Hollywood is rediscovering the Bible. (You can read about it here.) They have this to say: Hollywood has the best storytellers. And religion has the best stories. Well, OK. And then there’s this: There’s creative interpretation that goes into things that aren’t directly addressed in the underlying material, and so you always run the risk […]
Tag: writing
The geography of fiction
Novels are tricky. Is upbeat artificial? Is dystopian faithless? Are plot line and characterization exclusive? Robert D. Kaplan’s new book, The Revenge of Geography, hints at the link between realistic characters and complex scenarios: Geography is common sense, but it is not fate. Individual choice operates within a certain geographical and historical context, which affects decisions […]
How to strengthen your case
Whether or not I agree, I’m honored to be part of the conversation when you . . . Represent the opposition accurately (no straw men) Speak with confidence (no defensiveness) Address me as a peer (no talking down to the reader) Remain calm (no shrill crescendos) Treat me with respect (nothing uncharitable) Give me something […]
100-Word Novels
There’s writing and there’s pruning. Both benefit from practice. Here’s a pruning exercise to hone your valuation of words. Tell a story in exactly one hundred words. You can condense a novel (Les Miserables!), render some portion of a larger story, or make it up. Just give it enough arc to satisfy the reader and […]
Editorial wisdom from the Chicago teachers’ strike
Amanda Ripley made this point in her WSJ piece from last Saturday: The all-important issue is not how easy it is to fire the worst teachers; it’s how to elevate the entire craft without going to war with the teachers. In her mind, both sides are crucial to the health of the system. Not unlike […]
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