Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Daniel Wallace at Lemuria
Visited with Daniel Wallace (www.danielwallace.org)after his reading and signing last Wednesday at Lemuria in Jackson. Had met Daniel at the Alabama Writers Symposium (www.ascc.edu)a few years ago. Then happened to be staying at a hotel in Spain next to a theatre showing Big Fish,so I sent him a digital picture of the marquee. That makes us pals right? Not exactly. I did take a run at getting a blurb from Daniel for the book. He read some of the work and said he liked what I was doing, but thought it might be confusing for the reader since we were attempting to do very different things with the writing. Anyway, I like his new book and bought a copy even though I'll get one through the Lemuria First Editions Club (www.lemuriabooks.com). A great way to always have a new, good book around.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Waiting for lightning to strike
The days turn to weeks far too easily as I await Henry's edits. Since last I posted, there is little to chronicle: the contract was signed, I spent time re-reading several classic short stories and a novel I'd already read, revisited a novel ms that I put into suspended animation a year ago to finish the collection, and pitched a couple of conferences. As usual, I also managed to squeeze in a couple of fishing trips.
The stories I most enjoyed recently: First, Eudora Welty's A Worn Path. What a powerful story, made more so by its direct, simple story-telling. Being from Jackson, Welty is a good place to start when searching for reminders of how high the bar has been set from time to time. I used to see her once in awhile, mostly at plays at New Stage Theatre. Sat down the row from her during a run of The Ponder Heart. What a treat. My takeaway: keep it simple. Twists, turns, punch lines and surprise endings don't create characters like Phoenix Jackson.
Another story I reviewed was Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man is Hard to Find as a refresher on dialogue. If you're struggling with making dialogue interesting, yet sounding as if every word is fitting and expected, go read this story. Much to learn there.
Dayne Sherman's novel Welcome to the Fallen Paradise was as good this second time around as the first. Great first novel. Check him out and keep your eyes open. He'll have staying power to chronicle these dusty Southern towns. I'm anxious to see how he does with the IPOD generation who replace their granddaddy's mule with a 90-horse diesel John Deere.
I revised the chapter outline for a ms I tentatively call The Graceland Conspiracy and reread my first 120 pages to get back into the flow of the story. While Henry edits, I'll spend some time with that piece. I'm trying to stay away from writing short fiction as I await possible rewrites to the stories.
On a bright note, a conference I've attended a few times invited me to speak. I won't preempt their own publicity just yet by mentioning it. More to come on that springtime conference later.
My uncle, that last sibling of my late father, died two weeks ago. But when visiting with the family I finally had the wonderful experience of meeting my first cousin's son, Philip Wyatt Shirley, named for me I'm proud to say. Little Philip (Wyatt they call him) is six months old. Fun stuff.
I've been thumbing through old copies of Writers Digest and ripping out features on finding an audience for a book. Let's hope there's a workable idea or two in the stack piling up on my tiny writing desk. Until next time, be safe.--Philip
The stories I most enjoyed recently: First, Eudora Welty's A Worn Path. What a powerful story, made more so by its direct, simple story-telling. Being from Jackson, Welty is a good place to start when searching for reminders of how high the bar has been set from time to time. I used to see her once in awhile, mostly at plays at New Stage Theatre. Sat down the row from her during a run of The Ponder Heart. What a treat. My takeaway: keep it simple. Twists, turns, punch lines and surprise endings don't create characters like Phoenix Jackson.
Another story I reviewed was Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man is Hard to Find as a refresher on dialogue. If you're struggling with making dialogue interesting, yet sounding as if every word is fitting and expected, go read this story. Much to learn there.
Dayne Sherman's novel Welcome to the Fallen Paradise was as good this second time around as the first. Great first novel. Check him out and keep your eyes open. He'll have staying power to chronicle these dusty Southern towns. I'm anxious to see how he does with the IPOD generation who replace their granddaddy's mule with a 90-horse diesel John Deere.
I revised the chapter outline for a ms I tentatively call The Graceland Conspiracy and reread my first 120 pages to get back into the flow of the story. While Henry edits, I'll spend some time with that piece. I'm trying to stay away from writing short fiction as I await possible rewrites to the stories.
On a bright note, a conference I've attended a few times invited me to speak. I won't preempt their own publicity just yet by mentioning it. More to come on that springtime conference later.
My uncle, that last sibling of my late father, died two weeks ago. But when visiting with the family I finally had the wonderful experience of meeting my first cousin's son, Philip Wyatt Shirley, named for me I'm proud to say. Little Philip (Wyatt they call him) is six months old. Fun stuff.
I've been thumbing through old copies of Writers Digest and ripping out features on finding an audience for a book. Let's hope there's a workable idea or two in the stack piling up on my tiny writing desk. Until next time, be safe.--Philip
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