Take Two
Take two lines you love from a poem that isn’t working. Write a new poem using one as the first line and the other as the last line. For an added perspective, try writing a second poem switching the two.
Susan Orlean
The acclaimed author and journalist talks with Creative Nonfiction founder and editor Lee Gutkind about writing, reporting, and turning an idea into a bestselling book.
William Styron's New Book of Revelatory Letters, Gift Ideas for Literature Lovers, and More
The Obama family visited an independent bookstore in Virginia this weekend to promote Small Business Saturday; Flavorwire rounded up a collection of "literary late bloomers," including Charles Bukowski, and Deborah Eisenberg; the Los Angeles Review of Books is attempting to raise ten thousand dollars by Friday; and other news.
Tags:
Albert Flynn DeSilver
The poet and author, most recently, of Beamish Boy: A Memoir, delivered this talk on the theme of "Open" at TEDxSantaCruz back in September. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a "TED-like experience."
Thanksgiving Memories
Write an essay about your memories of Thanksgivings past, how your family celebrated the holiday and what it means to you now and why.
The Holidays
Write a scene for a story that takes place at the Thanksgiving day table during dinner or in the kitchen during preparations for the meal with two characters who are are angry at each other but not addressing their conflict directly.
Edra Ziesk Examines the Nature of Friendship, McSweeney's on the Radio, and More
Dissident poet Li Bifeng was sentenced to twelve years in prison in China; News Corp, which owns HarperCollins, is in early discussions with CBS about acquiring Simon & Schuster; Brain Pickings features the routines of several successful writers, including Joan Didion, Haruki Murakami, and Ray Bradbury; and other news.
Tags:
The Pilgrim
"World, there are two baskets / on my back. / Fill them." Visual artist Angella Kassube re-envisions poet Bridget Lowe’s "The Pilgrim Is Bridled and Bespectacled" in this offering from Motionpems. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
Tolkien Lawsuit, Unfilmable Books, and More
The estate of J. R. R. Tolkien has filed an eighty million dollar lawsuit against Warner; NPR looks at difficulties of making "unfilmable" books into good movies; Jason Diamond considers what Philip Roth's retirement means for Jewish fiction; and other news.
Tags:
Poem of Gratitude
To mark the holiday this week, make a list of things you're grateful for. Beneath each item, free-associate a list of objects. Pick ten from your lists of objects and use them to write a poem.
Pages
