Off Assignment
@offassignment.bsky.social
A non-profit literary magazine with a penchant for journeys and a fascination with strangers.
Subscribe: https://mailchi.mp/offassignment/off-assignment-newsletter
Subscribe: https://mailchi.mp/offassignment/off-assignment-newsletter
We're delighted to announce Carey Baraka is now our Editor-at-Large! Since 2022, Carey has played an instrumental role in curating and editing OA essays from a wide range of international writers. Raising a virtual toast to an editor extraordinaire, and here's to many more astounding essays to come!
August 11, 2025 at 11:55 AM
We're delighted to announce Carey Baraka is now our Editor-at-Large! Since 2022, Carey has played an instrumental role in curating and editing OA essays from a wide range of international writers. Raising a virtual toast to an editor extraordinaire, and here's to many more astounding essays to come!
In our latest "Letter to a Stranger" essay by Emily Lowe, we learn to leave the trail and follow the tracks. It may be reckless, but the desire for an adventure, and the desire to be part of her father's epic tales at the campfire, drove Emily onwards.
Read the essay buff.ly/7DdNV0r
Read the essay buff.ly/7DdNV0r
August 6, 2025 at 2:04 PM
In our latest "Letter to a Stranger" essay by Emily Lowe, we learn to leave the trail and follow the tracks. It may be reckless, but the desire for an adventure, and the desire to be part of her father's epic tales at the campfire, drove Emily onwards.
Read the essay buff.ly/7DdNV0r
Read the essay buff.ly/7DdNV0r
This week, we're reading about how young womanhood, and its implications for marriage, has evolved in media; the lessons to be learned from fish while navigating queerness (@elizabethendicott.bsky.social); and a deep dive on a ubiquitous font in Manhattan (@aresluna.org): buff.ly/6tBGqM0
August 3, 2025 at 1:56 PM
This week, we're reading about how young womanhood, and its implications for marriage, has evolved in media; the lessons to be learned from fish while navigating queerness (@elizabethendicott.bsky.social); and a deep dive on a ubiquitous font in Manhattan (@aresluna.org): buff.ly/6tBGqM0
Take a look behind this week's "Letter to a Stranger" essay as writer Emily Lowe reflects on connecting with nature, bending the rules, and finding new ways to approach the bear that has haunted her stories over the years.
Read the full Q&A through the newsletter: buff.ly/6tBGqM0
Read the full Q&A through the newsletter: buff.ly/6tBGqM0
August 1, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Take a look behind this week's "Letter to a Stranger" essay as writer Emily Lowe reflects on connecting with nature, bending the rules, and finding new ways to approach the bear that has haunted her stories over the years.
Read the full Q&A through the newsletter: buff.ly/6tBGqM0
Read the full Q&A through the newsletter: buff.ly/6tBGqM0
We're thrilled to have incredible authors Steve Almond, @meghamaj.bsky.social, Anthony Doerr, Camille Dungy, and @sarahmanguso.bsky.social teaching our "Writing Desire" Masters' Series course this November. Bring your burning questions for this stellar group and register here: buff.ly/CUo4EhW
July 31, 2025 at 5:32 PM
We're thrilled to have incredible authors Steve Almond, @meghamaj.bsky.social, Anthony Doerr, Camille Dungy, and @sarahmanguso.bsky.social teaching our "Writing Desire" Masters' Series course this November. Bring your burning questions for this stellar group and register here: buff.ly/CUo4EhW
In this week's new essay, we meet a bear. We follow its paw prints through the woods, imagine it scarfing down berries, and, through it all, feel the wonder and trust of a daughter ready to follow her father anywhere.
Read this heartbreakingly tender essay by Emily Lowe: buff.ly/7DdNV0r
Read this heartbreakingly tender essay by Emily Lowe: buff.ly/7DdNV0r
July 30, 2025 at 3:41 PM
In this week's new essay, we meet a bear. We follow its paw prints through the woods, imagine it scarfing down berries, and, through it all, feel the wonder and trust of a daughter ready to follow her father anywhere.
Read this heartbreakingly tender essay by Emily Lowe: buff.ly/7DdNV0r
Read this heartbreakingly tender essay by Emily Lowe: buff.ly/7DdNV0r
She's taught two OA courses and been a guest at another: Chloé Caldwell's pretty popular around here. So let's congratulate her on her new memoir! Mia Arias Tsang, a guest author at Chloé's most recent OA course, joins her on tour, and catch OA contributors Leslie Jamison & Michelle Tea in NYC & LA!
July 26, 2025 at 4:08 PM
She's taught two OA courses and been a guest at another: Chloé Caldwell's pretty popular around here. So let's congratulate her on her new memoir! Mia Arias Tsang, a guest author at Chloé's most recent OA course, joins her on tour, and catch OA contributors Leslie Jamison & Michelle Tea in NYC & LA!
At Off Assignment, we think a lot about platforming writing outside the western-centric canon of travel literature. Join travel writers Faith Adiele, Pier Nirandara, Carey Baraka, Bani Amor, and @noosarowiwa.bsky.social to reimagine travel writing through these perspectives. buff.ly/OkswTkm
July 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
At Off Assignment, we think a lot about platforming writing outside the western-centric canon of travel literature. Join travel writers Faith Adiele, Pier Nirandara, Carey Baraka, Bani Amor, and @noosarowiwa.bsky.social to reimagine travel writing through these perspectives. buff.ly/OkswTkm
What does it mean to say goodbye: Is it a definitive act, a threshold? In her "Behind the Essay" interview, Holly Brickley looks back on how the farewell essay taught her the place she's writing about cannot truly be left.
Read the full interview in our newsletter: buff.ly/Ub9gkn4
Read the full interview in our newsletter: buff.ly/Ub9gkn4
July 24, 2025 at 3:50 PM
What does it mean to say goodbye: Is it a definitive act, a threshold? In her "Behind the Essay" interview, Holly Brickley looks back on how the farewell essay taught her the place she's writing about cannot truly be left.
Read the full interview in our newsletter: buff.ly/Ub9gkn4
Read the full interview in our newsletter: buff.ly/Ub9gkn4
Per Leslie Jamison, reading @margosteines.bsky.social's writing is "journeying to the center of the earth, except the earth is a human body." Learn from Margo, @christinajcooke.bsky.social @porochista.bsky.social @sarahmanguso.bsky.social & Krys Malcom Belc in "Writing the Body." buff.ly/JOxfnwQ
July 23, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Per Leslie Jamison, reading @margosteines.bsky.social's writing is "journeying to the center of the earth, except the earth is a human body." Learn from Margo, @christinajcooke.bsky.social @porochista.bsky.social @sarahmanguso.bsky.social & Krys Malcom Belc in "Writing the Body." buff.ly/JOxfnwQ
This one's for all of you who have read picture books to kids and thought: I want to write one too! For dreamers, professionals, and all in between: join @kyomaclear.bsky.social, @dirtbagg.bsky.social, @matthewburgessj.bsky.social, X Fang, & @bottomshelfbks.bsky.social in September. buff.ly/lCHPVNT
July 21, 2025 at 2:32 PM
This one's for all of you who have read picture books to kids and thought: I want to write one too! For dreamers, professionals, and all in between: join @kyomaclear.bsky.social, @dirtbagg.bsky.social, @matthewburgessj.bsky.social, X Fang, & @bottomshelfbks.bsky.social in September. buff.ly/lCHPVNT
This week, we're reading: an article on beavers' 50 years as Canada's national symbol by @brianbanks.bsky.social, a story about the haunting of a mill town by Rebecca Turkewitz, and an essay on shifting landscapes and disasters by Erica Berry.
These and more in our newsletter: buff.ly/nM5NgsI
These and more in our newsletter: buff.ly/nM5NgsI
July 20, 2025 at 3:40 PM
This week, we're reading: an article on beavers' 50 years as Canada's national symbol by @brianbanks.bsky.social, a story about the haunting of a mill town by Rebecca Turkewitz, and an essay on shifting landscapes and disasters by Erica Berry.
These and more in our newsletter: buff.ly/nM5NgsI
These and more in our newsletter: buff.ly/nM5NgsI
OA editors @aubereylescure.bsky.social & Tusshara reunited in London! They talked about writing communities, what it means to travel back to same city again and again, and Aube’s preparation for her Masters' Series course “Writing Autofiction.” We love international reunions in our far-flung team! 🥰
July 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM
OA editors @aubereylescure.bsky.social & Tusshara reunited in London! They talked about writing communities, what it means to travel back to same city again and again, and Aube’s preparation for her Masters' Series course “Writing Autofiction.” We love international reunions in our far-flung team! 🥰
In this Masters' Series course w Rachel Khong and guest authors Shruti Swamy, @rubenwrites.bsky.social, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, & Hilary Leichter, we’ll engage in the practice of imagination—the bedrock of all fiction.
Learn more & register (early bird discount expires Sunday!): buff.ly/Jn7zKUJ
Learn more & register (early bird discount expires Sunday!): buff.ly/Jn7zKUJ
July 17, 2025 at 4:43 PM
In this Masters' Series course w Rachel Khong and guest authors Shruti Swamy, @rubenwrites.bsky.social, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, & Hilary Leichter, we’ll engage in the practice of imagination—the bedrock of all fiction.
Learn more & register (early bird discount expires Sunday!): buff.ly/Jn7zKUJ
Learn more & register (early bird discount expires Sunday!): buff.ly/Jn7zKUJ
To Holly Brickley, San Francisco meant anticipation: cotton-candy houses and street punks. She'd always imagined moving there to be a writer, but when she did, what happened next she could never have anticipated. Read this electric second essay in our "Goodbye to that Place" column: buff.ly/FYX73nl
July 16, 2025 at 3:26 PM
To Holly Brickley, San Francisco meant anticipation: cotton-candy houses and street punks. She'd always imagined moving there to be a writer, but when she did, what happened next she could never have anticipated. Read this electric second essay in our "Goodbye to that Place" column: buff.ly/FYX73nl
This intensive (but free-wheeling) course will focus on desire as an engine of literary creation. Join Steve Almond w guest authors Camille Dungy, @meghamaj.bsky.social,
@sarahmanguso.bsky.social, & Anthony Doerr this fall to explore this most human of experiences: buff.ly/CUo4EhW
@sarahmanguso.bsky.social, & Anthony Doerr this fall to explore this most human of experiences: buff.ly/CUo4EhW
July 14, 2025 at 3:40 PM
This intensive (but free-wheeling) course will focus on desire as an engine of literary creation. Join Steve Almond w guest authors Camille Dungy, @meghamaj.bsky.social,
@sarahmanguso.bsky.social, & Anthony Doerr this fall to explore this most human of experiences: buff.ly/CUo4EhW
@sarahmanguso.bsky.social, & Anthony Doerr this fall to explore this most human of experiences: buff.ly/CUo4EhW
How often do we assign an entire imagined role—sometimes a villainous one—to a stranger? In @maggiedowns.bsky.social's essay, a group hike on the Inca Trail comes w both thinning air and thinning patience before things take a surprising turn.
Read here: buff.ly/jC7Fjma
Read here: buff.ly/jC7Fjma
July 13, 2025 at 9:37 PM
How often do we assign an entire imagined role—sometimes a villainous one—to a stranger? In @maggiedowns.bsky.social's essay, a group hike on the Inca Trail comes w both thinning air and thinning patience before things take a surprising turn.
Read here: buff.ly/jC7Fjma
Read here: buff.ly/jC7Fjma
Last chance to sign up for "Writing the Book Proposal," starting this Monday July 14. Join Raksha Vasudevan, @graywolfpress.bsky.social editor Anni Liu, literary agent Noelle Falcis-Math, and acclaimed writers Elisa Gabbert & @laurenmarkham.bsky.social to finalize your proposal: buff.ly/d0NTkxb
July 12, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Last chance to sign up for "Writing the Book Proposal," starting this Monday July 14. Join Raksha Vasudevan, @graywolfpress.bsky.social editor Anni Liu, literary agent Noelle Falcis-Math, and acclaimed writers Elisa Gabbert & @laurenmarkham.bsky.social to finalize your proposal: buff.ly/d0NTkxb
It's become an annual tradition: OA editors (and bffs) Anya Tchoupakov (@anyatchoup) & @aubereylescure.bsky.social on a Provençal terrace, snacking on saucissons and iced tea while staring down spreadsheets, discussing brilliant essay drafts, & brainstorming future OA hangs. #workingoffassignment
July 11, 2025 at 9:35 PM
It's become an annual tradition: OA editors (and bffs) Anya Tchoupakov (@anyatchoup) & @aubereylescure.bsky.social on a Provençal terrace, snacking on saucissons and iced tea while staring down spreadsheets, discussing brilliant essay drafts, & brainstorming future OA hangs. #workingoffassignment
If you've had a tab open for weeks with Greg Marshall "Writing Humor" Masters' Series course, now is the time to register! Class starts this Sunday June 13th! Imbue your writing with humor alongside Greg, Sloane Crosley, Ben Phillipe, Parini Shroff, & @csittenfeld.bsky.social: buff.ly/ltjyNxo
July 10, 2025 at 8:30 PM
If you've had a tab open for weeks with Greg Marshall "Writing Humor" Masters' Series course, now is the time to register! Class starts this Sunday June 13th! Imbue your writing with humor alongside Greg, Sloane Crosley, Ben Phillipe, Parini Shroff, & @csittenfeld.bsky.social: buff.ly/ltjyNxo
How do we occupy our bodies, what do we do with them, how do we feel in them? Explore this and more in our popular "Writing the Body" course w @margosteines.bsky.social, @christinajcooke.bsky.social, @porochista.bsky.social, @sarahmanguso.bsky.social, & Krys Malcolm Belc. buff.ly/JOxfnwQ
July 8, 2025 at 5:16 PM
How do we occupy our bodies, what do we do with them, how do we feel in them? Explore this and more in our popular "Writing the Body" course w @margosteines.bsky.social, @christinajcooke.bsky.social, @porochista.bsky.social, @sarahmanguso.bsky.social, & Krys Malcolm Belc. buff.ly/JOxfnwQ
This week, we're reading: Chloé Caldwell's tell-all about selling her book WOMEN on dating apps; @mrbrianbenson.bsky.social's flash piece on the bane of existence that is 3:27pm; & Megan Marshall's essay on the left-handed women in her family, drawn from her book AFTER LIVES.
Read: buff.ly/6J14g1M
Read: buff.ly/6J14g1M
July 7, 2025 at 10:07 AM
This week, we're reading: Chloé Caldwell's tell-all about selling her book WOMEN on dating apps; @mrbrianbenson.bsky.social's flash piece on the bane of existence that is 3:27pm; & Megan Marshall's essay on the left-handed women in her family, drawn from her book AFTER LIVES.
Read: buff.ly/6J14g1M
Read: buff.ly/6J14g1M
In Raksha Vasudevan's Writing the Book Proposal, literary agent Noelle Falcis-Math and editor Anni Liu will share what makes a book proposal stand out, while Elisa Gabbert and @laurenmarkham.bsky.social will explain how they wrote, refined, & sold their proposals. Register: buff.ly/d0NTkxb
July 6, 2025 at 4:47 PM
In Raksha Vasudevan's Writing the Book Proposal, literary agent Noelle Falcis-Math and editor Anni Liu will share what makes a book proposal stand out, while Elisa Gabbert and @laurenmarkham.bsky.social will explain how they wrote, refined, & sold their proposals. Register: buff.ly/d0NTkxb
Walking literature is a rich genre of its own—but how can walking itself translate into your written work? In this week's newsletter, @maggiedowns.bsky.social discusses what got her started on the trail, and her approach to writing about hikes and pitfalls to avoid.
Read: buff.ly/6J14g1M
Read: buff.ly/6J14g1M
July 5, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Walking literature is a rich genre of its own—but how can walking itself translate into your written work? In this week's newsletter, @maggiedowns.bsky.social discusses what got her started on the trail, and her approach to writing about hikes and pitfalls to avoid.
Read: buff.ly/6J14g1M
Read: buff.ly/6J14g1M
Award-winning travel writer Faith Adiele invites you to push the possibilities of travel writing. Get ready for transformative discussions on decolonizing language and structure, considering how your voice interacts with the voices of others in your work, and more.
Register here: buff.ly/MVu3716
Register here: buff.ly/MVu3716
July 3, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Award-winning travel writer Faith Adiele invites you to push the possibilities of travel writing. Get ready for transformative discussions on decolonizing language and structure, considering how your voice interacts with the voices of others in your work, and more.
Register here: buff.ly/MVu3716
Register here: buff.ly/MVu3716