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Two Alerts!

R/T — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:11:00 +0000

First, Google has forced me to make certain changes to my Blogger account because of apparent conflicts with my email service. This may interfere with my Blogger access. I cannot explain the problem because I do not understand it. I neither speak nor understand computer language. The IT geek at my email service provider is trying to resolve the conflict. What this means to future of this blog remains to be seen. Weird, huh?

Second, final exams have finished, and I now have a mountain of final exam essays (60) and final writing projects (60) to read and grade. With grades due in five days, I will be rather busy.

Writers Gear Up for the Write Nonfiction In November Challenge

admin — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:09:00 +0000

In just under two weeks, nonfiction writers will take to their keyboards to begin 30 days of work on a new project. Not only will they start that project, they will finish it. Why? Because that’s the challenge posed by Write Nonfiction in November (WNFIN).

WNFIN, which is both a challenge and a full-month of guest blog posts about many aspects of nonfiction writing and publishing was one writer’s response to National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), a contest that asks fiction writers to compose 50,000 words in 30 days during November. Nonfiction editor, writing coach and author advisor Nina Amir, tried NaNoWriMo one year. She says, “The next year I thought it appropriate that nonfiction writers should have something to do during November. However, I didn’t want to start a contest, and I wanted to offer information to help other writers get published. After all, that was my goal, too—to publish my work.” The WNFIN blog, which now features 25 or more expert guest bloggers each year, supports writers as they work, and the comment area gives them a forum to chat about the posts and their work.

For those nonfiction writers wanting to take the WNFIN challenge, Amir offers the following advice: “To begin a WNFIN project—or any new writing project for that matter—you need to prepare. Get started before the challenge, not necessarily with the writing but with the stuff you need to do to be able to write quickly and easily.”

Here are some things you can do to prepare:

1. Write down the 3-5 top projects you would like to tackle that you have not had time to start or finish; figure out which one might be doable in 30 days time.

2. Create an outline to follow.

3. Mind map your project.

4. Get your research together in a physical folder.

5. Do research on line and put the links or copied pages in folders on your computer.

6. Conduct any interviews necessary for writing your book or article.

7. Finish any outstanding work that might get in the way of your writing project.

8. Examine your schedule and block of a time each day to work on your project.

9. Find a WNFIN writing partner or create a WNFIN writing group as support system.

10. Consider anything that might stop you from sitting down to write or in the process of writing, and rid yourself of those obstacles before November 1.

“If you take these 10 steps, you will be ready to take the WNFIN challenge–or to start any writing project at any time of the year,” Amir concludes.

Writers also can peruse previous year’s November archives at Write Nonfiction in November.

Source: Nina Amir

Something from Terry Teachout’s Blog

admin — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 19:22:00 +0000

“You can’t learn to write in college. It’s a very bad place for writers because the teachers always think they know more than you do–and they don’t. They have prejudices. They may like Henry James, but what if you don’t want to write like Henry James? They may like John Irving, for instance, who’s the bore of all time. A lot of the people whose work they’ve taught in the schools for the last thirty years, I can’t understand why people read them and why they are taught. The library, on the other hand, has no biases. The information is all there for you to interpret. You don’t have someone telling you what to think. You discover it for yourself. “

Ray Bradbury, interviewed by Sam Weller (The Paris Review, Spring 2010, courtesy of Parabasis)

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As someone who teaches writing at the university, I must say that I agree with Bradbury, and that might surprise my colleagues. Nevertheless, Bradbudy has it absolutely right! So, perhaps I should throw in the towel and retire. It is worth considering.

Israel and the Flotilla Fiasco

admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:51:00 +0000

This is important:

“The Flotilla Fiasco” at A Commonplace Blog.

Now, spread the word.

The Secrets of Teaching

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:07:00 +0000

If you want to know something worthwhile about how to become more proficient in the profession of teaching, check out what D. G. Myers has to say in “Trade secrets of a pedagogue” at A Commonplace Blog. If you care at all about teaching university or high school students, you must read what Professor Myers so generously shares.

Flannery O’Connor and the Backwards Chicken!

admin — Wed, 05 May 2010 18:20:00 +0000

Enjoy a snippet of old film footage in which little Mary Flannery O’Connor from Savannah, Georgia, the girl who would become one of America’s most important authors. You will see Ms. O’Connor and her backward-walking chicken, both of which are featured in a 1932 Pathe News release.

View it here.

You can read more about little Mary Flannery O’Connor’s brief film career (and, of course, much more about the life of the author) in Brad Gooch’s excellent biography, Flannery: A Life of Flannery O’Connor, and you can read my review of that biography via this link to BookLoons.

P.S. I owe a special “thank you” to Terry Teachout because he (through his blog) made me aware of the British website and the Pathe film clip. Thanks, Mr. Teachout.

Anzia Yezierska’s BREAD GIVERS

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:55:00 +0000

Here is something very much worth noting at Jewish Ideas Daily; D. G. Myers offers readers an important reconsideration of Anzia Yezierska’s Bread Givers.

You can read more from Professor Myers as he writes about Bread Givers and American Jewish Fiction at A Commonplace Blog.

Blog Activity Announcement

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 20:57:00 +0000

Novels, Stories, and More will remain inactive, without new postings, because I will be preoccupied with more mundane and practical matters on campus, in the community, and–most importantly–at home. However, because of a good friend’s recommendation, this blog will remain online and archives will remain available.

Sublime and Perfect – The Sistine Chapel

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:01:00 +0000

I found something special at Steven Riddle’s excellent blog, A Momentary Taste of Being, a site you ought to visit someday by clicking on the link in the right margin. First, though, you simply must take some time to enjoy what you will find at the link that I have borrowed from Mr. Riddle: This tour of the Sistine Chapel, just in time for Passover and Easter, is a sublime feast for eyes, the ears, and the soul.

Something New from Library of America

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:16:00 +0000

Steven Riddle (at his superb blog) offers readers (including me) this wonderful discovery: The Library of America has been posting short stories (and other short works) for readers. Check it out through Steven’s site, which you can access here.

Postscript: I am particular fond of Library of America books, and I have promised myself that someday (when I win the lottery) I will buy the complete catalogue of LOA editions.

Note: The direct link to the LOA site is here.