RIP William Zinsser
The Associated Press and a number of other outlets are reporting that writing instructor William Zinsser has passed away at the age of 92. Most noted for his hugely popular book On Writing Well, Zinger also taught at Yale University, Columbia University, and other educational institutions.
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Sessions Still Available at Seaside Writers Conference
The Seaside Writers Conference began today, in lovely Florida. Jam packed with great instructors and great workshops, the conference offers something for writers of all experience levels. And it’s not too late to get in on the fun. You can still register and attend certain sessions on an a la carte basis. So if you’re…
continue readingNew GM Book Promises Look Inside Family Revivals
As a writer, I have always admired books that chronicle an entire group of people or even a town. It’s hard enough to write one book about one subject. But getting committments and information from multiple people, especially on difficult topics, is a real chore. So I was intrigued by this news item in the…
continue readingTake a Bite Out of Buford’s Among the Thugs
The soccer controversy out of the World Cup today about Luis Suarez biting an opponent reminded me of the fabulous book Among the Thugs by Bill Buford. Prior to writing bestsellers about cooking, Buford churned out an amazing book that provided an inside look into soccer hooligan culture. Well worth grabbing off the shelf for…
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Sometimes, Ya Just Gotta Write a Shitty Line
We write poor lines because of rushed deadlines, screaming babies in the background, hangovers, and just general human fallibility. Other times, we write poor lines because we have to, because even though they may sound off or awkward, they are, technically, accurate. Such is the case with this Scientific American article republished on Salon.com.
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