Archives » August 2007

  • Vintage Typewriter Porn

    I like typewriters. I want to own a red one someday. Here is a page of amazing vintage typewriters. As far as I know, no famous writers used these typewriters. Still, pretty!

    Link via Boing Boing
    ~ Joy

    Wednesday 29th August 2007 - 10:47:24 AM | Comment

  • Schedule For September

    Just a reminder we have a meeting next Thursday, September 6. Bring in your attempts to be empathetic with your character so we can judge your efforts. Also don’t forget that we have a second critique workshop on September 20th for the essay. Lets send the revised essay around via e-mail on September 13 so […]

    Wednesday 29th August 2007 - 9:25:37 AM | Comment

  • The MTV Poet Laureate

    MtvU – the MTV channel for college campuses – chose John Ashbery as its poet laureate. At first, it sounded like a well-meaning attempt that would accomplish little. However, I was less cynical after reading about the contest associated with the new appointment. A contest with a real prize!
    In another first, mtvU will help sponsor […]

    Monday 27th August 2007 - 9:09:36 PM | Comment

  • Meeting Summary August 16

    Better late than never:
    Last week, the WPs had a meeting. We read a few things we have been working on and talked about writing. Then we did the prompt:
    Following Joy’s meditations on the use of empathy in writing–that is, empathy of the writer for characters even if the writer does not agree with the character’s […]

    Friday 24th August 2007 - 8:40:57 AM | Comment

  • Come on, America

    One in four Americans polled by the Associated Press-Ispos said they didn’t read any books at all last year. Not even one?
    “I just get sleepy when I read,” said Richard Bustos of Dallas, Texas, a habit with which millions of Americans can doubtless identify. Bustos, a 34-year-old project manager for a telecommunications company, said he […]

    Wednesday 22nd August 2007 - 9:53:30 PM | Comments (3)

  • We Like Literary Quizzes

    Word Pirates,
    I feel you need to know which Jane Austen heroine I am. Here are the results:
    :: L I Z Z Y ::
    You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your […]

    Thursday 16th August 2007 - 10:27:06 AM | Comment (1)

  • Journaling for people who hate journaling

    There is something intimidating and off-putting about writing in a journal for me. I am a type to get obsessed with how nice the book of paper looks and whether or not I am using a good pen or crossing things out and making the page look ugly. Also, I begin to focus on what […]

    Tuesday 14th August 2007 - 11:46:14 PM | Comments (3)

  • Judging a Book by its Cover

    A writer for The Guardian judges the books on the Booker list by their covers. Pretty funny, although I’m pretty sure one of the Word Pirates could have done a better job with this concept. Some highlights:
    Edward Docx - Self Help
    Docx, if cover photos are anything to go by, is good looking and […]

    Thursday 9th August 2007 - 10:16:11 AM | Comment

  • Spreading the joy of reading

    I’ve never actually seen a bookmobile in real life, but I like the idea. Reading is important, blah blah children society. OK, now I can get to the awesome part: bookmules and bookcamels! Children! Excited about books! All right, no more exclamation points.
    About bookmules in remote areas of Venezuela:
    Anyone who was not out working the […]

    Tuesday 7th August 2007 - 9:50:20 AM | Comment

  • August 2 Meeting

    Last night, the Word Pirates did a critique of our personal essays. We got through all 8 essays and even managed to fit in a reading of Sarah Vowell’s essay The First Thanksgiving, for inspiration.
    Next, we are going to edit the essays based on the criticisms. On September 20, we will have a second critique […]

    Friday 3rd August 2007 - 10:44:54 AM | Comment