Scott McClanahan reads “Kidney Stones” in Atlanta
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziUYE3Xaww4&
Video courtesy of Matt DeBenedictis.
Forwarding-video-to-me courtesy of Jeremy Schmall.
Catherine Lacey—
Going to AWP? Like Shane Jones? Ok, good. You qualify for this free thing.
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Annalemma Six Issue Release Party 4/12/10 7:30 pm
Uncategorized / Comments Off on Annalemma Six Issue Release Party 4/12/10 7:30 pm
March 25th, 2010 / 9:13 pm
March 25th, 2010 / 9:13 pm
Teabaggers teach me something about writing: magical thinking
“There are millions of people across the country who wish you ill, and all of those thoughts that are projected on you will materialize into something that’s not very good for you. We don’t have to do anything but sit back and wish.”
There are times when I have a character in a story who I wish and wish and wish ill upon. Unless the crazy, teabagging magical thinker transcribed from the news report above, though, when I’m writing my wishes can come true. I’m an author. I am in control. I am God/a god/etc. here.
Sometimes, though, it might be helpful to ignore that wish. Maybe most of the time. Maybe most of the time, it would be detrimental to the story, to the story’s world, to be the vengeful et cetera.
I mean, nothing will happen to Stupak because millions of people across the country wish him ill. Not from the wishing. Why should I always get what I want just because I’m in control?
Matthew Simmons—
Sam Lipsyte interview by Paul Constant of The Stranger. It’s a good one. Q: This book in particular felt Elkinish to me. And I was wondering if you were thinking about him a lot when you were writing… A: Well, I think that his example is always with me. The notion of doing it with language—whatever you’re trying to do—of doing it with language and the example he set with his books is always with me. If you are in Seattle, Sam Lipsyte will be reading tonight at Neptune Coffee.
Nick Antosca—
Obama drops into Prairie Lights to browse. I’d like to see a picture of Obama and Paul Ingram hanging out.
Blake Butler—
Octopus 13. Featuring poetry by Sawako Nakayasu Daniel Lin Julie Carr José Díaz Chanel Clarke Cherise Bacalski Tim Van Dyke Ayane Kawata translated by Sawako Nakayasu Kristin Sanders Jenny Zhang Cathy Linh Che Justin Marks Jon Leon Christopher DeWeese Natalie Lyalin Alejandra Pizarnik translated by Jason Stumpf Bin Ramke Bhanu Kapil Lesley Yalen Jonah Winter Geoffrey Nutter Claire Donato Caroline Knox Takako Arai translated by Jeffrey Angles, etc.
Blake Butler—
Who is the greatest rapper ever? I mean total package: fun, lyrics, beats, power. If you say Jay-Z, say it to yourself under your breath so I don’t have to slap a dummy.
Calamari Contest
Derek White has offered up 3 “chef select” prize packages from his Calamari Press Liquidation Sale for us to throw into the game. That’s three prizes of a dozen books each (you pick 2, Derek picks the other 10) from the Calamari Press archives.
To enter, comment with a brief write up of a dream you had where you went either to a country you’ve never been to, or a place that does not exist. Or write about writing in a language that does not exist, either in a dream, or in your underwear at your desk. Or you could tell about something weird that happened to you after watching a Cronenberg movie. Whichever.
Two winners will be picked for their fine job, one at random. Entries close tomorrow night.
Blake Butler—
michael spielman, Seth, and rk, you are the winners of the Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned contest. Please email your address for the book.
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