Friday Finds for Writers

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

  • Lots of us are looking forward to the release of Lorrie Moore’s latest story collection. In the meantime, we can enjoy this profile of Moore from The New York Times.
  • Courtesy of David Abrams’s “Quivering Pen” blog: Susan Perabo on a life-changing story acceptance.
  • Oh, I find this idea of a writing residency on an Amtrak train utterly appealing.
  • 15 Places to Find Stock Images for Blog Posts and Websites.”
  • An excellent installment in the Poets & Writers “Agents & Editors” series: editor and publisher Amy Einhorn.
  • Happy weekend, everyone!

    3 thoughts on “Friday Finds for Writers

    1. Thanks for the Perabo rec, Erika. I remember well the book of stories by her that I won from your blog! Always sad to hear about those MFA knock downs, though. Makes me wonder if there’s not a way to do this that isn’t so brutal. I also wonder how many other people in the room that night are still writing, much less authors of multiple books.

      1. R Klempner says:

        I also found that essay to be very powerful–I immediately shared it.

        I totally think that there are ways to teach writing that aren’t so brutal. Even if you provide negative feedback, you can cushion it with praise for other story elements (“I like this! Do more of it!”), a gentle voice, or limiting the number of criticisms offered in a single session.

        I know a fantastic writer who I think is crippled because she cannot write something without hearing that inner critic who sounds an awful like professors and fellow students in her MFA program who regularly ripped her to shreds. She would publish so much more of her fantastic work if she didn’t hear that inner critic.

        This doesn’t just apply to writing, it applies to all teaching and all parenting.

    2. Erika Dreifus says:

      So glad that you two were as impressed with that essay as I was. And yes, John, I was remembering your “win” a couple of years ago, too.

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