When I started writing fiction, I was told that, as a southerner, I’d been imbued with an appreciation for “my land” and “my people” and they therefore must be part of any story I set out to write. Imagine my confusion when I found that, despite reading vivid descriptions of endless varieties of red dirt, […]
What I Don’t Write (About): A Writing Mini-Manifesto from a “Southern” Writer Read More »
Maybe you’ve heard the old saying about teachers not being competent enough to actually do the thing they’re teaching. After all, the logic goes, if someone is proficient at their craft, why would they forgo fame, acclaim, and the ability to purchase frighteningly expensive houses just to slum it as a teacher? The horror. I
Teachers and Doers, or: Those Who Can Do May Also Do Teaching Read More »
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone. Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone, Silence the pianos and with muffled drum Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come. “Funeral Blues” – W.H Auden Once, I heard someone say that if you want to get a firm handle on your true
My Imaginary Funeral Blues (With Profuse Apologies to W.H. Auden) Read More »
Once upon a time, I reviewed books for a living. Well, it’s more honest to say I was paid to review them. The living part was a different story. It was a decent job for a while, but as with other hobbies like playing guitar and flying airplanes, getting paid for it sort of took
The Art of the Vague Book Review Read More »
Recently, I re-watched Everything Must Go, an adaptation of the very short Raymond Carver story “Why Don’t You Dance?” When I saw it for the first time back in 2011, I expected to enjoy it, but I was surprised at just how good it was. First things first: Everything Must Go stars Will Ferrell. I
Gary’s Off-the-Map Movie Pick: Everything Must Go Read More »
Let’s say something bad happens to a guy. Maybe we don’t know if he had it coming. It could be a car accident, a life-altering injury, or a terrible disease. Perhaps he loses everything he owns in a natural disaster, or worse, gets caught with his hands in a metaphorical cookie jar. One day, everything’s fine, the
Praying for a Righteous Smack Down: The Amazing Adventures of Smitey Man Read More »