Are blogging and the academy incompatible? It would be a shame to think so.
Susan Hill — who has dubbed herself “the Simon Cowell of the creative writing world” — excoriates her students for their flabby first lines. She’s posted several novel openers she does like, and has warned her students that she’ll post their less-than-stellar efforts unless they opt out. Not sure if that’s entirely ethical, but I have to admit I’m curious.
You can be a famous comedian/writer/director and still blog, as Stephen Fry proves in a blog essay, or what he hilariously dubs a “blessay,” about fame. He touches on the fame, even, of writers:
Dan Whatsit and his preposterously awful Leonardo book are actually relevant to our theme. I usually last longer with any best-selling novel, however pathetic, than I did with his. But in his case I knew from the very first word that this was a writer of absolutely zero interest, insight, wit, understanding or ability. A blunderer of monumental incompetence. The first word, can you credit it, is ‘renowned’. ‘Renowned symbologist Henry Titfeather ….’ or something equally drivelling, that’s how this dreadful book opens. How do you begin to explain to someone that you just don’t start a fictional story by telling your readers that your character is ‘renowned’? You show it, you don’t tell it.
I’m not sure why, but his blogging — blessaying — reminds me very much of Tod Goldberg’s.
I for one am glad that Matt Cheney has moved away from New Hampshire, because he’s now attending fab NYC events like Jonathan Lethem on Philip K. Dick.
Banned Books Week begins today. Last year’s Top 10 Banned Books included Toni Morrison (twice!), two daddy penguins, and gossip girls. Right — ban the book, let the kids watch the girls on TV.
Salman Rushdie and The Valve agree: book reviews are good, lit blogs are, too.
