For the weekend: some writing-related reflections, news, and resources to enjoy.
One of the highlights of my college education was a creative nonfiction workshop taught by Verlyn Klinkenborg. You can get a sense of Verlyn-as-teacher in this lovely new essay, ““Where Do Sentences Come From?”.
Next: Are you ever discouraged by conference/fellowship/residency applications that require letters of recommendation? Cathy Day shares some solid advice.
This week brought my latest “First Looks” column for Fiction Writers Review. Go take a peek at the two forthcoming debut novels I’ve spotlighted this month.
John Warner reflects on his new “visiting instructor” title (complete with full-time status, benefits, and other pleasures).
Those of us interested in freelancing have likely heard about the service known as HARO (Help a Reporter Out). But do we understand how it works?
Have a great weekend. See you back here on Monday.
I love, love the Klinkenborg piece, especially this excellent advice about why it’s helpful for writers to compose (and revise) sentences in their heads:
“There’s a good reason for doing this all in your head. You’re learning to be comfortable in that dark, cavernous place. It’s not so frightening. There’s language there, and you’re learning to play with it on your own without the need to snatch at words and phrases for an assignment. And here’s another good reason. A sentence you don’t write down is a sentence you feel free to change. Inscribe it, and you’re chained to it for life. That, at least, is how many writers act. A written sentence possesses a crippling inertia.”
Lisa, I love your enthusiasm! 🙂