Title of Work and its Form: Forest of Fortune, novel Author: Jim Ruland (on Twitter @JimVermin) Date of Work: 2014 Where the Work Can Be Found: Tyrus Books is responsible for publishing the book; why not buy a copy directly from them? Independent bookstores would also appreciate your business. The book is also available from Powell’s and … Continue reading »
Friends, after writing my piece about her story “Magic Man,” Sheila Kohler was kind enough to bring her novel Dreaming for Freud to my attention. (Do I wish I already knew about every cool book out there? Yes. Is it possible to read or even to know about every great novel out there? Sigh…no.) Great Writers … Continue reading »
Dear reader, teaching is often as frustrated as it is rewarding. A teacher cannot force students to care or to learn or to grow…that desire must come from within. Well, Peter Melnick is a former student of mine, and a fascinating young man who has that internal desire. The gentleman was kind enough to think … Continue reading »
Starting a story can be very difficult, but it’s equally important to craft an opening passage that captures your reader’s attention and gets the narrative humming along. In this video, I examine how some of the authors whose stories are immortalized in The Best American Short Stories 2012 fulfilled their responsibilities in their opening sentences. Continue reading »
My plan for total domination of all media is taking FOREVER. I am making strides, however, by making more videos. The MFA debate has been raging for a very long time. Should you get one? Should you not? Well, those Okla Elliott offered an interesting new take on the discussion that I thought merited an … Continue reading »
Writers are asked many general questions about their craft. …”What is your overarching philosophy regarding the inherent power of fiction?”…”What IS-character-to you?”…”What is the position of place in your work?”… These are great and important questions, but I’m really curious about the little things. In the “Hey, Why’d You Do That” series, I ask accomplished … Continue reading »
Title of Work and its Form: Backswing, short story collection Author: Aaron Burch (on Twitter @Aaron__Burch) Date of Work: 2014 Where the Work Can Be Found: Backswing can be purchased from Queen’s Ferry Press. Click here. Bonuses: Mr. Burch is very much a successful writer in his own right, but he is also notable for … Continue reading »
Writers are asked many general questions about their craft. …”What is your overarching philosophy regarding the inherent power of fiction?”…”What IS-character-to you?”…”What is the position of place in your work?”… These are great and important questions, but I’m really curious about the little things. In the “Hey, Why’d You Do That” series, I ask accomplished … Continue reading »
Title of Work and its Form: “To Fall,” creative nonfiction Author: Meghan McClure Date of Work: 2014 Where the Work Can Be Found: The piece made its debut in Volume 3, Issue 1 of Pithead Chapel. You can read the piece here. Bonuses: Here are three poems that Ms. McClure published in Superstition Review. Ms. McClure is the Poetry Editor … Continue reading »
Title of Work and its Form: “The Things We Don’t Talk About,” short story Author: M. Hannah Langhoff Date of Work: 2014 Where the Work Can Be Found: The story made its debut in Relief: A Christian Literary Expression. You can purchase the issue in print or digital form here. Bonuses: Here is an excerpt from a piece … Continue reading »