Don’t Write Alone

Cover Photo: An image of two hands reaching for one another against a pink sky.

First Comes Love, Then Comes the Subplot

For our Romance Week series, novelist Sonya Lalli offers a writing exercise on how to strengthen the romantic subplots in your work.

Sonya Lalli

Feb 16, 2023

Cover Photo: There is a bright yellow background. At the center is a cartoonish drawing in green of a computer and a leafy potted plant. On the screen of the laptop is written "2023 submission and freelancing opportunities"

2023 Submission and Freelance Writing Opportunities

Here’s a full list of submission and freelancing opportunities we’ve shared in 2023, updated twice a month. Bookmark this list to stay up to date on new postings!

Eliza Harris

Feb 16, 2023

Don’t Write Alone | Opportunities

Cover Photo: This photograph shows two people in overalls standing by a red wall. They are holding hands and there is a pinkish tint covering the photograph.

Why Romance Is Important for Young Adult Readers

For our Romance Week series, Maya MacGregor reflects on literature’s unique ability to show readers that they are lovable and worthy of romance—even if the rest of the world is saying otherwise.

Maya MacGregor

Feb 15, 2023

Cover Photo: This photograph is of an open book laying flat on a table. The pages in the center of the are folded inward so they make the shape of a heart. There is an overall pink hue to the photo.

Reading Recommendations for Aspiring Romance Writers

Don’t miss this list of reading recommendations (crowdsourced from Twitter!) for our Romance Week series.

The Editors

Feb 15, 2023

Publishing Is Finally Taking Romance Seriously—and Jasmine Guillory is Here For It

For our Romance Week series, Arriel Vinson interviews bestselling novelist Jasmine Guillory about the past, present, and future of the romance genre.

Arriel Vinson

Feb 14, 2023

Cover Photo: This is an illustration of a woman holding a book in front of half her face. The book cover has a woman's and man's face looking at each other smiling. The woman's face on the cover matches up with the real womans face. In the background are drawings of heart shaped candy with "pros" and "cons" written on them.

Should I Self-Publish My Romance Novel?

For our Romance Week series, Bryn Donovan breaks down the pros and cons of self publishing as a romance writer.

Bryn Donovan

Feb 14, 2023

Don’t Write Alone | Shop Talk

Cover Photo: This illustration shows two people reaching across to each other while standing in the middle of a maze-like path. Overall, the drawing has lots of hues of pinks and purples.

The Art of Romantic Tension

For our Romance Week series, novelist LaQuette shares essential lessons on building narrative tension by manipulating your characters’ goals, motivations, and conflicts.

LaQuette .

Feb 13, 2023

Don’t Write Alone | Notes On Craft

Cover Photo: This photograph is of two people sitting on a hill next to a large tree, watching the sunset. The photograph is overlaid with a pinkish hue.

Writing the Big Reveal in Romance

For our Romance Week series, instructor and novelist Bryn Donovan shares an exercise that will help you explore internal conflict between your romance protagonists.

Bryn Donovan

Feb 13, 2023

Cover Photo: This photographs looks at a road driving through a desert and toward some low mountains. The sky has been put through a long exposure, so we see the stars spinning in concentric circles, like waves moving out from where a stone was dropped in a still pool of water.

So You’re Writing an Essay. But What Is It Really About?

To get from a pile of ideas to one essay, I ask myself three questions: What is this essay about? What’s it really about? What is it really, really about?

Anna Held

Feb 09, 2023

Don’t Write Alone | Toolkit

Cover Photo: This is a photo of a hand holding a pencil over a sketchpad. There are twelve small boxes drawn on the sketchpad. In each box is a rough drawing of a scene or person.

Make a Comic by Drawing the Little Things

Pick one aspect of your day to expand into a short-form comic.

Sofia Warren

Feb 08, 2023

Jennifer Maritza McCauley Believes That Home Is a Feeling, Not a Place

In this interview, Jennifer Maritza McCauley discusses her debut story collection ‘When Trying to Return Home,’ the power of female kinship, and the allure of the short fiction format.

Vanessa Genao

Feb 07, 2023

Cover Photo: This photograph shows a globe of the earth with constellations drawn over the top of it.

As a Writer, I Let Astrology Guide Me (Up to a Point)

Though astrology has let me down, I continue to consult the stars. I’m trying to let go of expectations while giving space for hope.

Rachel León

Feb 06, 2023

Matthew Salesses Believes Being Better People Makes Us Better Writers

Akanksha Singh interviews Matthew Salesses about his new novel “The Sense of Wonder,” decolonizing storytelling, and what K-dramas can teach us about plot.

Akanksha Singh

Feb 02, 2023

Cover Photo: This photograph shows a mussed but clean-looking hotel bed snuggled against a large, partially-curtained window with blue skies peeking through it.

During Hectic Times, Hotels Offered Me a Safe, Quiet Place to Write

My getaways made me realize how the hotel industry has missed an economic and ethical opportunity by not marketing discounted rooms to locals.

Jessica Machado

Feb 01, 2023

Don’t Write Alone | Where We Write

Liz Harmer Is Working Out Thorny Moral Questions

Jean March Ah-Sen interviews Liz Harmer about her new novel ‘Strange Loops,’ crises of faith, and the mysteries of existence.

Jean Marc Ah-Sen

Jan 31, 2023

Cover Photo: The background of this image is an illustration of stacked books. In front are Polaroid pictures of each member of the Catapult production department.

What Is Book Production?

A roundtable discussion with the production department of Catapult books.

Eliza Harris

Jan 30, 2023

Don’t Write Alone | Shop Talk

Cover Photo: This image has a bright blue background with a graphic of a computer in the center of the image. The computer screen reads "2023 Writing Job Opportunities"

Writing Jobs In Media and Publishing

This list of job opportunities for writers is updated at least twice a month. Bookmark this page to say up to date on new postings!

The Editors

Jan 26, 2023

Don’t Write Alone | Opportunities

Cover Photo: This header image has a background illustration of many stacks of books. In the foreground, there are headshots of each of seven the participant's in polaroid-like frames.

Interning In the Publishing Industry

A roundtable discussion with Catapult’s current and past interns.

Alyssa Lo

Jan 26, 2023

Don’t Write Alone | Shop Talk

Cover Photo: This photograph shows a line of hikers climbing up a ridge as the sky begins to darken in color, as if the sun has just set.

Reimagining Language and Our Own Stories

How can we write about language in a way that feels meaningful? Try out this prompt from instructor Jenna Tang to use language as a lens through which to tell stories.

Jenna Tang

Jan 25, 2023