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Brent Robison Episodic vs. Narrative

I found this article in the Wall Street Journal illuminating: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204886304574308530848197684.html But it seems to be pointing the same direction as so much publishing news these days: alas, I'm out of step! I am definitely in the Episodic camp... just feels more like truth to me. Where do y'all fall? Continue

Added by Brent Robison on November 2, 2009 at 1:06pm — 5 Comments

Sari Grandstaff Pirene's Fountain

I'm new to this sort of thing so I'm not sure if I write in blog or discussion or what. Two poems of mine are in the current issue of Pirene's Fountain at http://www.pirenesfountain.com/current_issue/grandstaff.html Sari Continue

Added by Sari Grandstaff on October 30, 2009 at 9:26pm — No Comments

Randy Burgess What we do as writers: audience, juice, craft, reading

Prepping for this semester's second writing class tonight at NYU, I got the idea that I should explain to my students that I think of the act of writing as not a single act, but as many acts falling into a few broad categories. In fact I came up with four such categories: audience, juice, craft, reading. These overlap, of course, so really they should be shown in a diagram rather than in a list as here. AUDIENCE Awareness of audience means you do all the activities listed here under the… Continue

Added by Randy Burgess on October 13, 2009 at 8:30am — 3 Comments

Brent Robison Two nice reviews of my story collection (one in Chronogram)!

This reviewer gave my work a really close read and has a lot of in-depth commentary, which feels good... http://podpeep.blogspot.com/2009/09/free-book-friday-review-principles-of.html This one succinctly captures so much of what's in the book. And it's local, which I like...… Continue

Added by Brent Robison on October 1, 2009 at 7:25am — 1 Comment

Steve Hamilton Strange Request! (Need safe for author photo...)

If anyone knows where I can find a freestanding combination safe (the older and/or cooler-looking the better), all I need is to stand next to the damned thing for a few minutes while a photographer takes some pictures. I need this for a magazine cover, and also possibly for an author photo on the next book... Much appreciated! Thanks! Steve Continue

Added by Steve Hamilton on September 26, 2009 at 6:37pm — 1 Comment

Leigha Butler new flash fiction project

Tales from the Domicile is a fledgling community art project that will feature flash fiction written on household objects. We don't care if your story's on a post-it or an ironing board as long as we can read it! We like clean, crisp language and tight, complete tales. Keep 'em short. The ceiling? about 500 words. The Floor? wide-plank hardwood. Please wait to hear back from us before submitting another story. Take a clear… Continue

Added by Leigha Butler on September 25, 2009 at 2:52pm — No Comments

Randy Burgess Samuel R. Delaney on editors, readers, and writing workshops

I'm still picking my way through About Writing, by Samuel R. Delaney, in the astonished manner of a miner who carries only a very… Continue

Added by Randy Burgess on September 22, 2009 at 7:48am — 3 Comments

Brent Robison Happy to get this review....

Self Publishing Review, well-respected among indie authors, is a site whose mission is to raise the status of self-publishing in the eyes of the reading community, About my story collection, The Principle of Ultimate Indivisibility, editor Henry Baum says, "The writing throughout is incredibly well-crafted." Read the whole review here: http://www.selfpublishi… Continue

Added by Brent Robison on September 19, 2009 at 5:04pm — No Comments

Bill Pfleging Computer help for writers

Hi, all! Just wanted to let Hudson Valley Writers know that I'm now offering classes in computer skills in the Woodstock/Saugerties area. I'm also discounting it for members of this group - see below. (If this breaks any rules, Brent, please let me know, and I'll be glad to remove it!) I've been invited to present similar computer classes in a shorter form for a number of years at the huge American Society of Journalists and Authors annual conference in NYC every April/May. My presentations have… Continue

Added by Bill Pfleging on September 13, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Randy Burgess Samuel R. Delaney and the “annealing moment” of doubt

Reading the excerpt below makes me think of how difficult yet rewarding it must be to peel and eat a durian, that strange fruit found only in southeast Asia, and guarded by not only a foul odor but a thick husk of thorns. The excerpt comes from an essay by the science fiction writer, literary critic, and teacher Samuel R. Delaney called "Of Doubts and Dreams." It's part of a collection of related essays by Delaney titled… Continue

Added by Randy Burgess on September 10, 2009 at 7:30am — 5 Comments

Tom Degan HE'S COMING FOR OUR CHILDREN!!!

Last week when the White House announced that President Obama would be giving a little speech to the nation's children, encouraging them to stay in school and study hard so they might go far in life, who in their right mind could have possibly predicted the shit storm of outrage that is now emanating from the extreme right? Actually, I did predict it - but I am of my right mind - honest, I am! It's just that these knuckleheads are so damned predictable. The sun will rise. The moon will set. R… Continue

Added by Tom Degan on September 8, 2009 at 4:47pm — No Comments

Tom Degan Glenn Beck: The Louse That Roared

It always saddens me to see a "Child Left Behind" - all grown up. Glenn Beck would be a text book case. Back in the spring on his unintentionally uproarious FOX Noise program, Beck told his television audience: "First they came for the bankers, and I did not speak up because I was not a banker. Then they came for the A.I.G. executives, and I did not speak up because I was not an A.I.G executive." He then looked the camera dead in the eye and ominously told his clueless viewers that eventual… Continue

Added by Tom Degan on September 8, 2009 at 4:44pm — No Comments

Dorothy Albertini Poet's Walk Reading Sept 12

I'm lucky to read with Nancy Willard, Paul Kane, Joshua Harmon, and Jane Heidgerd... 4:30 pm, Sept 12 Come! It'll be fun! http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2156/t/2404/event/index.jsp?event_KEY=50445&t=0 Continue

Added by Dorothy Albertini on September 1, 2009 at 9:12am — No Comments

Randy Burgess Webcast on "reader sensitivity"

What's it take to be a good writer? How about a strangely named skill called "reader sensitivity"? Taking my bad acting skills, even worse camera skills, and courage in hand, I've created 4 linked webcasts on this concept. I'm hoping to use these short videos to help writing students who come to me for individual lessons. Given that the videos are pretty rough and touch only a portion of what is a big subject, I would welcome comments & suggestions on how to make them better - you can priva… Continue

Added by Randy Burgess on September 1, 2009 at 6:00am — 5 Comments

Brent Robison Nice review of The Principle of Ultimate Indivisibility

The Woodstock Times says, "It's a great first book... the overall breadth of the characters engaged, and the types of experience worked through, show a true humanist's heart at work." And I'm very pleased to share this review with James Lasdun, one of my writing heroes and a fellow Woodstock resident. Scroll down to "Storytellers." http://ulsterpublishing.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&… Continue

Added by Brent Robison on August 27, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Tom Degan Teddy Kennedy 1932-2009

"To speak for those who have no voice; to remember those who are forgotten; to respond to the frustration and fulfill the aspiration of all Americans seeking a better life in a better land....for all those whose cares have been our concern, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die." Edward Moore Kennedy, 8/12/80 The lion sleeps.... I'll never forget the night Ted Kennedy gave that speech at the Democratic National Convention after failing to win his party's nom… Continue

Added by Tom Degan on August 26, 2009 at 2:00am — No Comments

Randy Burgess Making things up in nonfiction: Sara Wheeler and "poetic truth" vs. Richard Rhodes and the dull facts

We've had a few posts on this site about the question of whether it's OK to "make things up" when you're writing nonfiction - specifically, memoir. Interestingly, at least one critically well-received travel writer thinks it is not only okay to make stuff up, it is a darn good thing. The writer in question is Sara Wheeler, author of such travelogues as Terra Incognita: Travels in Antarctica and… Continue

Added by Randy Burgess on August 20, 2009 at 7:24am — 4 Comments

Janet Apuzzo why I don’t use caps or e. e. cummings and me

why I don’t use caps or e. e. cummings and me this is funny, as i write this, my computer automatically corrects me (caps my i’s and beginning of sentences). usually when i use word i am happy that it will do all this work for me. but now i will have to go back and fix all of these mistakes. you see, when i don’t use this program and i write the old-fashioned way, with a pencil and paper, i don’t use caps. when i email, or write directly onto something like this blog, i don’t use caps. why?… Continue

Added by Janet Apuzzo on August 12, 2009 at 3:01am — 2 Comments

Brent Robison How is Unity expressed in story?

I love the unanswerable questions. And I love to learn as much as my subgenius mind can handle about everything we humans have so far come to know in our pursuit of answers to the unanswerable. Parallel passions--science and metaphysics--gradually led me to glimpse a perfect interweaving of current knowledge and ancient wisdom. Quantum physics intertwined with Advaita Vedanta. Spacetime as a metaphor for Oneness. Superstrings pointing to Nonduality. Meanwhile, I labored away at writing stories.… Continue

Added by Brent Robison on August 11, 2009 at 8:36pm — No Comments

Tom Degan The GOP's Little Image Problem

In case you've missed it, the Grand Old Party has been having a bit of a PR problem of late. Maybe I can help them overcome their latest difficulty but (Heh! Heh!) I kind of doubt it. In an article that was posted just this morning on AlterNet (see link below) Francis Schaeffer, a former Religious Right activist who has since come home to Jesus, wrote as follows: "THE SCORCHED EARTH POLICY: Dick Army and company have been driven mad by their reversal, not just of political fortunes but of se… Continue

Added by Tom Degan on August 7, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

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