Storytellersunplugged

by Chet Williamson “Epigraphs are a snore.” – Miss Snark Despite Miss Snark’s distaste for epigraphs, I’m a fool for those hopefully well-chosen quotations used at the beginning of a book or a section thereof, and even sometimes at the start of individual chapters. They are not to be confused with epigrams, which are witty and terse expressions, the type which Oscar Wilde was so adept at creating, and which many of us are also adept at, albeit in retrospect. An epigram may even ... Read More

by Janet Berliner A few months ago, I wrote about the art of interviews and the fun of doing profiles. One of the sub-sets of my essay was pointing out that some of the best interviews are arrived at opportunistically. You see or meet someone famous, introduce yourself, and jump right in. The worst that can happen is that you're rejected, which is more good practice for the vicissitudes of writing; the best is interviewing someone fascinating and ending up with a publication, a ... Read More

By Richard Steinberg I want to thank Weston Ochse for trading slots with me this month. It means a lot . . . RBS “All true stories end in death,” Ernest Hemingway One year ago today, a potentially brilliant writer died. She had recently completed her third novel – her second solo novel – and was taking some time away from the work to get back her “clean eyes” for the rewrite job ahead. She was excited and bursting with energy. “I’m really starting to get ... Read More

by Frank T. Wydra The second best day of the year. Mailman arrives. I rip the brown wrapping from the bulky book and plop in a corner of the carpeted room where no one can spy. The Sears Roebuck Catalogue is here. And what a tome it is! From bras to bicycles, wagons to woolen underwear, the world’s bazaar is pictured, penned, and promoted. Did they have that last year? Where’s the pink flamingo I’ve been saving for, ... Read More

By Richard Steinberg "People need trouble -- a little frustration to sharpen the spirit on, toughen it. Artists do; I don't mean you need to live in a rat hole or gutter, but you have to learn fortitude, endurance. Only vegetables are happy," William Faulkner I had been a would-be novelist for a year and nine days of real honest to God commitment. I’d written two novels; the first an abysmal thing, the second pretty good. At least I thought so. So, with a ... Read More

by Mort Castle All writers get asked, "Where do you get ideas?" And all writers eventually come up with a reply based on their experience, belief, or smartassedness, answers ranging from, "Ah, grasshopper, where is it you do not get ideas?" to "I pray real hard and the Lord sends a whispering seraph to inspire me," to "If I tell you, then we'd both know." No question, though, "Ideas are the root of creation." Ernest Dimnet, the now little read author of the 1930s ... Read More

George Guthridge Synopsis of July’s discussion: I have developed a step-by-step method for teaching how to write fiction. The process has enabled students – including elementary, junior-high, and high-school students, plus adults who never had published and who often had never even written a story before – to win state, national, and international fiction competitions and to publish in major magazines and anthologies. And just so you will know that I practice what I preach: I did not use the process when I ... Read More

(Since we had no extra essay left this month for the 31st, I split the extra day with Mr. Steinberg - We'll resume our normal schedule on the 1st.) By David Niall Wilson Life is full of situations that make us consider and reconsider the decisions we’ve made. What if I’d gone to college straight out of high school? What if I’d gone to the Naval Academy instead of boot camp? What if I’d settled into writing in the eighties instead ... Read More

By Richard Steinberg "Spend all your time waiting For that second chance For a break that would make it okay. There’s always one reason To feel not good enough And it’s hard at the end of the day. I need some distraction Oh beautiful release Memory seeps from my veins. Let me be empty And weightless and maybe I’ll find some peace tonight," ---Sarah McLachlan Some peace tonight. I’d like that. Some . . . On any night . . . But unless I pay Mephistopheles or Archangel Michael (I’m never exactly sure which) their required tithes, I’ll have ... Read More

(Note: Our regularly scheduled essay for today would have been from the balding and somewhat curmudgeonly Stephen Mark Rainey...unfortunately, Mark had a lot on his plate this month (including a trip to my house where he watched bad TV and slept on the couch) -- so we have a standby essay from Mr. Scott Nicholson (thanks Scott)) Tomorrow we will return to your regularly scheculed...well...schedule...) --DNW By Scott Nicholson “Think globally, act locally” is not just a catchy environmental or political-action slogan. It’s ... Read More