Friday Finds for Writers

Treasure Chest
Writing-related resources, news, and reflections to enjoy over the weekend.

  • 10 Great Novels of the Rural: A Reading List by Michelle Hoover, Author of Bottomland.” Courtesy of Electric Literature. (Bottomland, which was published this week, btw, is also on my tbr list.)
  • Suggestions for “characterizing” setting, via Ayşe Papatya Bucak and Fiction Writers Review.
  • Thoughtful and honest post on critique by Jan Priddy over on the Brevity blog.
  • Jessica Strawser recently shared “10 Lessons Learned Behind the Scenes of a Book Deal.” Check ’em out!
  • Finally, this week’s absolute must-read: Alison Stine’s “On Poverty” essay, via the Kenyon Review blog. A snippet: “Art is not the class I was born into. It’s not only that writing doesn’t pay well; it costs a lot of money for the privilege of not being paid, even for the consideration of not being paid.” (As some of the comments suggest, some readers have argued that the essay’s stance against Claire Vaye Watkins’s “On Pandering” essay is unwarranted; my own sense is that much of Stine’s essay would still be well worth reading had the piece not referenced Watkins at all.)
  • Have a good weekend, everyone.

    8 thoughts on “Friday Finds for Writers

    1. Really fascinating article on setting by Bucak. Thanks for sharing it. I’m inspired to more seriously consider the ways setting affects my characters and even becomes a character itself.

      1. Erika Dreifus says:

        I’m so glad!

    2. This is an incredible essay, as was Watkins’s essay. No question about it, though, Watkins makes fun of the poor and that region of PA, which then undermines her ultimate message. Good for Stine to call her out.

      1. Erika Dreifus says:

        It has been some time since I read the Watkins essay–I appreciate your take.

    3. Beth Browne says:

      All fascinating articles, especially On Poverty. Wow. Thanks for sharing!

      1. Erika Dreifus says:

        You’re so welcome, Beth!

    4. Mike Hooker says:

      Hi, Erika,

      Thanks for the list of novels and for all of the effort you put into your blog–and your writing life.

      1. Erika Dreifus says:

        I appreciate that, Mike. Nice to hear from you. Hope everything’s good with you.

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