Was at a holiday brunch at a friend’s house the other day. In addition to the grownups, there were two high school students and another kid who’s in sixth grade. We were all talking about music, when the eldest high schooler let loose this gem:
“All new stuff is HORRIBLE.”
He then went on a rant about [...]
Entries from December 2008
December 31, 2008
All New Stuff is HORRIBLE
December 29, 2008
DCWYTBMA in First Quarter ‘09
I hope you all enjoyed your holiday break. Santa (who does so exist) was very nice to my family. Even nicer was the opportunity to be away from the internet for a few days. I do love you so, internet, but sometimes it’s nice to take a break and see other technologies.
Now I’m back. Here’s [...]
December 22, 2008
2008 Year in Culture Thank You Note
Off the top of my head, in no particular order, and with some (but not total) regard for release dates, here is who I have to thank in 2008:
Tina Fey for creating an imitation that’s more true than the original
Simon Rich for telling animal jokes about human suffering
James Wood for making How Fiction Works both [...]
December 18, 2008
The Best and Worst of DCWYTBMA
Two weeks ago I wrote a post about the inherent laziness of year-end round-ups. Did I write that post from a position of highness? Or mightiness?
No.
I wrote that post fully anticipating that I would be writing this post, in which I invite you to comment on the highs and lows of DCWYTBMA in 2008. I [...]
December 17, 2008
Writers As Rocks Stars & Dr No Words
Mini link dump for you today:
First, an interesting piece in the Columbia Journalism Review (for those of you who didn’t think CJR could bring it, guess again!) about how journalists might survive if they start acting like rock stars. These ideas apply more generally to other creative professions, and also dovetail nicely with recent posts [...]
December 16, 2008
Question: Can My Own Blog Get In My Own Way?
A reader writes:
I have always used my blog to gauge reactions to various experiments and writing styles, and I enjoy the immediate feedback inherent to self-publishing. But if I want to submit a story to a magazine, it’s likely that they’re going to want first publishing rights.
My blog isn’t particularly high traffic, so it seems [...]
December 15, 2008
If I Were An Editor . . .
I’d give this kid a shot based on this video alone:
The medium is video, but he thinks like a writer.
December 12, 2008
Awesome Writing Prompt #3
Write a scene in which, despite appearances, it is the rabbit that controls the man.
December 11, 2008
A Tale of Two Agents
Agent A
Agent A goes into the office first thing and checks his e-mail. There are usually anywhere between 30 and 40 electronic queries from people the agent has never met. Nevertheless, he goes over them with great care, weighing the pros and cons of each one, and thinking deeply about their literary and commercial potential. [...]
December 10, 2008
There’s A Fine Line between Offensive And Clever
First, a very dead Fred Astaire flogs Dirt Devil vaccums. (Couldn’t find the video. We’ll have to settle for this disturbing still.)
Then John Wayne comes back from the grave to appear in this crepuscular Coors Light ad:
Not surprisingly, fans and critics protest the digital pimping of iconic stars. It almost becomes [...]
