What Can We Steal From Jim Ruland’s Forest of Fortune?
Novel

What Can We Steal From Jim Ruland’s Forest of Fortune?

Title of Work and its Form: Forest of Fortune, novel Author: Jim Ruland (on Twitter @JimVermin) Date of Work: 2014 Where the Work Can Be Found: Tyrus Books is responsible for publishing the book; why not buy a copy directly from them?  Independent bookstores would also appreciate your business.  The book is also available from Powell’s and … Continue reading »

Sheila Kohler’s Dreaming for Freud and Stealing from Case Studies
Novel

Sheila Kohler’s Dreaming for Freud and Stealing from Case Studies

Friends, after writing my piece about her story “Magic Man,” Sheila Kohler was kind enough to bring her novel Dreaming for Freud to my attention. (Do I wish I already knew about every cool book out there? Yes. Is it possible to read or even to know about every great novel out there? Sigh…no.) Great Writers … Continue reading »

GWS Essay: “The Tough Shit I Learned from Kevin Smith” by Peter Melnick
Creative Nonfiction / Feature Film

GWS Essay: “The Tough Shit I Learned from Kevin Smith” by Peter Melnick

Dear reader, teaching is often as frustrated as it is rewarding.  A teacher cannot force students to care or to learn or to grow…that desire must come from within.  Well, Peter Melnick is a former student of mine, and a fascinating young man who has that internal desire.  The gentleman was kind enough to think … Continue reading »

GWS Video: What We Can Steal From Great Opening Passages? (Best American Short Stories 2012 Edition)
Video

GWS Video: What We Can Steal From Great Opening Passages? (Best American Short Stories 2012 Edition)

Starting a story can be very difficult, but it’s equally important to craft an opening passage that captures your reader’s attention and gets the narrative humming along.  In this video, I examine how some of the authors whose stories are immortalized in The Best American Short Stories 2012 fulfilled their responsibilities in their opening sentences. Continue reading »

Short Story Collection

Hey, Why’d You Do That, Aaron Burch?

Writers are asked many general questions about their craft. …”What is your overarching philosophy regarding the inherent power of fiction?”…”What IS-character-to you?”…”What is the position of place in your work?”… These are great and important questions, but I’m really curious about the little things.  In the “Hey, Why’d You Do That” series, I ask accomplished … Continue reading »

What Can We Steal From Aaron Burch’s Backswing?
Short Story Collection

What Can We Steal From Aaron Burch’s Backswing?

Title of Work and its Form: Backswing, short story collection Author: Aaron Burch (on Twitter @Aaron__Burch) Date of Work: 2014 Where the Work Can Be Found: Backswing can be purchased from Queen’s Ferry Press.  Click here. Bonuses: Mr. Burch is very much a successful writer in his own right, but he is also notable for … Continue reading »

Hey, Why’d You Do That, B.J. Hollars?
Creative Nonfiction

Hey, Why’d You Do That, B.J. Hollars?

Writers are asked many general questions about their craft. …”What is your overarching philosophy regarding the inherent power of fiction?”…”What IS-character-to you?”…”What is the position of place in your work?”… These are great and important questions, but I’m really curious about the little things.  In the “Hey, Why’d You Do That” series, I ask accomplished … Continue reading »

What Can We Steal From Meghan McClure’s “To Fall”?
Creative Nonfiction

What Can We Steal From Meghan McClure’s “To Fall”?

Title of Work and its Form: “To Fall,” creative nonfiction Author: Meghan McClure Date of Work: 2014 Where the Work Can Be Found: The piece made its debut in Volume 3, Issue 1 of Pithead Chapel.  You can read the piece here. Bonuses: Here are three poems that Ms. McClure published in Superstition Review.  Ms. McClure is the Poetry Editor … Continue reading »

What Can We Steal From M. Hannah Langhoff’s “The Things We Don’t Talk About”?
Short Story

What Can We Steal From M. Hannah Langhoff’s “The Things We Don’t Talk About”?

Title of Work and its Form: “The Things We Don’t Talk About,” short story Author: M. Hannah Langhoff Date of Work: 2014 Where the Work Can Be Found: The story made its debut in Relief: A Christian Literary Expression.  You can purchase the issue in print or digital form here. Bonuses: Here is an excerpt from a piece … Continue reading »