Hey! It's almost AWP time, which means life has been all about getting prepped lately. ADP will be rocking table H3 with our friends, Curbside Splendor and Dogzplot. Stop by if you're there!
Ever want to read about the genesis of a book's publication? I wrote an essay about the process of Ben Tanzer's You Can Make Him Like You finding its home with ADP and me finding another brother in Mr. Tanzer. Read it at THE LIT PUB!
Writer/Editor/Artist, Nathan Holic writes about reading books while burping his newborn and talks about Prize Winners (as well as Ayiti and others). To be honest it's hard to tell if he liked the book or not. He definitely liked the physical size and feel of it. Some words used to describe the book: "light, fun, clever, new." An undergrad writing professor I had once told me the most insulting word that could be used to describe writing is "clever." So there's that! As a father, it's a fun account of trying to balance reading and new fatherhood. And even if the book wasn't quite what Nathan was looking for, I certainly appreciate the read and being a part of his new journey! READ IT HERE.
Also, I am super excited to mention that I recently finished my long-in-the-works homage to Pablo Neruda's The Captain's Verses titled, The Waiting Tide and very quickly on the heels of completing the collection it was picked up for publication by Curbside Splendor. February 2013 watch out!
Great meeting you in Chicago, Ryan. Let me know if you ever make it out to Florida, and I'll make sure to show you around.
ReplyDeleteAbout your posting above: that's an interesting observation by your writing professor. I probably agree and disagree, based on context. I think that, if your writing only has "clever" going for it, then it's not really working. In terms of storytelling, "clever" writing tends to draw attention to itself, and tends to make the author the focus (rather than making the characters/story the focus). So if someone's only reaction is, "That was clever," then that means the author was probably hogging the spotlight and writing something that would tell everyone, "Hey, look at how clever I am!"
For my money, the best storytellers put the emphasis on their characters. We care about the characters (and their stories) so much that the authors sort of fade into the background. Maybe we even forget that they're there. But I think I disagree that "cleverness" is a bad thing entirely. If I liked a story, and if I had an emotional reaction, and if--in discussion about that story--I used the word "clever" as one of several descriptors, I think that the author is safe, and I think that "clever" is positive. The movie "Memento," for instance. I cared about the main character. I was engrossed in the story. But as I talk about it more and more with friends, I can say, "Damn that was clever."
Anyways. Long response to a super-short comment, right? Ha! You writing is not solely clever, so fear not that I was dropping an insult.
In fact, I hope your next collection is longer, and that we get some long-form stories to go along with the short-shorts...by then, my son will be older, and maybe I'll only be looking for books with high page counts!
Best of luck with the novel and the poetry collection. Can't wait for the Alaska novel...that's the one I really want to see.
-NH
Likewise, Nathan! I enjoyed getting to hang out with you.
DeleteOf course, you're right, it's all about context. And my smartassness brand of humor doesn't always come across in writing. But I certainly didn't think you were insulting my writing (I don't think you'd have pointed out the post to me if you were) I was more poking fun at the nature of the response to the book.
If the next collection gets picked up it definitely has a lot more long stories in it. And who knows, by that time your son could be grown and out of the house!
Looking forward to talking with you more, man!