Category Archives: character

volt

Posted on January 26, 2012 by

I want to slow things down. I was planning on writing a post on several stories in Alan Heathcock‘s debut collection, Volt, but I think I’ll just look at the first story. “The Staying Freight”–I love the title–was first published … Continue reading →

Posted in catching moments, character, Contrary, craft of writing, details, first sentences, stories | Tagged | 5 Comments

no place on earth

Posted on November 10, 2011 by

It’s difficult to think of anything other than the stunning crimson and gold leaves outside my windows. I have been doing too many other things lately. And I have come to the place where I need to set aside time … Continue reading →

Posted in books, character, fall, form, journeys, leaves, mfa, novels | Tagged | 8 Comments

busy being alive

Posted on July 28, 2011 by

from the archives: july 28, 2010 Ellen Gilchrist‘s first book was not published until she was in her forties. In “A Reading Group Guide” at the back of Nora Jane: A Life in Stories, she is asked about this: “I … Continue reading →

Posted in character, Contrary, Ellen Gilchrist, obsession, writing | Tagged , | 8 Comments

the squad: goon 3

Posted on March 24, 2011 by

Each chapter of Jennifer Egan‘s A Visit From the Goon Squad can stand alone as a story, but united, these chapters took my breath away. I got chills as I discovered yet another connection between them: Characters who age and reappear. Younger … Continue reading →

Posted in awards and prizes, character, continuous life, craft of writing, form, life, novels, structure, time, truth | Tagged | 6 Comments

Pure Egan

Posted on March 20, 2011 by

In her selected shorts interview, Jennifer Egan talked about how, years ago, she abandoned a story because she couldn’t find any way to rein in the material. Well, in A Visit From the Goon Squad, Egan is the master of … Continue reading →

Posted in awards and prizes, character, craft of writing, novels | Tagged | 9 Comments

toes

Posted on August 22, 2010 by

I painted my toenails orange for June, green for July. They’re sporting yellow polish at the moment. I broke three of my toes growing up–one when I put my bare feet down to stop a swing. My second toes are … Continue reading →

Posted in character, details | Tagged | 8 Comments

a life in stories

Posted on July 28, 2010 by

Ellen Gilchrist‘s first book was not published until she was in her forties. In “A Reading Group Guide” at the back of Nora Jane: A Life in Stories, she is asked about this: “I didn’t begin to write seriously and … Continue reading →

Posted in character, Ellen Gilchrist, obsession, writing | Tagged , | 13 Comments

mrs. somebody somebody

Posted on June 28, 2010 by

I just finished the third wonderful debut collection in as many months. Which I think is truly remarkable. As are the ten connected stories in Tracy Winn‘s Mrs. Somebody Somebody, published in 2009 by SMU Press with Random House recently … Continue reading →

Posted in character, place, stories | Tagged | 4 Comments

more of this world

Posted on June 14, 2010 by

Nine stories make up New Orleans’ writer Barb Johnson’s wonderful debut collection of linked stories, More of This World or Maybe Another. In the first and title story, Delia is the narrator and we meet her boyfriend Calvin and his … Continue reading →

Posted in character, place, stories, time | Tagged | 4 Comments

it is all just shopping

Posted on December 20, 2009 by

Wanted to share this quote with you from Anne Enright‘s The Gathering: “I love this undertaker.  He has that thing that young people got, sometime after I grew up.  He does not pretend.  He does not judge.  He talks about … Continue reading →

Posted in character, craft of writing, details | Tagged | 8 Comments