Pens and Poison is the literary project of author Liza Libes. Enter a world of literary analyses, cultural critiques, and other hot takes.
| Platform |  | Pricing | Freemium | Publishes | Twice weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issues | 213 | Founded | 2 years ago | Last Issue | 5 days ago |
| Active | |||||
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pensandpoison.orgLatest Issues
10 Authors Who Taught Me More About Writing Than My Columbia Professors
The best writing teachers are dead.
There’s a common misconception in the Substack world and certain other literary circles that the best way to learn to write is by enrolling in an expensive creative writing program, but I beg to differ....
Sally Rooney Is a Terrible Writer. Why Does Everyone Pretend Otherwise?
Sally Rooney deserves to be taken off shelves, but not for the reasons you might think.
This past week, in full agreement with radical Marxist activist Sally Rooney, British publisher Faber & Faber—once home to literary giants such as T. S...
The Literary Establishment Wants to Lobotomize You
Contemporary literature is dying.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that my favorite (somewhat cheeky) claim is that contemporary literature sucks, and, in many ways, it does. Ben Lerner is an emotionless hack, Ottessa M...
Why Crime and Punishment is the Second-Greatest Novel Ever Written
Dostoyevsky understood something about human nature that modern literature has forgotten.
Dostoyevsky might just be the greatest novelist ever to have walked this earth—and I can prove it.
Cathy Ames Is Evil. That’s the Point.
2026 might just be the year of atrocious book-to-movie adaptations.
Back in February, we were subjected to the revolting BDSM fantasy that, for whatever reason, bore the title “Wuthering Heights” (the film, I assure you, has no relation to...
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Authors
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Founder of Pens and Poison, a unique multi-platform project that promotes the love of literature and the humanistic tradition.
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