>Read Literary Magazines

>That’s good advice for everybody, but it’s especially good advice for writers who want to publish work in those magazines–or anywhere else for that…

>The New Yorker: "Midnight in Dostoevsky" by Don DeLillo

>This story is going directly onto my top-ten list for the year. I enjoyed this more than any DeLillo I’ve read, and I’m going…

>I’m leaving!

>I mean, I’m going outside on a lovely fall afternoon to rake some leaves. In past years I have let the wind blow the…

>"You lie!"

>No, this isn’t about Joe Wilson’s rude outburst during President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress. It’s about one of my many…

>Status Update: Work in Progress

>I’ve been working on my novel (all the livelong day . . .) and it’s coming along. I’d say that it’s coming along nicely,…

>Giving Thanks

>It’s the day, after all, and here it is: Life is good. I am a very fortunate man. I worked very hard for years…

>NYT 100 Notable Books of 2009

>Here’s the list of the New York Times 100 Notable Books of the Year. Surprises? I’m happy to see Brad Leithauser’s new book, The…

>Top Books of 2009

>Lots of lists floating around about the best books of the year. I haven’t really focused on them much, but here’s a manageable list…

>Reading at Blue Ridge Community College — December 1

>On Tuesday, December 1, at 12:30 pm, as part of the Blue Ridge Community College Brown Bag Speaker Series, I’ll be giving a reading…

>The New Yorker Story of the Year — 2009: Nominations are Open

>For the past couple of years I have been commenting on each piece of fiction appearing in The New Yorker, and I’ve also been…