Tag: writing

Criticism

Says I: Against the Repetitive of Use of “Says” and “Said” in Prose

Something has happened in the writing world recently. A sudden sea change in favor of the repetitious use of a particular four-letter word…describing characters’ utterances. Said. Where once it would have been unthinkable to see such lazy writing (and it is lazy, not “simple,” as many writers are fond of using as a defense), it’s now deemed the norm for “straightforward, unpretentious” writing. Writing that … Continue reading Says I: Against the Repetitive of Use of “Says” and “Said” in Prose

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Essay, Writing and Pop Culture

On That And Just Like That… Moment, Or: Asking A Writer Not To Write About Certain People Is A Particularly Egregious Form of Censorship

As trouble in “paradise” inevitably keeps mounting for the Bradshaw/Shaw reunion, it was plain to see that things were already going to be majorly problematic when Aidan’s (John Corbett) ex-wife, Kathy (Rosemarie DeWitt), called Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) to arrange a little sit-down. Although she tried to tell herself (and her friends) it wasn’t weird, Carrie is no stranger to the uncomfortable revelations that arise … Continue reading On That And Just Like That… Moment, Or: Asking A Writer Not To Write About Certain People Is A Particularly Egregious Form of Censorship

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Essay

Maybe The Only “Good” Thing About The Attack on Rushdie Is That It Proves Literature Still Has Power… Or Not, Since It Only Does If You “Speak Ill” of a Very Particular Subject

Salman Rushdie’s August 12th stabbing in “idyllic” Chautauqua, New York brought up many emotions for those with enthusiasm for literature (and even those without it). Or, more accurately, the freedom of speech element it champions. On the one hand, there is something “encouraging” about the fact that the power of someone’s words in novel form could hold such weight. On the other, that it took … Continue reading Maybe The Only “Good” Thing About The Attack on Rushdie Is That It Proves Literature Still Has Power… Or Not, Since It Only Does If You “Speak Ill” of a Very Particular Subject

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Essay

“The Things I Once Enjoyed Just Keep Me Employed Now”: On the Benefits of Artistic Obscurity

There is an undeniable sadness to knowing that—short of a goddamn miracle—you’re going to end up dying in obscurity like Kafka. Oh sure, you can tell yourself you’ll be that “rare exception” and that you’ve got “true talent” (as if that’s what publishing is about) that outshines all the rest, but you may eventually find that you aren’t rare and talent isn’t enough. And yet, … Continue reading “The Things I Once Enjoyed Just Keep Me Employed Now”: On the Benefits of Artistic Obscurity

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Poetry

If The World Is Indistinct by Amy Poague

then your various eyes stare across the room at the Snellen chart: nonsense, smartly ordered, meaning subtracted. Glyphs are just shapes before they are threads weaving a mind in and out. From where do the eye’s minds return? Meaning’s long silence gives you time to interpret the chart as an abbreviated handbook for visionaries, so cover the mind’s eyes and read, handing over your tangled … Continue reading If The World Is Indistinct by Amy Poague

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Poetry

The Rapid Room by Lawdenmarc Decamora

(after Requiem for a Dream) Feel the pain, the spiked effect of the year fastens like fantasy to the rapid room of human skin. Watch the junior tomato sun swiftly spinning forward the neon kitchen countertops, making big the dream to dance with cauliflowers while the text message remains unread, un-sniffing the curry powder from the freshest Woodstock of our lungs. See neon-painted plastic cups … Continue reading The Rapid Room by Lawdenmarc Decamora

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Criticism

At Least the National Book Award Panel Doesn’t Think Women Are Useless

It’s been a bad week for women (want to pay for your own birth control, anyone?). Shit, a bad year. Surely you must know why. But one thing women can take comfort in this week is that the National Book Award panel of judges has seen fit to recognize female writers very noticeably on their list of finalists this year. Though we’ve always known the … Continue reading At Least the National Book Award Panel Doesn’t Think Women Are Useless

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Criticism

Regina Spektor’s “Edit” Taunt: Not Necessarily True for Everyone

There is a common belief among the “writing community” (a term Charles Bukowski would have vomited at) that “writing is rewriting.” For most, this tends to be the case, whether because they prefer the “let me shit it all out” method so that what they’ve ejected from within themselves can be fine-tuned or because, quite simply, they possess no natural talent, and have to work … Continue reading Regina Spektor’s “Edit” Taunt: Not Necessarily True for Everyone

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