| Acknowledgments | |
| Introduction: From Inspiration to Publication | |
| Concepts of Craft: Imagination's Many Forms | |
| Fiction vs. Nonfiction: Wherein Lies the Truth? | p. 3 |
| Paths and Pearls: A Poet Ponders Memoir and Lyric | p. 10 |
| On Essays, Literature's Most Misunderstood Form | p. 19 |
| The Lingerie Theory of Narration | p. 25 |
| Stuff: The Power of the Tangible | p. 33 |
| Push Hands: Balancing Resistance and Revision | p. 44 |
| The Trouble with Titles | p. 50 |
| Initial Contact: Getting Your Work off Your Desk and onto Someone Else's | |
| Loose Bottoms: On Becoming Ready to Send Your Work Out | p. 57 |
| Submission Strategy and Protocol | p. 62 |
| Little and Literary | p. 67 |
| The Glossies | p. 73 |
| How to Read Rejection | p. 83 |
| How to Get a Grant | p. 93 |
| Building Your Team: How to Work Well with Publishing Professionals | |
| How to Land an Agent: Strategies for the Search | p. 105 |
| Negotiate Your First Book Contract Without Losing Your Deal, Your Future, or Your Mind | p. 118 |
| Editor Etiquette | p. 129 |
| Midlist and Other Fictions | p. 135 |
| Publicity Primer | p. 143 |
| How to Win Friends and Influence Booksellers | p. 150 |
| How Lucky Can You Get ... and Other Things No One Tells You | p. 157 |
| Meeting Your Public (and Getting Them to Buy Your Book) | |
| Publicity for Your Small Press Title | p. 167 |
| Techno Promo: Are You Ready for Digital Marketing? | p. 175 |
| Bookstore Appearances and Speaking Engagements | p. 182 |
| How to Give a Rousing Reading | p. 189 |
| Slam Your Way Across America | p. 195 |
| Jobs in the Field: Lots of Reward, Little Pay | |
| So You Want to Start a Literary Magazine? | p. 203 |
| Editing Lit Mags Online | p. 213 |
| How to Start a Reading Series | p. 218 |
| Tales of a Literary Saloon Keeper | p. 225 |
| Balancing Act: Teaching Creative Writing | p. 231 |
| Why I Write | p. 237 |
| App.: Grants & Awards | p. 247 |
| App.: Conferences & Residencies | p. 311 |
| App.: Resources for Writers | p. 333 |
| App.: Notes on Contributors | p. 345 |
| App.: About Poets & Writers, Inc | p. 351 |
| Index | p. 357 |