A delve into the archives has turned up the following job advertisement in a US periodical from 50 years ago. It says more about “human capital” and the real reasons behind encouraging people to invest in themselves than many a learned disquisition. “How a ‘crazy rumour’ got me promoted! What I overheard one morning shook […]
publishers don’t like short stories unless they are VERY high concept, or by someone very strange, famous or Indian http://bit.ly/vMgZ2 # using poetry to sell cars – the Ford Faberge’ that never was http://bit.ly/vMgZ2 # “surely everyone (probably even Dan Brown) can agree that beyond high and low art there is also pure shit” http://bit.ly/qOOwU […]
Should the laws of physics apply to a novel? There are readers who, not without reason, demand that yes, the laws of gravity, and thermodynamics must apply at all times if the work is to be taken seriously. For example, if a character is to cross a room, they should do so – with or […]
RT @tweetmeme Cal – Bernard McLaverty | Is there a book in this blog? http://bit.ly/Ky1qk # “it’s so serious, it’s so morally weighted that it could kill a novel”. Ian McEwan’s next subject: climate change http://bit.ly/9IDpv # RT @tweetmeme The Engineer of Human Souls | Is there a book in this blog? http://bit.ly/nJG1g # #bookgiveaway […]
Picador are giving away a proof copy of John Banville’s latest novel The Infinities http://bit.ly/10zA98 # Raymond Chandler’s gin gimlet (an approximation): http://bit.ly/RhFxA RT @MaudNewton # Man Booker longlist announced http://bit.ly/OYbcV # Are the Booker judges an ‘ethnicaly pure, upper middle class cartel’? http://bit.ly/Z2JRG # Giles Coren doesn’t hit back angrily at Mr Barry’s review? […]
An astounding series of peaks across North-West Spain are reified in folklore as instantly recognisable landmarks nefarious conquistadors and regular Joes all fixed upon as they finally sailed into the serenity of home waters. Anabel Santiago’s 2007 album Desnuda is in effect a rejuvenation of a musical heritage which sails between those many Spanish traditions, the ghosts of imperialism, the […]
“I mean it really should be as close to idling as possible.” Joseph O’Neill on writing http://bit.ly/UOVIU # We like the sound of Bolano’s By Night in Chile http://bit.ly/XB76T # Which UK politician is the obvious choice for novelisation? http://bit.ly/M0XXP # More comments on the ‘Towards a Poetics of Anger’ essay http://bit.ly/sF04g # Unfinished Graham […]
writing has become a weapon http://bit.ly/10vEmi # 10 guidelines for structuring a short story http://bit.ly/xF2Cx # Reviewing the reviewers – the debate continues http://bit.ly/YXDcY # Off now to finish ‘Last train to liguria’ by Christine Dwyer Hickey # that should have been ‘from liguria’ of course – apologies # Extract from Leviathan, winner of the […]
