writing

those old stories

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chainsaws, cedar bark and woodchip on orthopedic chair rests. double dutch doors. summertime heat.  wandering empty streets on friday and saturday nights.  running through sherlock’s field; lost in a forest of cornstalks.  saved, somehow, by the canadian flag at the husky.  muscle cars running, racing to the edge of town, back again.  those old stories … Read more

anne enright’s writing tips

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Anne Enright has some things to say about the writing life. The first 12 years are the worst. The way to write a book is to actually write a book. A pen is useful, typing is also good. Keep putting words on the page. Only bad writers think that their work is really good. Description is hard. Remember that … Read more

forgive me

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for i have sinned.  it’s been 11 days since my last confession posting.

good rejection

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i received a great rejection letter today in which not only one, but two people gave me feedback in the letter.  i have to say that i enjoy this level of rejection, if that makes any sense, and it probably doesn’t, but what the hell.  it’s just that lately i’ve been thinking about submitting in … Read more

my diorama

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if i were to create a diorama of the story i’m editing, it would contain: a flip up cityscape of Hong Kong two plainclothes policemen lurking around a corner a camera and a TV set a bowl of noodles and a couple bottles of Tsing Tao beer a copy of Rashomon, Kurasawa’s movie about relative … Read more

killer quote

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“writing is defiance,” says John Vigna, short story genius. defiance is defined as “the act or instance of defying:  challenge” by Merriam-Webster Dictionary.  i’ve been thinking on this one and trying to figure out who or what a writer defies and i think i’ve figured it out.  it’s your self.  it’s a challenge to not … Read more

zadie smith’s rules for writers

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When still a child, make sure you read a lot of books.  Spend more time doing this than anything else. When an adult, try to read your own work as a stranger would read it, or even better, as an enemy would. Don’t “romanticize your vocation”.  You can either write good sentences or you can’t. … Read more

spammed

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spammed by louis vuitton knock-offs. there is irony in this.  i’ve written a series of stories set in Hong Kong, the mecca of knock-offs, and in one particular story an authentic Louis Vuitton handbag stands out.  here’s an excerpt: I admit that when I first saw her, I wondered why she was wearing a Shanghai … Read more

a giant eyeball

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a giant eyeball washes ashore in Florida and i’m printing out the story and adding it to my file marked “stranger than fiction”. here’s the link:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2012/oct/14/eyeball-florida-beach-swordfish-video?newsfeed=true you’re welcome.

doubt

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one day, i doubt and the next day, i believe. it’s been an unusual week.