Hi friends, you really need to do this if you're writing anything. mauricecarlosruffin.substack.com/p/yes-you-ne...

I think you should read THE ONES WHO DON'T SAY THEY LOVE you by @mauricenow.bsky.social for a gritty realist tribute to New Orleans wrought with love. bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

Do you have it in you? I think you might. mauricecarlosruffin.substack.com/p/you-need-c...

I don't think it's exaggerating to say that the stark contrast between Delia Deetz in "Beetlejuice" and Kevin's mom in "Home Alone" was the first time it really dawned on me what acting was.

My number one awp tip is leave the inner harbor because you will just find yourself stumbling around an abandoned landscape of dead malls and a rotting bubba gumps looking for meaning

one thing you could definitely talk me into doing at #awp is getting a spontaneous tattoo

I'm very sorry to say I'll be everywhere at AWP Baltimore this week 😅

Start your Black History Month off right with an awesome Black historical novel! This by @mauricenow.bsky.social is amazing! Get into this story of spies in the antebellum!

My former student has a debut novel out. And we're doing an event together! mauricecarlosruffin.substack.com/p/the-interv...

When I turned 40, I had 320 short story rejections and no books published. A few years later, I've published a short story collection and two novels with another on the way. Believe in yourself like someone who loves you.

We can learn from the wise choices we made during difficult times. Those leaps of faith we took that allowed us to fly. mauricecarlosruffin.substack.com/p/you-need-t...

Thank you, Chantal! 👑

Godspeed, bruh🖤

Thank you for the love🖤

Your empathy will never be questioned, if you've truly shown them you cared all along. The right people will always recognize the difference between sincerity and performance.

Coming soon! mauricecarlosruffin.substack.com/p/free-writi...

Thank you to Dr. Greene for this brilliant review of The American Daughters! ourtimepress.com/sowing-the-s...

Dear novelists: thank you. Keep writing. That is all.

I wrote this piece to help writers find their center. mauricecarlosruffin.substack.com/p/you-must-l...

Oh man. I loved interviewing author Cleyvis Natera for The Grand Paloma Resort! mauricecarlosruffin.substack.com/p/interview-...

My Friday newsletter for @niemanstoryboard.org: Featuring @newyorker.com, Jane Mayer, Erika Hayasaki, @lesleymmblume.bsky.social, @vanityfair.com, @mauricenow.bsky.social, @jamiattenberg.bsky.social, and @brendanomeara.bsky.social niemanstoryboard.org/2025/08/08/a...

I'm glad you enjoyed it, Kate!

My Friday newsletter for @niemanstoryboard.org: Featuring @danaawilliams.bsky.social, @cmtapper.bsky.social, @texasmonthly.bsky.social, @mallarytenore.bsky.social, @johnwoodrowcox.bsky.social, @minakimes.bsky.social, @pablo.show, @mauricenow.bsky.social niemanstoryboard.org/2025/07/18/t...

This is my second interview with Oldster. Sari Botton always makes me pay more attention to my time on earth. open.substack.com/pub/mauricec...

You Need to Know Your Value. mauricecarlosruffin.substack.com/p/you-need-t...

Karisma Price's great first short story! joylandpublishing.com/fiction/what...

Catch me in Key West this January. www.kwls.org/writers_work...

Thank y'all. Sold out!

They're running a special. You can buy The American Daughters hard cover for only $9. www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0593...

A reminder: Authoritarian capitalism, in which corporations ally themselves with repressive or anti-democratic political regimes, benefiting from protection and impunity.

Give the photographer the Pulitzer Prize

My Substack is for writers, thinkers, and anyone trying to find their creative way.

THIS SATURDAY. The Souf Got Something to Say.

My Substack is for writers, thinkers, and anyone trying to find their creative way.

I published a new poem in Louisiana. Hold it for me, would you? 64parishes.org/poetry-by-ma...

Hi to all the writers and creators out there. I'm Maurice Carlos Ruffin, author of three fiction books. Follow me on Substack for illuminating essays, interviews, and podcast episodes about the creative experience.

It's always nice to chat with the great Morgan Jerkins! mauricecarlosruffin.substack.com/p/the-interv...

I had thoughts about the plantation burning. Lots of thoughts. time.com/7287295/burn...

The great @mauricenow.bsky.social on the burning of Nottoway and how we look at places with horrific histories time.com/7287295/burn...

Returning with two online craft seminar classes this summer. The first meets on two Sundays in July, a look at several approaches to creating an essay collection, and includes suggested readings and writing prompts for essays, 3 per class. www.theshipmanagency.com/classes/craf...

I had thoughts about the plantation burning. Lots of thoughts. time.com/7287295/burn...

It really is! Only my guy did it three times.

Join me next month!! myfivethings.com/class/mauric...

Be careful of the stories you tell yourself about yourself.

THREAD: So what did I hear at the oral argument in the birthright citizenship case this morning? What was clear from when the cert petition was filed: Trump & his lawyers tried to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Trying to squeeze a win out of his serial losses in federal district courts in….1/

EVENT NEXT WEEK! I’ll be leading a roundtable talk with the wildly talented Mary Annaïse Heglar (@maryannaise.sky.social ) !! We’ll be discussing the topic of “journalism as activism” at the BK House (in the FQ) from 6 to 8 PM! Event info to follow 🧵