Opinion
Where’s the best lit discussion? Me, I like to talk writing. How it’s done and why. Helps me to focus on what I’m doing. Others like to talk about writers and books, and that’s okay too. Keeps me informed, like Lit 500 - intro to world lit for post grads. Now I don’t know Jack Shit, but I know some pretty good writers.
For my money, hands down, thumbs up, the best lit discussion is at The Guardian books blog. This very impressive site is run by the exquisite Sarah Crown, and features (features, mind you) such impressive contributors as Tony O’Neill, Ben Myers, Lee Rourke, Joseph Ridgwell, Andrew Stevens, Sam Jordison, Andrew Gallix, and many others. And these folks know their stuff. Even the regular commenters clearly know their stuff, like they all been to lit grad school or something.
But that’s only a part of what makes this the top lit discussion on our little blue planet. There’re other good discussion sites - one of my favorites of course is Litkicks, run by the inestimable Levi Asher. Levi has just concluded a series of articles that go inside the book publishing world. Need-to-know info for every writer. And Litkicks also has a poetry board that is as good as any poetry site anywhere, bar none. But the thing about The Guardian is that there’s such a great variety of topics, contributors, and feedback, and every frickin day too.
The New York Times has begun a lit discussion blog which I hope will catch on. And I hope everyone will take part in it, but right now it can’t compare to The Guardian. Other sites that have excellent lit discussion include Pico's Literature for Kossacks on Tuesday nights, What Are You Reading by plf515, and Wednesday night Bookflurries by cfk. Be sure to check out each of these on a regular basis.
News
The news this week is big news. Tony O'Neill has signed a couple of book deals with the very impressive Harper Collins and St. Martin's Press. Tony gonna be very rich and very famous. He also has a story at the new issue of Scarecrow.
The new issue of Storyglossia is now online, and they were kind enough to include one of
my stories. I have to send a great big thank you to editor Steven McDermott for that. Hope you read my story 'cause it's one of my favorites.
Dogmatika was also kind enough to include my review of Levi Asher’s book in their current issue. Also, editor Susan Tomaselli has an excellent review of Carolyn Cassady’s book at 3:AM.
Beat the Dust is accepting submissions and they’re attracting some big name writers - Dan Fante, Misty Rainwater-Lites, Justin Hyde, among them.
Same is true for Outsider Writers which publishes so much new stuff all the time, it’s hard to keep up with it. But I recently read some poems by Rob Plath there. Real stuff.
Issue 2 of Debris Magazine is now up.
The Whirligig zine is accepting submissions for its second issue. JD Finch is not only an excellent editor, he pays well too.
Joseph Ridgwell at The Beat and at Savage Manners.
A new music vid produced and directed by Matthew Coleman.
99 Burning is live in Baltimore tonight. Be there, if you can.
* Breaking News * Justin Hyde has won the Jack Micheline Memorial poetry book contest. Check Outsider Writers for details. Way to go Justin!
And finally, one of the nicest ideas I’ve ever heard of in writing. Dave Clapper of SmokeLong Quarterly offers the Kathy Fish Fellowship. That’s a $500 prize and a year as writer in residence at Dave’s excellent magazine. No entrance fee. Check it out.