This man is insane.
Offering up a contest to blog readers to submit the first 500 words of the first page of their novel, about 24 hours in he already has 326 entries and only one other judge to help him out.
And he's getting some real humdingers, too -- here's a fascinating start I'm sure someone, who is not me, would read: The smell of humans swirled over the village of Simmatra, teasing Rane’s nose with anticipation.
(Judging from first line alone, I would argue this sounds like the start of a Christopher Pike novel.)
Well, contest ends tomorrow.
2008-01-29
2008-01-27
2008-01-26
three links
Hello. Welcome to [Brilliant title to go here]. If you've been here before, you already have unfortunate insight into how my mind works and, wondrously, you've returned.
So here's another wee trip....
First, read this -- I love this guy, he's so California. I think. I mean, I've never actually been to California, but I feel like if Zack Morris were a 21st century book agent, he might be friends with this guy. (I'm so never going to get published.)
Now, from his blog, check this out. Isn't that a cool idea? (Although I would never pick up those books, even if they were free.)
And, finally, this. This seems like a really good and twisty adventure.
What book would you put out there? I think it has to be something you actually believe could make the world a better place.... I'm thinking it has to be poetry, because is there anything we're more missing in this world?
So here's another wee trip....
First, read this -- I love this guy, he's so California. I think. I mean, I've never actually been to California, but I feel like if Zack Morris were a 21st century book agent, he might be friends with this guy. (I'm so never going to get published.)
Now, from his blog, check this out. Isn't that a cool idea? (Although I would never pick up those books, even if they were free.)
And, finally, this. This seems like a really good and twisty adventure.
What book would you put out there? I think it has to be something you actually believe could make the world a better place.... I'm thinking it has to be poetry, because is there anything we're more missing in this world?
2008-01-24
scary! scary!
I'm not going to pretend every second of my life is filled with fantastic, thrilling activity.... (yes, I am re-reading Cat's Eye, a fantastic depiction of how women can tear at each other).... but seriously? There are people in this world with nothing better to do than this?
(Also, why do people want to sound like something so scary?)
(Also, why do people want to sound like something so scary?)
2008-01-22
henceforth
This is why I read novels: so I can escape my own unrelenting monologue. (p. 144)
In some ways, I feel like reading Carol Shields' novel Unless has changed my life.
I can't completely explain it at the moment.... in part because I'm not sure I've totally digested the book, in part because I don't want to ruin it for any book club members who might be reading this.
I just feel changed. And vaguely confused -- what to read now? Shall I go down the easy road and read something simple that takes little to no thought? Would reading the work of a male author at the moment be a betrayal of all I've learned? Is it fair to immediately compare and contrast Margaret Atwood's work?
(Side note: Don't you love how Shields actually manages to mention the works of Atwood and Munro? Or how she discusses the first George W. Bush election win in this way that at once captures the time she is writing about yet seems totally timeless. I love this about her work, how she makes it real and contemporary without sacrificing longevity.)
I feel like a whole new world has opened up, like there's a whole new shelf at the bookstore waiting for me.
And yes, reading a woman writing about a woman writing makes me want to write.
I'm sure this reads as a massive tangent -- if you've read the novel perhaps you understand or perhaps you'll think I'm awfully flighty.
Parting words (though not, at all, words from the end of the book):
Unless is the worry word of the English language. It flies like a moth in the ear, you hardly hear it, and yet everything depends on its breathy presence. Unless -- that’s the little subjunctive mineral you carry along in your pocket crease. It’s always there, or else not there. (p. 224)
In some ways, I feel like reading Carol Shields' novel Unless has changed my life.
I can't completely explain it at the moment.... in part because I'm not sure I've totally digested the book, in part because I don't want to ruin it for any book club members who might be reading this.
I just feel changed. And vaguely confused -- what to read now? Shall I go down the easy road and read something simple that takes little to no thought? Would reading the work of a male author at the moment be a betrayal of all I've learned? Is it fair to immediately compare and contrast Margaret Atwood's work?
(Side note: Don't you love how Shields actually manages to mention the works of Atwood and Munro? Or how she discusses the first George W. Bush election win in this way that at once captures the time she is writing about yet seems totally timeless. I love this about her work, how she makes it real and contemporary without sacrificing longevity.)
I feel like a whole new world has opened up, like there's a whole new shelf at the bookstore waiting for me.
And yes, reading a woman writing about a woman writing makes me want to write.
I'm sure this reads as a massive tangent -- if you've read the novel perhaps you understand or perhaps you'll think I'm awfully flighty.
Parting words (though not, at all, words from the end of the book):
Unless is the worry word of the English language. It flies like a moth in the ear, you hardly hear it, and yet everything depends on its breathy presence. Unless -- that’s the little subjunctive mineral you carry along in your pocket crease. It’s always there, or else not there. (p. 224)
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