Month: November 2013

November 29, 2013

On the Air

I just did my first radio interview. I’ve done podcasts and blog-talk internet “radio” before, but this was the first time in a radio…
November 25, 2013

The New Yorker: “Kilfi Creek” by Lionel Shriver

November 25, 2013: “Kilfi Creek” by Lionel Shriver This is a readable story, if only because one wants to know if the protagonist, Liana,…
November 24, 2013

The New Yorker: “Find the Bad Guy” by Jeffrey Eugenides

November 18, 2013: “Find the Bad Guy” by Jeffrey Eugenides There’s not a lot to learn from the Q&A with Jeffrey Eugenides, but there…
November 6, 2013

Visiting Writer at Randolph College

I am in the middle of a four-week stay as the Visiting Writer at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia. It’s been a blast so…
November 6, 2013

The New Yorker: “Benji” by Chinelo Okparanta

November 11, 2013: “Benji” by Chinelo Okparanta I guess unlikable characters are a thing now, because it’s hard to like any of these people….
November 6, 2013

The New Yorker: “Weight Watchers” by Thomas McGuane

November 4, 2013: “Weight Watchers” by Thomas McGuane Q&A with Thomas McGuane I’m not sure I like this story much, but I really like…
November 5, 2013

The New Yorker: “Samsa in Love” by Haruki Murakami

October 28, 2013: “Samsa in Love” by Haruki Murakami Okay. I guess. Here we have The Metamorphosis turned on its head. Instead of Gregor…
November 4, 2013

New approach for me: The Three Act Structure

I’m not suggesting that the Three Act Structure is new to story writing–it’s been around a long time. It’s just new that I’m thinking…
November 4, 2013

The New Yorker: “The Bear Came Over the Mountain” by Alice Munro

October 21, 2013: “The Bear Came Over the Mountain” by Alice Munro Alice Munro, a frequent contributor to The New Yorker, was awarded the…
November 4, 2013

2013 Reading: Book Law for Authors by Mary Hutchings Reed and David Creasey

Book Law for Authors by Mary Hutchings Reed and David Creasey This is an excellent summary of the basic legal issues facing authors. There are…