Some publications news: I have two new stories in the March issue of Red Fez, “Still Alive” and “Dream with Enough Conviction.” You might recognize “Dream with Enough Conviction”: an earlier draft of it appeared here about ten months ago, as a Writer’s Notebook entry on music and fiction. And you might recognize Red Fez,Continue reading “New publication(s)”
Tag Archives: writing
A Writer’s Notebook: Description (from high school!)
This is a bit embarrassing, but what the hell — the essence of exercises is to attempt to write, and sometimes the results can be ugly. Besides, I have the defense that I wrote this almost twenty years ago, when I was just some high school kid who didn’t know anything about anything. I awokeContinue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: Description (from high school!)”
Small stone, Vol. 2, #5
Watching the street cleaner scoop up paper cups and faded wrappers, one smooth sweep of his long-handled dust pan, I remember when I cleaned houses and gas stations and grocery stores for a living. And I realize I can no longer do those things. I have lost the skills. I have developed new skills toContinue reading “Small stone, Vol. 2, #5”
Reading and writing: a beginning, and no end in sight!
Just wanted to quickly share two blog posts, which by happy accident I happened to read almost back to back today. The first is from Odds ‘N Ends (aka Mary’s Little Blog), in which a mother recounts helping her son learn to read and write. More importantly, the post focuses on the first time herContinue reading “Reading and writing: a beginning, and no end in sight!”
A Writer’s Notebook: found objects
This week is a little random, but I’ll explain why below. When I lived in the States, I used to get a lot of junk mail. I got more junk than mail, actually, and I’m not including my bills in that. Brochures for apartments and trailer homes, ads for banks and groceries and shoe storesContinue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: found objects”
Small stone, Vol. 2, #4
The dark setting sun like a copper coin in the sandy clouds.
A Writer’s Notebook: First-line found story (revision)
This is a partial revision of the “found story” I began in last week’s notebook. And below that, I’ll write a bit about the revision process. No one was going to believe her, but the dog would not stop barking. That was how Margot put it, a metaphor she’d adopted like a slogan, the dogContinue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: First-line found story (revision)”
The Current History of the Future of Publishing: Margaret Atwood speaks at the Tools of Change conference
This is a phenomenal presentation — from Margaret Atwood! — on the changes taking place in the publishing industry… and why we shouldn’t freak out about it. My favorite bit is her definition of “publishing,” because the rest of this presentation stems from that one seminal idea, and it’s awesome. The video of her presentationContinue reading “The Current History of the Future of Publishing: Margaret Atwood speaks at the Tools of Change conference”
Small stone, Vol. 2, #3
All day I have stuffed my ears with music like soaked cotton; now, the gentle thrum of distant construction, the drift of passing traffic, and the quiet afternoon breeze feels like my eardrums exhaling.
A Writer’s Notebook: First-line found story (rough draft)
This is going to be a two-part exercise: this week, I present a rough draft, and next week I will share a revision. This rough draft won’t make a lot of sense at first, but I’ll explain what’s going on below. No one was going to believe her, but the dog would not stop barking.Continue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: First-line found story (rough draft)”
Samuel Snoek-Brown 