All Hail

All Hail

"Much-anticipated collection of stories" may seem an oxymoron in these times, but not when it comes to Lydia Davis's icy, oblique prose.

And for all you soap opera fans, a link to Davis's ex-husband, and his second wife.


(Photo in honour of Laisha Rosnau, whose reign of matriarchy begins any day now - click image for close-up)

It's Not as Serious As You Think

It's Not as Serious As You Think

The Ladykiller herself snuck this link into a comment -- the plague of earnestness in modern literary novels.

And though I have a reserved seat on this bandwagon, I had to question the scapegoating argument against writing programs:

"This professionalisation will make poor writers adequate. And will make potentially great writers adequate."

I agree with the first statement, but the second is grossly naive, and gives writers absolutely no credit, nor accountability for their own development. I shudder to think of the many "adequate" writers who might be right now rationalizing their mediocrity as misdirected greatness. (I say that last sentence in my snobbiest faux Brit accent, of course)

Location, Location, Location

Location, Location, Location

Confetti! Our favourite GG-nominee is back from tree-planting and blogging up a storm. Her post on writing spaces begs the question: where do you write?

Here's where I'm writing these days -- lying down, head on the red pillow, knees tucked and slung to the left, laptop on my right hip. Ergonomic? Probably not! But trust me, it's better than the Quasimodo posture I slip into at my desk at home.

And you?

Let's Go Crazy

Let's Go Crazy

Hypochondriacs: stop reading now.

Since I'm here in Iowa, hanging out while John enjoys a workshop at the Mecca of all writing programs, I thought I'd post this tidbit on writers and depression.

You'll also be glad to know that the writer's block you're experiencing may just be Alzheimer's.

On the bright side, you're more likely to get some.

("Nanaimo" acrylic on paper, posted in honour of Sally, who took her first painting class today!)

Publishing and Other Perils

Publishing and Other Perils

Will short story writers ever get the respect they deserve? Not if prize juries have anything to do with it.

Then again, things are tough all over, even well-reviewed novelists can't catch a break.

Has it really come to this?

Whoa-ho-ho!

Whoa-ho-ho!

So, way back in Y2K, when I was a pup in grad school, some writer pals and I sat around and argued over the future direction of fiction. And though I loved me some dark irony back then, especially the kind only American writers were delivering, I brazenly declared the next wave to be...wait for it...wait for it...SINCERITY.

Ah, the sweet smell of "I told you so."