Inspired by James Joyce

To mark the centennial anniversary of the publication of James Joyce's Dubliners, author Victor LaValle explains how Joyce's stories about the ordinary people of Dublin influenced his own writing of the underrepresented voices in his Queens neighborhood.

Inside Looking Out

Is there a window in your home or workplace you often catch yourself gazing out of? This week, write down what you see. Is it a pleasant, calming view? Or does the window look out on a busy street? Watch the passersby and imagine who they are, and where they are going. Think about how it feels to have that pane of glass between you and the outside world, and what a difference it makes to be able to shelter yourself from the elements and take refuge in a place of comfort and security.

What Dogs Think

In this TED talk, former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins shares poems from the perspective of two very different dogs and reveals what they really feel about their masters.

Kindle Flare

In this spoof from the Onion, the new "Kindle Flare," which "loudly and repeatedly" announces the title of the book you're reading, is marketed to fans of print who miss the ability to display a book’s cover to strangers.

Garth Stein

The best-selling author introduces his forthcoming novel, A Sudden Light (Simon & Schuster, 2014) and discusses how this family drama began as a play, and then transformed into a novel.

Photographs

7.31.14

Friends and family members often aren’t photographers. This sometimes results in great memories captured on film in a not-so-picturesque way. This week, think of a photograph depicting a fond memory that, in your opinion, doesn’t cast you or your loved ones in the most visually pleasing light. Do you still display or look at the picture often? Or do you keep it hidden in the shoebox under the bed? Write about the story surrounding the photograph, and how it makes you feel when you look at it.

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