WAYYYBACK MACHINE: Updike & Cheever on the Dick Cavett show

I found this earlier today. Who even knew that Cavett had an NYT blog? Anyway, he somehow got the Times to post a full episode of his show from October 1981, with Cheever and Updike as his guests. I’m not a huge fan of either man–dig Cheever, as far as it goes; basically have never read Updike–but there was something really fascinating about this, and I wound up watching the whole 28-minute clip. Cheever’s voice is amazing. They really don’t make ’em like him anymore. In the post itself, Cavett writes-

The price exacted by booze, drugs and the wear-and-tear of leading a double (triple?) life of bisexual adultery while maintaining a family and brilliant writing career was writ large on the raffish Cheever face. Looking at the two writers sitting side-by-side in the green room backstage, waiting to go on, Cheever’s somewhat rumpled appearance contrasted noticeably with that of the prim and preppy Updike.

True, but that notwithstanding–or perhaps because of it–Cheever is the one to watch for. I love the part where he talks about church, and Cavett tries unsuccessfully to get him to recite the Apostles Creed.

Updike is mostly quiet, and I think very conscious of his role as the young up-and-coming writer. (How could he not be? Cheever points out “I’m old enough to be John’s father.”) He sits back trying to look comfortable for a few long stretches, while Cheever lavishes praise on him, his work, his talent, etc. They also talk about several things we still argue about more or less daily on this website: can you / should you live and write in NYC? What kind of public profile should a writer have? How does reviewing books fit into writing books? Even though you’re famous, will the New Yorker still reject your story if they don’t like it? (Updike: “they should.”) Etc etc. And plus there’s the sheer joy of watching this kind of televsion, delightfully stone-age, with no commercial breaks, cuts to new segments, and almost no graphics. Nothing but smart, decent people talking about stuff smartly and decently: an idea so out-moded and archaic it might just be revolutionary again. 

 

Random & Web Hype / 14 Comments
March 3rd, 2009 / 6:33 pm

storySouth 2009 Million Writers Award Now Open For Nominations

Every year since 2004, Jason Sanford of storySouth has curated the Million Writers Award, a contest designed to promote online fiction. Here’s how it works: editors and readers nominate their favorite online stories of 1000 words or more, then a team of judges whittle these nominations into a list of Notable Stories. Sanford then selects a Top 10, and people vote for the final overall winner, who this year will receive a $100 cash prize. Here are a couple paragraphs from Sanford explaining and advocating the award:

As the old saying should go: If you can’t join them, beat them. The storySouth Million Writers Award for best online fiction of the year will help all internet-based journals and magazines gain exposure and attention … The Million Writers Award takes its name from the idea that we in the online writing community have the power to promote the great stories we are creating. If only a few hundred writers took the time to tell fifteen of their friends about a great online short story–and if these friends then passed the word about this fiction to their friends (and so on and so on)–this one story would soon have a larger readership than all of the stories in Best American Short Stories.

Last year, HTMLGIANT friend Matt Bell won the award for his story “Alex Trebeck Never Eats Fried Chicken”, published in Storyglossia. Since Storyglossia is an excellent magazine, “Alex Trebeck” is a great story, and Matt is a terrific writer, something must be going right.

To be fair, the 1000 word rule is controversial. Some editors of online magazines believe the rule marginalizes sub-1000 word stories, which many proponents of online literature believe to be the form that the internet serves best. Wigleaf Top 50 Very Short Fictions award is a different and equally excellent showcase effort that helps somewhat alleviate this issue.

The important thing:  celebrating online fiction. Which the Million Writers Award has done for 5 years now, so kudos. And remember: it’s up to you. Nominate your favorite stories, or Barack Obama’s going to win this thing too.

b-on-b

CLICK TO NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE STORIES NOW JAH

Contests & Web Hype / 20 Comments
March 3rd, 2009 / 4:25 pm

HEY YOU, STOP THINKING ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO WORD SOME LAME SHITTALK AND READ THIS FUN INTERVIEW!

david-peak-missing-personyo yo yo everybody! how’s everyone doing! sweet, just trying to look less insecure by arguing on the internet!?  aw yeah! well, here’s another random interview. david peak emailed me after i posted about doing interviews. we finna be democratic! keep emailing me and i will keep interviewing.  (INTERVIEW AFTER BREAK Y’ALL!+BONUS HEIDEGGER REFERENCE!)

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Author Spotlight / 20 Comments
March 3rd, 2009 / 1:37 pm

Omniamare

We don’t post a lot here about food writing, mostly because the house we all live together in is sponsored by Chef Boyardee and Captain Morgan, so all we ever eat is canned ravioli washed down with straight warm light rum. But sometimes, something comes across our collective eye–or in this case, just mine–and you want to mention it.

Yesterday I was in my neighborhood coffee shop, and overheard a girl talking on her cell phone to somebody who seemed like a relative, about her day job (PR, of some kind, possibly book-related) and about a food blog she’s been working on for about a month now and feels really happy about. So before she left I aked her for the address of the blog, and went over there to check things out. Now I think you should check things out. The blog is called Omniamare, and the one I met is Lena, who posts as L. Day. Their site motto comes from a Robert Haas poem, and they seem to be pretty good at what they’re doing. Many of the posts come with recipes. Here are some of my findings:

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Uncategorized / 10 Comments
March 3rd, 2009 / 1:31 pm

Geez Y’All: A New HTMLGIANT Series Of Contemporary Country Music Videos Designed to Defuse Significant internet Arguments

Behind the Scenes / 10 Comments
March 3rd, 2009 / 12:37 pm

Fuck Twitter + Exploder

giant-rabbit3

Hi, we’re on Twitter now.

Our bodies are changing. It is scary when our bodies start to change.

Like, your hair grows where before you just rubbed and rubbed

and ladies are more interested in you, and men,

and there is trouble brewing in the cistern

and you might bruise a knee if you cry too hard

yes, we are a changing

changing so hard everyday, it’s like pushups plus grease

i feel exploder

did you know i had a baby last year?

it’s what makes me angry and upset

i can sometimes do a post about how strong my back is

and sometimes i can post about Ricky Moody

to be honest, though, this website is just a hoax made of candy n paper,

designed to get Diane Wililams randy in her special spot

Diane Williams i think changes everyday too

though you never complained when she did that

Don’t fight! We came to make babies

and to eat those babies on crackers provided free of charge

by the goodwill of Cooper Renner and Lee Klein

and Restin Borstenseinsen

and Pimp C (RIP)

Crackerz! for Night Train Magazine!
Crackerz! for Ass Hi Books!
Crackerz! for Haypenny Magazine (RIP)!
Crackerz! for crackers like ya’ll bitches who all you wanna do is front

No really, tho. Let’s play Internet Publishing Mall Madness, n update what we eat on the Twitter, n buy a book sometime, with our monies

‘stead o’ just writin’ that shit all day n shit,

& like my friend Dave ‘future ex editor of NYer’ Shakur said, I get $$$ nigga

till I dead

** THIS POST SHOULD RECEIVE 200 COMMENTS, AS IT IS TRULY ABOUT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING **

Behind the Scenes / 136 Comments
March 3rd, 2009 / 1:14 am

Apples and Cheese: Both in Your Mouth

Rauan Klassink’s Ringing, a new e-book from Kitchen Press. Sam Pink just interviewed Rauan a few hours ago, which means it’s almost outdated. Mercy!

PAIRS DELICIOUSLY WITH:

Leonard Cohen’s Beautiful Losers. A novel that should be as indie-revered as any you can name by Yipzeeny, Kurdledonk, or Qqqqqqqq. But people never mention it? Is it because Thomas Pynchon liked it? Is it because it’s about a bisexual love triangle and a dead Native American Catholic saint? Is it because Montreal? It is because God of? You’re like, “Is that the Hallelujah guy? Didn’t he write that cute Suzanne song?” Is it because of Charles Atlas or a mystical dildo? Are you afraid? Cohen called Beautiful Losers more of a sunstroke than a novel. People turn into movie projectors. People cancel a statue of Queen Victoria. Hey, when you get a chance, you should buy your new favorite novel:

Author News & Author Spotlight & I Like __ A Lot / 12 Comments
March 2nd, 2009 / 9:50 pm

THE 8TMLGIANT READING SERIES UPDATE: March 8th in Amherst & April 8th in Seattle

WHAT DID YOU JUST DO THERE IS THERE MORE THERE (THERE IS CONTROVERSY)
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Author News / 42 Comments
March 2nd, 2009 / 6:14 pm

Moustaches for DC Children

moustachewow1

not mike scalise

I’ve already talked a little bit about the Capitol Letters Writing Center project in DC, so this shouldn’t be too confusing. Basically, the latest news is this: the staff/volunteers are growing moustaches for the month of March to get donations for the Writing Center. These donations will go towards helping the Writing Center accomplish its mission of offering free workshops and tutoring programs to DC students, much like what the 826 centers and the folks at Badgerdog Literary Publishing do.

Friend Mike Scalise is trying to grow a moustache – if he can get $10 from fourteen people, he will have met his goal for the project: $137.23. If you’d like to sponsor his facial hair, or the facial hair of any other volunteer, visit the Capitol Letters Donation page.

Thank you.

Web Hype / 9 Comments
March 2nd, 2009 / 4:15 pm

An Open Response re: HTMLGIANT

The following are answers to questions posited by Brandon Scott Gorrell about HTMLGIANT. I don’t think he was being sarcastic, and I will honor these questions with sincere answers. I am not trying to put him on the spot. I think BSG is one of our best writers around, and I respect him. These answers are respectful. [*Disclaimer: this is not a solicited interview. BSG asked these questions on his blog, and I merely answered them. He and I had no direct discourse.]

what happened to htmlgiant
I think you mean, maybe, like it’s ‘different,’ or worse, ‘not as good.’

was it something inside me or inside htmlgiant

I feel like you’ve been more alienated lately, like you fake-deleted your blog, and came back from NY depressed, and you are questioning your existence more and more. So 60% of it is you, but 40% of it is HTMLGIANT.

i used to read htmlgiant feeling excited

I think when it first started, there was a rush of excitement that has since diminished. Posts used to get 200+ comments, now it’s 20+ on a good day. I think, if a journal or website is to last, it needs a) devoted contributors and b) a consistent ethos. I think we have both.

now i feel a little bored and alienated
That’s probably 88% you, sorry. I will admit we are 12% boring and alienating.

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Behind the Scenes & Web Hype / 363 Comments
March 2nd, 2009 / 2:18 pm