Category Archives: writing
100 Things About A Novel, Pt. 2
[Note: Part 1 is here.] 25. Novels are hard, not like diamonds but like fate, the choice you make that reveals it was never a choice at all. 26. Then it is the novel as jailer. You in a small … Continue reading
Filed under novels, travel, what I am working on, writers, writing
The Mis-Education (Perhaps) of Louis Menand – When to Get Your MFA or Not, part 3
[This is the conclusion, part 3 of a series, When to Get Your MFA. Or Not] There are skeptics as to the value of a MFA in writing, much less the teaching of writing, and some are not where you … Continue reading
Filed under MFA programs, writers, writing
When to Get Your MFA. Or Not. [Part 2]
[In last week's installment, I detailed my undoubtedly flawed if also successful plan to apply to MFA programs. This week, how I made my decision to go, and some advice.] Connie’s point, that I would just have to get a … Continue reading
Filed under MFA programs, writers, writing
When to Get Your MFA. Or Not.
This came in via email last night from a reader, and I was actually writing a post to address this. Q: I am debating applying to MFA programs but am not sure how worthwhile they are. What made you decide … Continue reading
Filed under ask koreanish, fiction, MFA programs, writers, writing
Refresh, Refresh
During the semester I read approximately 250 pages a week, to as much as 600, if it’s thesis season–and that doesn’t even include my own writing or my email. But I also don’t notice it–I just do it, like breathing … Continue reading
Filed under author's own, blogs, books, comics, essay, fiction, fox demons, graphic novels, novels, writers, writing
Orhan Pamuk Writes By Hand. Hillary Mantel, Before Her Coffee.
The arts section of the WSJ is turning out to be a must-read for writers—kudos to whoever the editor is. This week brings us the writing habits of 11 top authors. I liked this section on the habits of Dan … Continue reading
Filed under books, fiction, writers, writing, writing exercises
On Studying with Annie Dillard in 1989
When I was studying with Annie Dillard, this is a bit of what she saw when she looked over the table at me. My memoir of that time is up over at The Morning News. Many people have remarked on … Continue reading
Filed under author's own, essay, writers, writing
Junot Diaz in O Magazine, On Becoming a Writer
But if the world is what it is so are our hearts. One night in August, unable to sleep, sickened that I was giving up, but even more frightened by the thought of having to return to the writing, I … Continue reading
Filed under what is right with us, writers, writing
Character Flaw
Yesterday I looked in on a Twitter chat about character flaws that seemed to circle around these statements: “flaws! Yes! Characters have them! What about addiction?” and the whole thing looked just a bit too much like the reason people … Continue reading
Filed under comics, fiction, fiction prompts, Koreanish, writers, writing, writing exercises
Bad Novel, Good Friend
Over at Cary Tennis’ Salon advice column today, he handles one of the most important questions of our age: What do you say when you don’t like a friend’s novel? And, I disagree with the answer. Here’s the letter: Two … Continue reading
Filed under ask koreanish, fiction, writers, writing
