Wow, it’s been five years since the New Yorker magazine published the original editing job Gordon Lish did on Raymond Carver’s short story, “Beginners.” You may or may not have heard about the fracas surrounding that publication. And even if you’ve read some of Carver’s work, you might not recognize… Read more“3 Things the Editor Gordon Lish Did Right by Raymond Carver”
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Mugs & Publishers: What’s the Difference? (Is There One?)
Okay, two very disparate things to draw links between today (which linking is, of course, the basic act of all art): MUGS We had a quick chat last week on the writing Lab about whether or not we need these:
7 Aspects of Writing from Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin
I used to listen to the radio so much I actually played it all night when I was a teenager while I slept. Then I stopped for about thirty-five years and just started again this past weekend when it occurred to me it’s a really easy way to listen to… Read more“7 Aspects of Writing from Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin”
29 Guest Posts & Chapter Excerpts
Guess what I just did? That’s right—I accidentally re-posted a blog post from 2011. And someone (Chihuahua Zero) caught it. You’re in high school, Chihuahua. Aren’t you supposed to be doing your homework? Anyway, I have a good excuse: I just spent all morning putting together a page on my… Read more“29 Guest Posts & Chapter Excerpts”
Beyond the 4 Most Common Fiction Mistakes: guest post on the Creative Penn
Joanna Penn, as you all know, has made an impressive name for herself in the online writing community by providing solid, smart self-marketing tips and guidelines for aspiring writers, based on the success of her first novel, Pentacost. She’s also one of the Top 10 Bloggers for Writers 2010-11 with… Read more“Beyond the 4 Most Common Fiction Mistakes: guest post on the Creative Penn”
The 6 Parts of Story in Pictures (Fawns in a Meadow)
Last week we learned who my nemesis is and how they make me the protagonist of my own little terribly heartwrenching story. I was offline all week, during which time I had lots of opportunity to both work in my garden and observe my nemesis observing me. So today I’m… Read more“The 6 Parts of Story in Pictures (Fawns in a Meadow)”
2 Ways to See Yourself Through Your Own Story
Ever since we built our house in the woods, we’ve had a momma deer living on our property. And every fall a handsome young buck has visited her. Now, those deer are not exactly an unmixed blessing in our lives. We haven’t been able to put in a vegetable garden… Read more“2 Ways to See Yourself Through Your Own Story”
Being Interviewed by Rachell X Russell
Rachel X Russell interviewed me ages ago—in fact, it’s one of my favorite interviews ever—but for some reason I can’t find the blog post where I told you all about it. It’s probably somewhere on my site, called something like “How Not to Be a Pirate, or Why Ninjas Make… Read more“Being Interviewed by Rachell X Russell”
Remember: We’re All Lost Together
Remember, we’re all lost together, everywhere the same. —Garry Schyman, Alicia Lemke, & Matt Harding, “We’re Going to Trip the Light” Here’s another story for you all today about how life works and who we are. There’s this guy named Matt. You might know about him. He’s a perfectly ordinary… Read more“Remember: We’re All Lost <em>Together</em>”
3 Famous Authors & the Secret Unpublished Memoir of the Decade:
The Absolute Elsewhere, by Millicent Dillon
This is another of my really long posts, but if you want you can just skim the famous names in bold and go straight to the big, bold title centered at the bottom. That’s the unpublished memoir of the decade. It’s an unbelievable story. Paul Bowles In the first part… Read more“3 Famous Authors & the Secret Unpublished Memoir of the Decade: <br><em>The Absolute Elsewhere</em>, by Millicent Dillon”