This review is going to start with an anecdote. Yes, this is an inherently self-centered way of writing, but I can’t think of a better example of what this book can mean.
I live in a metropolitan area which is relatively progressive. I was reading this book on my way home from work, while riding the subway. A man took the seat next to me and we rode in silence, me reading, him doing his own thing. As we went, I could see him taking peeks. I adjusted my position, to allow him just a bit more access to the page, hoping it inspired him to find his own copy.
The train began to slow, and he gathered his things. In a friendly voice, he said, “so, what is that, an instruction guide or something?”
Cutting The Cord, a.k.a Why I Deactivated My Facebook Account
Part of writing these days, if you want to make any sort of career out of it, involves promotion. Self-promotion. The kind of promotion I hate. I’d rather tell you little stories here and there, drop a few witty lines from time to time, and then fade away into the background until the next brilliant story/thought/line occurs to me.
Unfortunately, that’s not the way things are done in today’s social media run world. If you’re a writer, you have to have an online presence. Twitter. Instagram, Facebook. That kind of crap.
Continue reading “Cutting The Cord, a.k.a Why I Deactivated My Facebook Account”Anatomy of an Ending
There is a popular sentiment that stories, like life, are about the journey, not the ending. I think good fiction has to differentiate itself from life, so stories are about the journey and the ending.
Maybe I’m hopelessly morbid, but I think about death all the time. I know I’m not the only one, but how I’m going to check out is constantly on my mind. It doesn’t frighten me or stop me from living, but like a good story, I do want to know how it all ends. Like reading a good story, though, I’m not eager to get there. It’s a paradox. I don’t want it to end.
You can stop psychoanalyzing me now.
Continue reading “Anatomy of an Ending”Nick DeWolf’s Review of “A Dirty Job” by Christopher Moore… or… “Word Salad” by A Usually Solid Writer
Moore is regularly a bright, funny, poignant writer who fine tunes his books the way a great chef would a recipe, removing all excess ingredients and giving us just enough of each of the primary flavors that our senses are delighted and intrigued. This time, it he took whatever was in his fridge that wasn’t quite rotten but not still fresh, poured it into a casserole dish, set the oven to 450, and prayed. Then when it didn’t come out right, he slathered it in cheese, added some 150 proof rum, and lit the top on fire. And as such, I will politely decline the offer of seconds, thank you.
Let the Hate Flow Through You…
**DISCLAIMER: There will be no more Star Wars references going forward**
There is a place in the world for the bad…
So it was about ten years ago. Maybe more. Wait, how old are my kids? Good lord, I’m old.
Okay, it was more than ten years ago, but not quite twenty, and I was younger and energetic and doing a lot of theater. Primarily an actor, I also did lighting and directing and dance. Writing had been limited to short plays for children, so no experience with real, full-on adult drama. Still, I knew what I loved about theater; the art, the precision, the work ethic. Creating great product was more important than making dollars. I was passionate, and part of being passionate is working on thoughtful, interesting, insightful works which are seen by a handful of people, yet touch each of them deeply.
On Jonathan Franzen’s Rules for Novelists
In November, Lithub republished a list of ten rules for novelists by Jonathan Franzen that had originally appeared in the Guardian in 2010. It apparently raised a stink on the Internet. Reading the list now, I see why it was divisive. Some of his rules are obvious. Some are preposterous or pretentious. Overall, it’s just not a helpful list.
All of this is in my humble opinion, of course (this is my blog after all). Franzen has accomplished far more in his writing career than I probably ever will, but I see reflections of some broader issues in the literary community here that I feel the need to comment on.
To be clear, this isn’t really about Franzen’s list. This is about the impetus of some of his ideas. And admittedly, it probably reveals more about my own philosophies than Franzen’s, so take it for what it’s worth
Continue reading “On Jonathan Franzen’s Rules for Novelists”Confidence in Writing
Last week, a young writer asked if I had any insecurities about my writing. My initial response was, yes, of course I have insecurities. I wouldn’t be a writer if I wasn’t on some level insecure about my writing (and in general about everything for always and forever).
However, after some retrospection, I realized I’m in a much better place than I was when I started.
Why I Hired Sensitivity Readers
Because it’s 2019.
Because I’m a white guy living in the U.S. who is purposefully writing characters who are anything other than white, and I don’t want them to be stereotypes.
Because just making them not stereotypes isn’t enough.
Because I haven’t lived as a POC and there will be things I get wrong.
Because I haven’t lived as a woman and there will be things I get wrong.
Because part of being a writer… no… part of being aware… no… part of being a decent human being is letting go of your ego.
Because if I want diversity in my books, and diversity in my readership, I need to have diversity in the creative process.
Because Google Translate doesn’t really speak Spanish.
Because I have unconscious biases. As much as it hurts to admit and as scary as it is to face, it’s true.
Because POC deserve respect. Part of that is me putting in the time and energy and cost of getting things right, when creating something to (hopefully) represent them.
Because women deserve respect. Part of that is me putting in the time and the energy and the cost of getting things right, when creating something to (hopefully) represent them.
Because sensitivity readers aren’t hard to find. Seriously. Go to Twitter, type it in as a hashtag. Easy. No more excuses.
Because they were professional and polite and more than one showed appreciation that I was trying to be better. They didn’t have to do it, and I didn’t expect it from them. Still, it warmed my heart.
Because they made my book so much better.
Because I learned things about myself. Some of them made me sad. But sadness is good. Sadness is a tiny wound, and now I can heal it.
Because I learned things about others. Some of them were beautiful. Now, I can carry them with me and go back to them and smile.
Because words matter, and I have a duty to use mine for something good.
Because there’s no good reason not to.
Because it’s time for me to be better.
Creative Writing Teachers Should Never Tell Students ‘No’
Nick Mamatas went on a Tweet storm yesterday about creative writing teachers barring students from writing genre fiction. It sparked conversation in the various Internets where writers dwell. I had thoughts.
I think Nick took it too far. Were we close, I’d ask him who hurt him, but alas, we’re not. I do think Nick was onto something, though.
(I should preface the rest of this with the disclaimer that I am not a fiction teacher, nor have I ever had the opportunity of teaching fiction writing, and nor is this a criticism of any creative writing teacher in particular. It’s a hard and thankless job, and it takes a special person to legitimately be excited to help others grow and succeed.)
Continue reading “Creative Writing Teachers Should Never Tell Students ‘No’”
The Path
Everyone works differently. I’m going to focus on writing, here. Not that it’s what I do best (that would be eating cookies while singing in the shower), but because it’s something I put a lot of thought and thinking time into. As a note, it would be better if I used that time for actual writing, but that’s hard and I’m tired and stop telling me what to do.
One thing most writers do is talk to other writers. We discuss the craft, the process, the joys and the pains. Well, just the pains. There are no joys. No, there are, but they’re not really joys. They’re just the absence of pain. Important thing to keep in mind.