Buildwriting: Poetry | Fiction | Non Fiction | Creative Writing

You can spend months polishing a short story and still wonder: Is this actually ready to submit?In this episode of the BuildWriting Podcast, I talk with Trish L. Rodriguez, writer and Editorial Director of Philadelphia Stories, about what editors actually notice when they read short fiction—and how writers can revise their work more effectively.Trish explains why an editor can often tell within the first 200–250 words whether a story is working, why point of view and structure should come before sentence-level polishing, and how to know when you need another revision—or simply need the courage to submit.We also explore feedback, literary magazine submissions, writing contests, rejection, speculative fiction, building a writing community, and the “lingering meaning” that makes a short story memorable.If you're revising a short story, preparing to submit to literary magazines, or trying to become a stronger fiction writer, this conversation will help you look at your work through an editor’s eyes.Join the BuildWriting NewsletterGet writing prompts, publishing tips, creative reflections, and behind-the-scenes notes for writers.👉 https://buildwriting.com/newsletter/Connect With Trish L. Rodriguez🌐 Website: https://www.trishlrodriguezwriter.com/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tljrod/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trish-rodriguez-530aa7226/Philadephia Stories: https://philadelphiastories.org/Chapters00:00 What Editors See That Writers Often Miss01:04 How Trish Became a Writer and Literary Magazine Editor03:27 Why Trish Writes Speculative Short Fiction05:08 How Do You Learn to Become an Editor?06:18 Revising a Short Story Without Over-Editing It08:37 What Editors Look for in the First 200 Words10:02 When Writers Try Too Hard to Hook the Reader12:08 How an Editor Diagnoses a Short Story That Isn't Working13:48 Why You Should Fix Structure Before Polishing Prose14:54 What Makes a Short Story Stand Out in Writing Contests?19:39 A Practical Short Story Revision Process22:24 How to Know When Your Story Is Ready to Submit24:52 When to Stop Revising Old Writing and Move On25:09 How Literary Magazines Build Writing Communities27:18 When a Short Story Wants to Become a Novel30:18 Discovery Writing vs. Outlining a Novel32:10 Writing to Discover Something Outside Yourself33:11 Rapid-Fire Writing and Submission Advice34:10 The One Quality Every Great Short Story Needs34:40 Where to Find Trish and Philadelphia Stories36:08 Closing Thoughts

What does it really take to start a literary magazine—and keep it alive for 20 years?In this episode of the BuildWriting Podcast, I speak with poet, writer, editor and Midway Journal founding editor Ralph Pennel. Ralph takes us behind the scenes of running an independent online literary journal, from selecting boundary-crossing work to navigating rising publishing costs.But creating a literary journal is only the beginning. Keeping one alive requires money, time, editorial labour, community and difficult decisions.In this conversation, Ralph explains:How Midway Journal developed its distinctive editorial identityWhy the journal embraces multimedia and experimental literatureWhat writers gain from thinking like editorsHow literary magazines cover their operating expensesThe role of contests, editing services, merchandise and sponsorshipsWhy many literary magazines struggle to surviveHow online journals make literature more accessibleWhat editors consider before launching a new projectWhy discovering an unpublished writer remains deeply rewardingWhat Midway Journal hopes to build nextIf you are a poet, fiction writer, literary editor or someone considering starting a literary magazine, this conversation offers an honest look at the creative and financial realities behind independent publishing.Listen now to discover what happens on the other side of the submission button—and what it takes to build a literary home that lasts.Connect with Ralph PennelRalph Pennel’s website:https://ralphpennel.com/Ralph on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ralph.l.pennel/Explore Midway Journal:https://midwayjournal.com/Submit your writing to Midway Journal:https://midwayjournal.com/submissions/Follow Midway Journal on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/midway.journal/Subscribe to the Midway Journal Substack:https://midwayjournal.substack.com/Join the BuildWriting NewsletterGet writing prompts, publishing opportunities, creative reflections and practical advice to help you keep writing and strengthen your craft.https://buildwriting.com/newsletter/If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the BuildWriting Podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with a writer who would enjoy seeing what happens behind the scenes of a literary magazine.Chapters00:00 What Happens After You Submit to a Literary Magazine?00:49 Why Midway Journal Was Inspired by the Minnesota State Fair04:30 Creating a Distinctive Literary Magazine Identity07:35 Multimedia Poetry, Audio Fiction and Experimental Literature11:48 Is Ralph Pennel a Poet, Writer or Literary Editor?12:31 How Midway Journal Began in 200613:12 Becoming an Early Online Literary Magazine14:29 What Is the AWP Writing Conference?16:49 Ralph Pennel’s Journey from Writer to Editor18:45 How Midway Journal Survived for 20 Years19:17 Why Literary Magazines Struggle Financially20:19 Submission Fees, Submittable and Publishing Costs22:03 How Literary Magazines Make Money24:01 Contests and Editing Services as Revenue Streams26:32 Advertising and Sponsorships for Literary Journals29:00 Building a Podcast for a Literary Magazine30:32 Using Merchandise to Support Independent Publishing33:24 Who Actually Reads Literary Magazines?35:51 How Literary Journals Can Reach More Readers37:16 The Benefits of Publishing Literature Online38:55 Print-on-Demand and Literary Magazine Anthologies40:13 The Challenges of Operating as a For-Profit Journal42:36 How Editors Decide Which Projects to Prioritise44:32 Becoming a Small-Business Owner Through Publishing46:13 The Joy of Discovering New Writers47:27 Why Literary Magazine Acceptance Matters to Writers48:00 What Is Next for Midway Journal?49:11 Online Readings, Podcasts and the Midway Substack50:15 Where to Find Ralph Pennel and Midway Journal51:13 Join the BuildWriting Writing Community

How do you know when a poem has found the right first line? How much can you cut before it loses what makes it alive? And how do you know when a poem is finally finished?In this episode of BuildWriting, poet, editor, and professor Wayne Miller joins me to explore the craft of writing poetry and short-form literature. We unpack why compression matters, how rhythm gives language its power, what poetry and short stories share, and why every word has to earn its place.Wayne also takes us behind the editor's desk to talk about revision, rejection, literary magazines, first lines, originality, and what years of reading thousands of poetry submissions have taught him about writing that stands out.If you write poetry, flash fiction, short stories, or simply care about making language stronger, this conversation will give you plenty to take back to the page.Connect With Wayne MillerWayne Miller's Websitehttp://waynemillerpoet.com/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/waynemillerpoet/Copper Nickelhttps://copper-nickel.orgWayne mentions his website, Instagram, and Copper Nickel as places to connect with him and explore his work.Join the BuildWriting NewsletterGet writing prompts, craft ideas, publishing insights, and behind-the-scenes notes to help you keep writing and build your craft.Join the BuildWriting newsletter:https://buildwriting.com/newsletter/Chapters00:00 Building a Life Around Writing with Wayne Miller00:48 When Poetry Becomes Something You Have to Write04:39 Why Poetry Needs Compression06:32 How a Poet's Craft Changes Over a Lifetime11:15 The End of Childhood and the Collision of Personal Life and History13:02 The Poem About Violence That Helped Unlock the Book15:03 How Much of a Poem Should Be Autobiographical?18:59 Poetry vs Short Stories: Which Is Harder to Write?23:54 The Secret to Rhythm in Poetry and Prose25:47 How Do You Find the Right First Line?29:25 How Do You Know When a Poem Is Finished?30:34 Why Some Poems Take Years to Finish32:24 How to Keep Writing When Life Gets Busy34:07 Wayne Miller's Poetry Revision Process35:24 When to Listen to Writing Feedback and When to Ignore It37:27 Why Even Successful Poets and Editors Get Rejected37:59 What 16,000 Poetry Submissions Reveal About Publishing39:15 Why Promising Poetry Still Gets Rejected41:15 The Push It Further Lesson Every Writer Needs44:33 What Editing Thousands of Poems Teaches You About Writing47:22 What Wayne Miller Is Reading Right Now49:00 What Wayne Miller Is Writing Next49:43 Where to Find Wayne Miller50:36 Keep Writing and Keep Building Your Craft

What if the stories worth writing aren't hiding in extraordinary experiences, but in the ordinary moments you usually overlook?In this episode of the BuildWriting Podcast, award-winning poet and essayist Sarah Marie Wells joins us to explore how paying closer attention to everyday life can make us better writers.Sarah shares how ordinary conversations, family life, nature, road trips, parenting, and even seemingly insignificant observations can become the starting point for poetry and creative nonfiction. We talk about how she decides whether an idea should become a poem or an essay, why some pieces take an afternoon while others take years, and how writers can capture ideas before they disappear.And if you struggle with editing while you're still trying to create, Sarah offers one of the simplest writing principles from the conversationWhether you write poetry, personal essays, memoir, or other forms of creative nonfiction, this conversation is an invitation to slow down, notice more, and discover how much material already exists in the life you're living.Connect with Sarah M. WellsWebsite:https://sarahmariewells.com/Palace in Time:https://palaceintime.substack.com/Learn more about Sarah's books, poetry, essays, and latest work, To Say One Million Times, Wow!, through her website.Join the BuildWriting NewsletterBecome a better writer one piece at a time.Get writing prompts, practical ideas, behind-the-scenes notes, and resources to help you keep writing and building your craft.https://buildwriting.com/newsletterChapters00:00 Meet poet and essayist Sarah Marie Wells01:20 The inspiration behind To Say One Million Times, Wow!03:52 Why paying attention matters for writers05:41 What does “paying attention” actually mean in writing?07:34 Why every ordinary moment can be worth writing about09:36 How writers know which moments to explore12:53 Turning mundane experiences into meaningful writing15:39 How ordinary moments become deeper stories19:40 Why great writing feels universal21:53 Combining poetry and creative nonfiction24:28 How to decide whether an idea should be a poem or essay27:31 Poetry vs. essays: If Sarah could only choose one28:32 How long does it really take to write a poem or essay?30:46 Turning an old poem into a new essay33:44 Making a living as a professional writer35:46 Why writing doesn't have to feel like suffering37:29 Is your life interesting enough to write about?41:40 Using journals, photos, and notes to capture writing ideas43:45 Building a daily practice of paying attention46:24 Project-based writing vs. writing every day48:22 Write recklessly, edit ruthlessly50:48 Where to find Sarah M. Wells and her work

Join the Buildwriting newsletter for writing prompts, publishing opportunities, practical advice, and behind-the-scenes notes for creative writers:⁠Subscribe to the Buildwriting Newsletter⁠How do you know which literary magazine is right for your writing? What are editors actually looking for—and what should you do when the rejection letters keep arriving?In this episode, I speak with Becky Tuch, a fiction and nonfiction writer and the founder of Lit Mag News. Becky previously founded The Review Review, where she spent years reviewing literary magazines, interviewing editors, and helping writers better understand the submission process.We explore how writers can research literary magazines without becoming overwhelmed, decide whether a publication is the right fit, and build a submission strategy that reflects their goals.Becky also explains why rejection letters often mean far less than writers assume. Whether you are preparing your first literary magazine submission or trying to recover from another round of rejections, this episode offers an honest and practical guide to navigating literary publishing.Connect With Becky TuchRead Lit Mag News:⁠https://litmagnews.substack.com⁠Visit Becky’s website:⁠https://www.beckytuch.com⁠Chapters00:00 Introduction00:52 How Becky entered the world of literary magazines03:17 Why writers should read literary magazines04:59 What causes a promising submission to miss the mark06:26 What editors want from creative nonfiction07:21 Can writers avoid the work of researching publications?09:28 Should you write first or target a magazine first?12:24 Using themed submissions as a writing exercise13:44 Why writers should submit in batches15:07 How to determine whether your work fits a magazine16:45 Researching literary magazines efficiently18:35 Making submissions less stressful and more social19:56 What editors mean when they ask for voice22:28 Why rejection letters mean less than writers think24:42 Becky’s Chicago Quarterly Review acceptance25:51 Do famous writers receive special treatment?27:53 Matching your publication strategy to your goals30:24 The 100 Rejections Challenge32:49 AI, magazine closures, and changes in publishing35:17 The end of NaNoWriMo and what writers can learn from it36:11 Creating more specialized writing challenges40:00 What excites Becky about literary magazines42:10 Opportunities writers may be overlooking43:05 What every writer should understand about publishing45:34 Advice for writers receiving constant rejections47:57 Why Becky continues to write49:39 Where to connect with Becky50:21 Closing