Cracked Pie Crust” Instant Noodle Lit Magazine, Dec. 1, 2025

• “Who Deserves a Break?” Flow Magazine, Dec. 1, 2025

• “At the Edge” Bending Genres, Dec. 9, 2025

• “Missing Pieces” & “Soiled Landing” Persimmon Tree, Winter 25-26

• “The Man with a Shoe Box” Literary Garage, Jan. 14, 2026

• “Slippery Memories” The Hootlet’s Nook, Jan. 15, 2026

• “Tropical Moments” The Hootlet’s Nook, Jan. 15, 2026

• “Water Tower Views” Flash the Court, Feb. 6, 2026

• “Trespassing” Literally Stories, Feb. 19, 2026

• “Family Portrait” Five Minute Lit, March 6, 2026

• debut chapbook – a novelette in flash – coming out in April

Gay Norton Edelman, writing instructor

Gay’s illustrated haiku book, Just This, is officially out!

Jennifer Gaites, writing instructor

Jennifer’s creative nonfiction flash essay, “When the Ultrasound Technician Says, ‘Something’s Not Right…’” was published in Tahoma Literary Review.

Meg Glasser, program participant

Meg’s piece “The Weakest Link” was published in Blood and Honey, January 2026. Her piece “Taffy” is forthcoming this spring in Months to Years.

Wendy Goodman, program participant

Wendy’s personal essay “Eclipsed” was published in The Woven Tale Press.

Ann Marie G. Halstead, program participant

Ann Marie’s poem “Voices in the Mirror” was named Poem of the Month by the editors of Spillwords Press in August 2025 and was also nominated for Publication of the Year (Poetry) by Spillwords Press Awards. She also had an article published in Medium (Fourth Wave) in September 2025 and “Atmospheric Dread” in RVA Magazine in January 2026.

Lisa Hartsgrove, program coordinator

Lisa’s poem “Floral Wars” was published in Red Rose Thorns on March 6. She also wrote a short play titled “Interdimensional Feline Arachnophobia” as part of PWN’s Community Playmaking partnership with Two River Theater and Shore House. Professional actors from Two River Theater did a staged reading of “Interdimensional Feline Arachnophobia,” as well as the other short plays, at Long Branch Arts & Cultural Center. Lisa has also been featured on Influential Women.

Tina Hudak, program participant

Tina’s piece “Running to Nowhere” was published by LatinosUSA, Feb. 26, 2026.

Liz Jannuzzi, program director

Liz’s flash memoir was published in Under the Gum Tree, Issue 58. She is a featured storyteller in PWN’s March Firefly: Stories on Stage and she will also participate in North Jersey’s Listen to Your Mother series in May. In addition, Dreamscape will produce the audiobook version of her memoir Sober Mom, coming July 21, 2026.

Celine Keating, writing instructor

A piece of short fiction (related to the novel Celine worked on in the Novel Incubator) will be part of an upcoming anthology this spring by Linden Place, a historic museum in Bristol, RI.

Olivia Kenney, program participant

Olivia recently started her first weekly Substack.

Kaecey McCormick, program participant

Kaecey’s piece “Altar of Memory” was a first runner-up and accepted for publication (April issue) with Iron Horse Literary Review. Her piece “Empty Nesting Under Light of New Moon” published in A-minor Magazine. Her piece “Her Pain as Prime-Time Entertainment” was a finalist in Sublimation Annual Contest. And her piece “My Mother’s Bathrobe” was accepted for publication (forthcoming) in Screamin’ Mama.

Charlotte Meadows, PWN Teen program participant

Charlotte read a story in front of a crowd for the first time during an in-school coffeehouse.

Shibani Mishra, PWN Teen program participant

Shibani recently had an article about school shootings published to Best of SNO, one of the most prestigious student journalism sites in the country. She was also published in Issue 5 of Sonderful Writings anthology and was a winner of the Bethesda Writing Contest, set to read at the ceremony soon.

Jenny Morelli, writing instructor

Jenny had many publications and successes:

• “Grocery List,” “You’re Back,” “The Pogo Stick Boy,” “The Image in My Window,” “Pepperoni” Your Sudden Flash

• “Anxiety” Five Minute Lit

• “Real’s Not Real,” “A Small Girl’s Holiday Wish” Spillwords Press

• “November Winds,” “Our Final Moments,” “To Disappear,” “Oblivious,” “Position Available,” “Far and Strange,” “Tarnished Gold,” “Dear Orange Man,” “Glacial Palace,” “Our Only Hope,” “A Scented Memory” CC&D

• “Body Language” Micromance

• “The Rocking Chair,” “Hiding from the Storm” Vine Leaves Press 50-Word Stories

• “A Red Hood” Hoolets Nook

• “A Witch on a Swing in a Tree in the Yard,” “Beyond the Beaten Path” Mobius Blvd

• “The Hatchet Lady” Livina / Midnight Ink

• “Learning to Fly,” “A Load too Heavy” Red Rose Thorns

• “Apple Juice“ Red Rose Thorns Pushcart Nominated Piece

• Numbered Days, Infinite Hope Bottlecap Press, SIXTH chapbook!

• Received PWN’s Champion of Voices Educator Award, October 2025

• Featured storyteller in March 2026’s Generation Women NJ show under the theme of “Out Of My Comfort Zone”

Emma Moriarty, PWN intern

Emma’s piece “Woman, Mother, Protector” was published in HerStry. She was also a featured storyteller in March’s Generation Women NJ show under the theme of “Out Of My Comfort Zone.”

Frank Orefice, program participant

Frank submitted a humorous story to a writing contest at Asbury Book Cooperative. His film “POV—A SHADOW FILM“ is distributed on Renderyard.com.

Kim Ousley, program participant

Kim’s article “What Real Gratitude Looks Like” was published in Living with Amplitude.

Jessica Rowshandel, program participant

Jessica was accepted into the weeklong PEN America Emerging Writers Workshop, Los Angeles, which took place in November 2025. She performed two poems there. From December to February, she has had several poems accepted to Seventh Wave Magazine, Mizna, and Cinder Magazine. Publications forthcoming.

Lou Storey, writing instructor

Lou had two recent publications—a prose poem “Saturday Shopping” will be published in the quarterly issue, April 2026, of Ambidextrous Bloodhound Press, and a flash essay piece “Stopping at Roses” will be published in Bull Magazine in April, 2026.

Eileen Toomey, writing instructor

Bottlecap Press published Eileen’s poetry chapbook How to Make an Espresso Martini. Her poem “Our Dining Room Table” was accepted for publication in Contemporary Haibun Online, coming April 1. And she read with Liz DeBeer and other talented authors for Flash the Court at AWP.

Bob Varettoni, program participant

Bob was invited to be the featured poet at a photo exhibit opening in Little Falls.

Vickie Hardin Woods, program participant

Vickie was featured in The Guardian and has received an offer of representation from an agent.

Jamie Yieh, program participant

Jamie’s debut novel, Leaf, will be published by Manhattan Book Group in 2026.

Courtney Zeni, program participant

Courtney got an offer for representation from an agent and signed with Donovan Levine at Neighborhood Literary.

At that moment in therapy, I felt compelled to read to my therapist the poetry I’d been writing. At the same time, as I told her about my process—how good it felt to pour my sadness and anger into a page without worrying about who might see it—I also felt compelled not to share those pages aloud. The catharsis came just from writing, this time, not from sharing the story.

As a writing workshop facilitator, I often share my work to model for the groups that I work with that it’s okay to share first draft material. It also helps to demonstrate that there is no “guru” in the room—we are all in this together. Sharing my writing is something I have learned to just do.

But before I read my poetry to my therapist, I paused. Not because those pages were too vulnerable—my therapist and I were deeply exploring my emotions around the subject as it was. And I’m clearly used to being vulnerable. But I realized then that the process of writing, alone, was already enough to make me feel better. I was ready to finally let that story go, not to analyze it with my therapist or mine it for its narrative potential.

I’ve spent so much time studying writing, talking about writing, facilitating writing workshops, that I almost forgot how to just write for myself.

Writing can be therapeutic when shared. And writing for publication is a great goal to set out for. It’s certainly beneficial to feel heard. But writing can also be therapeutic when kept between the pages of a notebook, tightly shut, maybe even burned.

It can be hard to write out your full truth when you’re constantly thinking about the reader who will have to interpret it. What if, instead, sometimes the only reader is you?

1. If you are accustomed to writing for publication—don’t stop! Writers can be more than one thing. You can write to publish and write for yourself, too.
   

2. Map out a time that works for you to alleviate guilt. Treat this as part of your health routine. Just like brushing your teeth—dedicate a daily time to write just for you. It can be as short as five minutes.
   

3. Try handwriting over typing. This can help silence the inner critic that wants to hit the backspace button. There’s no need to edit your own thoughts for yourself.
   

4. Burn the page. Seriously! Make yourself comfortable with the impermanence of this kind of work. Release yourself from expectations. Burn. The. Page.

Here are some prompts to get you started …

1. Write about a secret you’ve never told anyone before that’s been weighing on you.
   

2. Dig into your anger—say everything you’ve held back when you were mad.
   

3. Write a letter to someone that you never actually intend to send.
   

4. Write down all of your self-doubts and anxieties.

Writing is an art form, and just like art, not all of it is meant to be consumed by the masses. If it feels more comfortable to keep it to yourself, then you have permission to do just that! Sometimes the art is just in the process of creating and letting it go. Sometimes the art is watching it burn.

About the Author

Lisa Hartsgrove is program coordinator for Project Write Now and program manager for PWN Teen.Lisa Hartsgrove is program coordinator & writing instructor for Project Write Now and program manager for PWN Teen. Lisa has an MFA in creative writing from Goddard College. She has been published in The Pitkin Review, Collage, and The Atlantic Highlands’ Herald. She also took first place in the 2019 Laury Egan HBAC Poetry Contest and third place in the 2014 Jersey Bayshore Writing Contest. Lisa is currently working on a YA novel-in-verse as well as keeping up with a daily “One Sentence a Day” writing project she began in March of 2016. Lisa’s published works can be found here.