Today we'd like to share a piece published on McSweeney's - a reflection of the advice writers commonly give and get for improving their craft. "The Ultimate Guide to Writing Better Than You Normally Do" is by Colin Nissan.

Every novelist's work contains an implicit vision of the history of the novel, an idea of what the novel is. I have tried to express here the idea of the novel that is inherent in my own novels. -- Milan Kundera

Today the Mark Blog recommends The Art of the Novel by Milan Kunera, the Franco-Czech novelist and literary critic. It is a worthy read for any writer and anyone interested in world literature.

Writers' Reel is a weekly video feature. Please enjoy this video of author Lydia Davis giving a master class to students.

Writers' Reel is a weekly video feature. This week we've shared a video of Zadie Smith reading from her essay collection Changing My Mind. The video incorporates Smith in conversation with the Director of Public Programs at the New York Public Library

Changing My Mind explores a range of topics including literature, movies, going to the Oscars, British comedy, family, feminism, Obama, David Foster Wallace, and Katharine Hepburn.