Writing
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Into the Wormhole with Goodnight Moon
What do parents think about when they’re reading Goodnight Moon for the millionth time? If you’re awake enough to be alert, you might consider Freudian implications of the story (as a professor I once TA’d for used to do to a packed lecture hall). Or if you’re a data-driven sleuth, like the proprietor of the… Continue reading
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Borges on Fiction and Philosophy
Borges on fiction and philosophy? You could devote an entire blog just to this subject, of course. But for today, I’ll focus on this interview from 1976, which is full of gems. Interviewer: Can a narrative, especially a short narrative, be rigorous in a philosophical sense? Borges: I suppose it could be. Of course, in… Continue reading
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Formatting a CreateSpace Book in 2014: One Quick Tip
I’ve gotten some good feedback from the post touting the still-timely advice of Guido Henkel and his e-book formatting guide. But what about formatting for print-on-demand? That’s no less confusing – and I never found a Guido Henkel to serve as my Virgil. So it’s Googling, and more Googling, and a lot of trial and… Continue reading
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Self-Publishing Update: Reading on a Smartphone
Ugh, is there anything worse for today’s author than to think about someone reading their book on a smartphone? We like the image of a reader luxuriating with a stately hardcover, a sleek paperback, or—in a pinch—an e-reader. But a tiny-screen phone? Is no tradition sacred? Why not throw words out too, while we’re at… Continue reading
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What They Knew #30
“High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water…” – Mark Twain “…but everybody likes water.” – Mark Twain Continue reading
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Fantastic Poet Breakdown: Auden Again!
The last time we took a break from the Terrible Poetry Breakdown series, we focused on a fantastic poem by W.H. Auden (and the many great poets who were inspired by it). This time, we’re going to look at this amazing New York Review of Books article by Edward Mendelson, which made me admire Auden… Continue reading
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Flannery Speaks!
Have you ever been disappointed by hearing recordings of famous authors? No? Then maybe you haven’t heard enough of them. The sound of Hemingway bloviatiang about the time he “banged” Marlene Dietrich (“that Kraut”) is not something you can ever unhear. Fear not, reader! I’m not going to link to that. Instead, here’s an illuminating, uplifting experience: listening… Continue reading
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Small Press Shout-Out: Bobbledy Books!
I might be wrong, but I think we’ve only had one small press so far that was specifically dedicated to children’s books. (That, of course, was B-Corp pioneer Little Pickle Press. Go check them out if you haven’t yet!) In any case, I’m happy to add another small-press-for-kids to our list of shout-out recipients. And… Continue reading
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Formatting an E-Book in 2014
Think of this as a disinterested public service message to all my fellow authors and small pressers and indie publishers. If you’re like me, you stumble your way through the e-book formatting process, reaching for Google every time you hit a fork in the road. Sometimes this works out well: the how-to article you find… Continue reading
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The Futurists in Fat City
Just the other day it was the discovery of Charlie Chaplin’s novella. Now comes another article about Bologna: Diners at the Bologna location were dubbed “experimental passengers,” seated in a room that resembled a fuselage, and served dishes named for an airplane’s various gear. Engine noises blared in lieu of Wagner. The experimental passengers came away… Continue reading
Jacke Wilson 