In today’s news of excellent writers: at Esquire, Jesmyn Ward talked with Kiese Laymon.

Mensah Demary was interviewed at Atticus Review.

Nina McConigley has some book recommendations for the holiday season.

At Ad Hoc, Ric Leichtung looks at the current state of Brooklyn DIY spaces and notes his own experiences with 285 Kent.

At Full Stop: notes on Claudia Rankine’s Citizen.

Chumped’s Anika Pyle on women, punk, and 2014.

Cynthia Ann Schemmer has an affecting year-end list at The Media.

Feel like reading holiday-themed stories from the likes of Bijan Stephen, Jazmine Hughes, and Kyle Chayka?

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