Ta-Nehisi Coates to Pen Black Panther Comic, William Blake’s Cottage Saved, and More
James Patterson receives lifetime achievement award; e-book sales dip this year; Scottish thesaurus project reveals 421 words for snow; and other news.
The Wake
Before Paul Kingsnorth's debut novel became a bestseller in the U.K., he posted this book trailer on Unbound, a crowdfunding website for publishing, to ask for pledges. The Wake was longlisted for the 2014 Man Booker Prize, the first crowdfunded book to make the list, and was published by Graywolf this month.
Natural Disaster
Recent wildfires in California and an earthquake and tsunami in Chile are potent reminders of how destructive forces of nature can be upon modern civilization. Out of catastrophe, however, we see acts of bravery, generosity, and compassion. Write a short story that takes place in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Examine the ways in which your main character's psychological and physical strength might be tested under the circumstances.
I Could Tell You Stories: Sojourns in the Land of Memory
“A writer is, first and last, a reader." Patricia Hampl's collection of essays explores the depths of writing created from the most personal memories—in works by Anne Frank, Czeslaw Milosz, Sylvia Plath, Walt Whitman, and others—and provides insightful reflections on her own writing life as a memoirist.
E-Book Service Oyster Shutters, the Rise of Literary Annotation, and More
Famed literary agent Carmen Balcells has died; the pleasures of reading forbidden books; writing programs and the lack of diversity; and other news.
C. K. Williams
In this episode of "Poets in Person" from the Cortland Review, C. K. Williams introduces his family and workspace, and reflects on his unexpected journey into poetry. The prizewinning poet passed away on September 20 at the age of seventy-eight.
On the Hunt
Richard Wilbur says about inspiration, "A poem comes looking for me rather than I hunting after it." Quickly make a list of the first five things that pop into your head, "looking" for you. It may be a striking image, a phrase, or a memory of someone from your past that has resurfaced unexpectedly. Use one of the items on your list as a source of inspiration and write a poem examining why this subject occupies your mind. As you write, continue to hunt for some clarity.
Prizewinning Poet C. K. Williams Has Died, a Carnegie Library Quest, and More
Authors sign open letter to Chinese president calling for release of jailed writers; best-selling novelist Jackie Collins has died; Olive Kitteridge miniseries adapted from prize-winning novel wins six Emmys; and other news.
The Poet's Role
"Part of the role of poetry and poets is to force ourselves past the common ways of looking at things." Jane Hirshfield, whose poetry collection The Beauty was released by Knopf in March, speaks about the responsibility of the poet in America today.
Juan Felipe Herrera’s Nationwide Poetry Project, Refugee Poets Speak Out, and More
The first “GIF novel”; Martin Amis on adapting novels for film; Alexander Chee on self-promotion and Elena Ferrante; and other news.
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