Brooke Passey: Top Ten Literary Newsletters

Before I started as an intern for Superstition Review, I wasn’t aware that most literary magazines and organizations send out biweekly newsletters. As I’ve become more acquainted with the literary scene, I’ve realized just how much information I have been missing. Let’s talk about why newsletters in general are so great.

First of all, newsletters are one of the best resources for compact and relevant literary information. They cover literary news, updates and advice from published authors, upcoming literary events, and articles on a wide range of beneficial writing topics.

Better yet, the information comes to you—delivered right to your inbox. Other sources of information such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google Reader are useful, but newsletters allow you to get the information as soon as it is published. Most newsletters are monthly or biweekly, so they won’t ever crowd your inbox.

Most importantly, they’re free! And who doesn’t like free things? Especially free things that help you to become a better writer, be involved in a network with successful authors, and stay up to date in the field.

Over the last few months I have subscribed to over 20 newsletters not only to improve my own writing skills, but also to take advantage of all the beneficial, interesting, and free information. Here are my top 10 newsletters. They are my favorites because they have consistently provided fresh and useful information along with dependable resources.

  1. Poets & Writers http://www.pw.org
  2. Poets.org https://www.poets.org
  3. The Paris Review http://www.theparisreview.org
  4. The Review Review http://www.thereviewreview.net
  5. The Nervous Breakdown http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com
  6. Tin House http://www.tinhouse.com
  7. Creative Nonfiction https://www.creativenonfiction.org
  8. Willow Springs http://willowsprings.ewu.edu
  9. Five Points http://www.fivepoints.gsu.edu
  10. Kenyon Review http://www.kenyonreview.org

And of course I recommend our own newsletter here at Superstition Review. Even my own mother subscribed recently. So join our mailing list by clicking here.

8 thoughts on “Brooke Passey: Top Ten Literary Newsletters

  • October 29, 2012 at 2:31 pm
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    I agree, Brooke! I also love the convenience of receiving the newsletter straight to my e-mail. I try and get on social networking sites daily to check out updates, but it’s great to get all the condensed information in these bi-weekly newsletters.

    Some of my favorites are Literary Bohemian, also The Review Review (I love how they recently started their newsletter with “Greetings Lit Magnolias”), Electric Literature, etc. I wish all online literary magazines had e-mail subscriptions!

    I’ll have to add the lit mags on your list that I’m not already subscribed to. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  • November 2, 2012 at 8:40 am
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    Thanks Amanda! I’m glad you mentioned Literary Bohemian and Electric Literature, I will have to add them to my list 🙂

  • November 3, 2012 at 11:19 pm
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    I completely agree! I never realized all that was available to writers, and newsletters are a great source of information. It helps writers stay connected on what’s happening in the literary world.But I agree with Amanda, there aren’t enough literary magazines that have newsletters.

    • November 16, 2012 at 10:58 am
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      I also wish there were more…but then again I already have more reading material than I can keep up with! Luckily the newsletters that are available are pretty resourceful.

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