Word Pirates

Terry Gross has an interview with Lloyd Schwartz, who recently co-edited Elizabeth Bishop: Poems, Prose and Letters. Schwartz established a friendship with the reclusive poet toward the end of her life.
At one point, Bishop was in the hospital, so she asked Schwartz to get some of her things from her home–including her notebook. At some […]

Vladimir Nabokov’s son says he will publish his father’s unfinished work “The Original of Laura” rather than destroying it. Since Nabokov’s death in 1977, his son Dmitri has been torn about whether he should follow his father’s last wishes and destroy the novel or share the work of a great 20th-century novelist with the world. […]

Now, these are tattoos I like.
Sample:
~ Joy

There’s an interesting, heated conversation going on at this blog about whether editors of literary journals solicit work instead of digging from the slush pile. Then, the writer from the aforementioned Writer, Rejected (which is fast becoming one of my favorite writing blogs, I must say) questioned whether editors should be soliciting work in the […]

Following yesterday’s post, what happens if David Foster Wallace is stranded on a desert island? (Via)
~ Joy

Don DeLillo in The Onion magazine:

~ Joy

I enjoyed Slate’s poetry FAQ, where Robert Pinsky answered “frequently asked questions about the business of verse.” It made me want to re-read William Carlos Williams.
9. Well, I like poetry that is amusing, that maybe makes me chuckle a little. I’d rather read something reassuring and light than something complicated or gloomy. Is that bad? […]

Two places seeking your submissions:
Dossier Journal is a new independent arts and culture journal bringing together writing, photography, fashion and art in one publication. We are a bi-annual publication with a circulation of around 5,000 copies with worldwide distribution. Our format is a bit different than traditional literary magazines as we are […]

At last night’s meeting, the Word Pirates celebrated our second anniversary since Marcia, Leona, and I founded the group in 2006. Wow. Time flies, huh?
~ Joy

I prefer the somewhat utilitarian trade paperback to the hardcover book. I usually take off the jacket and am left with a bland inflexible book. However! I saw photos of the elaborate jacket and cover design for Michael Chabon’s new book “Maps and Legends.” And wow. Cool and pretty! Also: If you remove the jacket […]

Rejection is a part of writing. (Well, it is unless you don’t try to get your writing published.) However, it’s a part of writing that a lot of us don’t talk about with each other. It can be humiliating, demoralizing and sad. Or it can be funny.
On Literary Rejections on Display, one writer shared some […]

On Thursday, May 15, 2008, we will be holding the Second Annual Word Pirates Reading. There will be artists and excitement and several short, witty pieces read with charm and grace by our members. Come one, come all! Time TBA. Keep checking back here for more info.

Horton, my favorite—look how he’s been treated
Stuffed with tinsels and tassels and promptly excreted!
The puns! And the filler! The script fees you must save!
While I tumble and grum-humble around in my grave.

More here.
Via Bookninja.
~ Joy

Margaret Atwood wrote an intelligent, fascinating article about Anne of Green Gables, which is turning 100 this April. She goes over the history of the book, its continuing popularity, and the life of its author, LM Montgomery. And she asked some Japanese readers why these books are so popular in Japan. (Who knew?) Here are […]