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How do you write poetry about painful history without turning the poem into a history lesson—or telling the reader exactly what they should think?

In this episode of BuildWriting, poet Julie L. Moore, author of Devil’s Backbone, joins me to explore the craft and responsibility involved in writing about difficult history. We talk about research, historical truth, finding your place inside a story, knowing when you may be crossing a line, avoiding sentimentality and preaching, and why some subjects require years of reading, revision, and humility.

Julie also shares the decade-long journey behind Devil’s Backbone, how feedback changed poems she initially thought would work, why writers need to read far more than they write, and what it means for a poem to create a full-body experience rather than simply communicate an idea.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How Julie returned seriously to poetry after years of teaching

• Why reading became her substitute for an MFA

• The experiences that eventually became Devil’s Backbone

• Researching history before trying to write about it

• Finding your ethical position inside a historical story

• Writing beyond your own lived experience without appropriating another voice

• Knowing when discomfort means “keep going” versus “stop”

• How to avoid making political or historical poetry preachy

• Historical fact versus poetic truth

• Whether poems about horrific subjects can still be beautiful

• Why humility and feedback matter when writing difficult material

• What writers should do when they're terrified of getting history wrong

• Why curiosity may be a writer's most important quality

Connect with Julie L. Moore

Website: https://julielmoore.com/

Book: Devil’s Backbone — available through Wildhouse Publishing, Bookshop, and other major booksellers.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to BuildWriting, share it with another writer, and leave a rating or review. It helps more poets and creative writers discover the show.

Keep writing. Keep building your craft.

Chapters

00:00 — Writing painful history without preaching
01:01 — Julie's earliest life as a writer
06:32 — The moment she returned to writing
11:28 — The fear of never writing her book
13:50 — Reading as a writing education
14:07 — Where Devil’s Backbone began
18:35 — When individual poems became a collection
22:28 — Artistic curiosity vs. fascination with trauma
25:15 — How much research is enough?
29:24 — Where do you belong in the story?
31:21 — Knowing when you've crossed a line
37:07 — When does a poem become preachy?
40:43 — Historical fact vs. poetic truth
46:38 — Can horrific poetry still be beautiful?
49:14 — How Devil’s Backbone changed Julie as a writer
52:25 — Advice for writing difficult history
55:12 — What should a historical poem do to the reader?
57:43 — Rapid-fire questions
1:01:57 — Persistence, curiosity, courage & discipline
1:04:13 — Where to find Julie and Devil’s Backbone

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 Newsletter

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👉 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/

Chapters

00:00 What Editors See That Writers Often Miss
01:04 How Trish Became a Writer and Literary Magazine Editor
03:27 Why Trish Writes Speculative Short Fiction
05:08 How Do You Learn to Become an Editor?
06:18 Revising a Short Story Without Over-Editing It
08:37 What Editors Look for in the First 200 Words
10:02 When Writers Try Too Hard to Hook the Reader
12:08 How an Editor Diagnoses a Short Story That Isn't Working
13:48 Why You Should Fix Structure Before Polishing Prose
14:54 What Makes a Short Story Stand Out in Writing Contests?
19:39 A Practical Short Story Revision Process
22:24 How to Know When Your Story Is Ready to Submit
24:52 When to Stop Revising Old Writing and Move On
25:09 How Literary Magazines Build Writing Communities
27:18 When a Short Story Wants to Become a Novel
30:18 Discovery Writing vs. Outlining a Novel
32:10 Writing to Discover Something Outside Yourself
33:11 Rapid-Fire Writing and Submission Advice
34:10 The One Quality Every Great Short Story Needs
34:40 Where to Find Trish and Philadelphia Stories
36:08 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 identity

Why the journal embraces multimedia and experimental literature

What writers gain from thinking like editors

How literary magazines cover their operating expenses

The role of contests, editing services, merchandise and sponsorships

Why many literary magazines struggle to survive

How online journals make literature more accessible

What editors consider before launching a new project

Why discovering an unpublished writer remains deeply rewarding

What Midway Journal hopes to build next

If 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 Pennel

Ralph 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 Newsletter

Get 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.

Chapters

00:00 What Happens After You Submit to a Literary Magazine?

00:49 Why Midway Journal Was Inspired by the Minnesota State Fair

04:30 Creating a Distinctive Literary Magazine Identity

07:35 Multimedia Poetry, Audio Fiction and Experimental Literature

11:48 Is Ralph Pennel a Poet, Writer or Literary Editor?

12:31 How Midway Journal Began in 2006

13:12 Becoming an Early Online Literary Magazine

14:29 What Is the AWP Writing Conference?

16:49 Ralph Pennel’s Journey from Writer to Editor

18:45 How Midway Journal Survived for 20 Years

19:17 Why Literary Magazines Struggle Financially

20:19 Submission Fees, Submittable and Publishing Costs

22:03 How Literary Magazines Make Money

24:01 Contests and Editing Services as Revenue Streams

26:32 Advertising and Sponsorships for Literary Journals

29:00 Building a Podcast for a Literary Magazine

30:32 Using Merchandise to Support Independent Publishing

33:24 Who Actually Reads Literary Magazines?

35:51 How Literary Journals Can Reach More Readers

37:16 The Benefits of Publishing Literature Online

38:55 Print-on-Demand and Literary Magazine Anthologies

40:13 The Challenges of Operating as a For-Profit Journal

42:36 How Editors Decide Which Projects to Prioritise

44:32 Becoming a Small-Business Owner Through Publishing

46:13 The Joy of Discovering New Writers

47:27 Why Literary Magazine Acceptance Matters to Writers

48:00 What Is Next for Midway Journal?

49:11 Online Readings, Podcasts and the Midway Substack

50:15 Where to Find Ralph Pennel and Midway Journal

51:13 Join the BuildWriting Writing Community