Against Age-Based Writer Lists, Two Hundred Years of Jane Austen Covers, and More
Authors react to Amazon-Hachette agreement; library love letters; Sotheby’s to auction off Sylvia Plath archive; and other news.
The Art of Asking
"Human beings have such a hard time asking for help." In her debut book, published by Grand Central Publishing this week, Amanda Palmer explores the complicated feelings involved in seeking help from others. Included are personal stories about her marriage to author Neil Gaiman and her struggles as an artist and musician.
Amazon and Hachette Resolve Dispute, Whitman: the Original American Bohemian, and More
Serial’s storytelling tips; the “selfish author” concept; why we should read contemporary fiction; and other news.
Katherine Faw Morris
"I think it's really hard to write fiction without yourself in it." Katherine Faw Morris speaks about her debut novel, Young God (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2014), and the characters that are psychologically true to her.
Helping Hand
As Thanksgiving draws closer, it’s a time to be thankful for what you have and to think of those who are in need. Is there an organization you volunteer for in your community? Are there times you wish you had a helping hand from someone? This week, write an essay about what giving and receiving support means to you.
Suggest a Venue
John Berryman’s Antic Imagination, Grimms’ Gruesome Fairytales, and More
Flannery O’Connor inducted into American Poets Corner; LGBTQ-friendly MFAs; Barnes & Noble adds print option for self-publishing; and other news.
The Berlin Wall
This past Sunday marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. To celebrate, eight thousand helium balloons were released into the night sky over Berlin. This week, write a story that takes place in Berlin on the day of the ceremony. Perhaps one of your characters grew up with the Berlin Wall up. Maybe one of your characters is traveling across Europe and just happens to be in Berlin that day. In your story, break down some personal barriers between characters, or try to unite them on a common ground.
Marjane Satrapi
"When I read Dostoevsky, I understand better the psychology of the human being." Marjane Satrapi, author of the graphic memoir Persepolis (Pantheon, 2004), speaks with Paul Holdengräber at the New York Public Library about how reading Fyodor Dostoevsky's work changed her life.
Writers’ Protests Save Liverpool’s Libraries, National Readathon Day, and More
Virginia Woolf's silence; how "spoiler alerts" spoil criticism; decoding the Renaissance; and other news.
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