Author: Cliff

I am the author of three novels--THE LAST BIRD OF PARADISE, OLIVER'S TRAVELS, and THE SHAMAN OF TURTLE VALLEY--and three story collections--IN AN UNCHARTED COUNTRY, HOUSE OF THE ANCIENTS AND OTHER STORIES, and WHAT THE ZHANG BOYS KNOW, winner of the Library of Virginia Literary Award for Fiction. I am also the co-founder and former editor of Prime Number Magazine and the editor of the award-winning anthology series EVERYWHERE STORIES: SHORT FICTION FROM A SMALL PLANET.
November 11, 2011

>Tips for Writers: Write What You DON’T Know (about what you know)

> An oft-repeated rule for writers is “write what you know.” Most of us accept this on faith because it seems to make sense….
November 10, 2011

>The New Yorker: "Miracle Polish" by Steven Millhauser

> November 14, 2011: “Miracle Polish” by Steven Millhauser The good news is that this week’s story is available for free online. And it’s…
October 18, 2011

>The New Yorker: "Sun City" by Caitlin Horrocks

> October 24, 2011: “Sun City” by Caitlin Horrocks I think I liked this story more after I read the brief Q&A with Caitlin…
October 17, 2011

>Dreaming: A Tree Falls

> It’s not too hard to figure out where this dream of mine came from. I have a big yard with lots of trees….
October 16, 2011

>Work in Progress: Pushcart Prize Ranking for NONFICTION

> As promised, I have finally turned my attention to the NONFICTION Pushcart Prizes and will soon be posting a ranking of magazines that…
October 15, 2011

>Tips for Writers: The Comma

> There aren’t a lot of rules in writing fiction, but here’s one that’s too often ignored: punctuation matters. It is somewhat shocking to…
October 14, 2011

>$5 Submission? I don’t think so.

> I just learned that StoryQuarterly, the magazine that used to be independent, was swallowed by Narrative, and then re-emerged as the Literary Magazine…
October 12, 2011

>2011 National Book Award Finalists

> Fiction  Andrew Krivak, The Sojourn Bellevue Literary Press Téa Obreht, The Tiger’s Wife (Random House) Julie Otsuka, The Buddha in the Attic (Alfred A. Knopf, an…
October 11, 2011

>The New Yorker: "Exorcism" by Eugene O’Neill

> October 17, 2011: “Exorcism” by Eugene O’Neill Eugene O’Neill is spinning in his grave, although it’s fun for us to have this “new”…
October 10, 2011

>Wine & Words, Words & Wine

> Wine and words go well together, no matter which order they come in. But in a couple of weeks I’m going to experience…