The problem with textbook prices is more complex than either side (students/faculty versus textbook publishers) would lead you to believe. But exorbitant prices are being fought by a wave of open-source textbooks (yes that means free. And online). As difficult and time-consuming as it is, one of the best exercises for writers is to copy […]
More of a personal note, this post. In a week I'll be starting a class teaching electronic writing at a university in the Southern California area. I'm looking forward to it — a nice reprieve from the steady streak of regular English Composition classes. I've developed a good deal of my curriculum already — the […]
On this lovely Monday morning, I’d like to direct your attention to the left column, under “Pages.” I’ve added a new one: Ranking of Literary Journals. Although I realize the dangers of such an attempt and the impossibility of creating a list that will not be debated, I wrote this because when I was first […]
I’ve become disenchanted with the whole notion of ranking literary journals, but I don’t want to delete this page entirely and disappoint the many readers who come here daily to discover new literary journals to read and submit to. So instead, I’m radically changing the system. The list below arranges literary journals in order of […]
I can’t help but laugh at Gawker’s pitch for the N+1 Reality Television Show. Think “The Apprentice” meets “Project Runway.” Picture nubile young women completing challenges in order to win the coveted internship under Keith Gessen. Michael Chabon picked up a Hugo Award (Sci-fi award) for “The Yiddish Policeman’s Union,” but it’s not his best […]
Reviews are out for Chris Adrian's first short story collection, "A Better Angel." The Seattle Times, a two-paragraph blurb at Esquire, a thorough review at the San Francisco Chronicle, and lastly at the LA Times. It's this last review, by Lizzie Skurnick, which troubles me. Skurnick's main complaint is that the children in "A Better […]
Over at Emerging Writers Network, Dan Wickett gives a shout-out to the Southern California Review, including a mention of my interview with Nathan Englander: The issue has three excellent short stories from Gary Fincke, Michael Buckley and Judith Freeman, as well as a nice essay by Christopher Buckley, and a ton of great poetry, including […]
For all of you out there who think you know short story collections, here's your chance to test your mettle. This twelve-question quiz covers the gamut from classics to newly released, asking questions on nationality, biography, dates, content and more. So buckle down and start answering. Powered By ProProfs – Create A Quiz or Flash […]
Well, now that the games are about to begin tomorrow, it might be an excellent time to plead for all the writers that China has imprisoned. I heard on NPR yesterday that one of the Olympic Committee members didn't award China the Games because he thought they deserved it, but because he thought the Games […]
Poets and Writers has a searchable archive of contests, including a function where you can find fee-free ones. (like Greensboro Review) Book Reviewers, not to be outdone by the hundreds of fiction contests, now have their own contest. Virginia Quarterly Review wants the best review of a book published in 2008 by writers under thirty. […]
