I’ve been meaning to post a set of articles that I’ve read and found noteworthy each week. Today seems as good a time to start as any.
- When Writers Speak: “Like most writers, I seem to be smarter in print than in person. In fact, I am smarter when I’m writing.” (Arthur Krystal)
- The news teaches me something about writing: “From a news perspective, this story is just full of hooks. First clown in space. Paid $35 million dollars. Millionaire clown. Buying your way into space. It’s just—well, the clean water thing. It’s one hook too many.” (Matthew Simmons)
- Jim Sheppard on the Subject of Fiction Based on Nonfiction: “The first worry writers have when they consider working with something like historical events has to do with the issue of authority: as in, where do I get off writing about that? Well, here’s the good and the bad news: where do you get off writing about anything?” (Jim Sheppard obviously)
- Can a Woman “Prong” a Man? Why it’s so hard to put sex in the dictionary: “In 1966, Jess Stein, the editor-in-chief of the major Random House Dictionary of the English Language, told the New York Times about a meeting he convened with the company’s editorial and sales staff to discuss the words cunt and fuck.” (Jesse Sheidlower)
- I LEGO N.Y.: Funny for all; especially funny for anyone who has ever lived in New York. (Christoph Niemann)
