Category Archives: Movies

Novels In Which Nothing Happens

I’ve been thinking about novel plots lately and what makes the difference between good ones, bad ones, and nonexistent ones. Of the critiques I’ve received on my last novel from various people who’ve read it, the most troubling one for me is that “almost nothing happens.” Of course, in writing it, it seemed to meContinue reading “Novels In Which Nothing Happens”

Independence Day and NYC Trip Report

Happy Fourth of July! Some good news to share: Starting next month I’ll be joining the ranks of the (fully and gainfully) employed. I’ve accepted an offer from a federal government agency and will be going back into my old line of work as a program analyst (subject, of course, to background checks and paperwork,Continue reading “Independence Day and NYC Trip Report”

Happy 101 Sweet Friends

Chanson of Letters from a Broad has memed me. I am flattered to be memed, plus meming people back is much easier than thinking of a blog post on my own, so here goes. (For opaque reasons, the meme is called “Happy 101 Sweet Friends,” hence the title of my post.) The instructions are: List 10Continue reading “Happy 101 Sweet Friends”

A Hodgepodge Pastiche of Miscellany

Last night I finally finished reading William Boyd’s Any Human Heart, which I’d been working at for a while (it was one of those tragic cases where I was halfway through the book when my library renewals ran out and I had to return it, and was too sheepish to turn around and special-request itContinue reading “A Hodgepodge Pastiche of Miscellany”

When Good Authors Write Bad Sentences

A 5-hour plane ride with a two-and-a-half-year-old, if you’ve never tried it, is kind of an Olympics-level parenting event, and I’m still recovering. So forgive me if this post lacks the normal verve and panache due to mental and physical exhaustion. The orgy of cultural consumption has continued unabated since my last post. I readContinue reading “When Good Authors Write Bad Sentences”

Postcard from Tucson #3: Orgy Edition

    Since I’ve been here in Tucson, my work ethic has flown out the window. I had grand ideas of doing tons of revisions on my novel, finishing my line-edits on a friend’s novel, and possibly writing the first draft of a short nonfiction essay. Ha. Instead I’ve given myself over to what I do bestContinue reading “Postcard from Tucson #3: Orgy Edition”

Postcard from Tucson

Another week, another 7,000 words down. Not so bad, really considering I was swept into the maelstrom of vacationing with family in Arizona for the Thanksgiving holiday. By the way, happy Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday – all about food, family, fun, and gratitude. You can’t do better than that for a holiday. My two sistersContinue reading “Postcard from Tucson”

Advantages of Having Written One Novel, However Lousy and Unpublishable

One of my mom friends (Ms. Connect-the-Dots) and I are going to see New Moon tomorrow morning. And I am not ashamed. I know Stephenie Meyer has her share of detractors, but I think it’s an amazing accomplishment on her part to have tapped into a fantasy that so many people can participate in. What’sContinue reading “Advantages of Having Written One Novel, However Lousy and Unpublishable”

Cool Quote from Cormac McCarthy

I don’t know about you all, but I loved The Road and can’t wait to see the movie. Just read the recent interview with Cormac McCarthy in the Wall Street Journal. McCarthy says: Creative work is often driven by pain. It may be that if you don’t have something in the back of your headContinue reading “Cool Quote from Cormac McCarthy”