Dan Jorgensen's Blog, page 16
August 6, 2025
At the heart of 'amazing and cool'
“Teens want to read something thatisn't a lie; we adults wish we could put our heads under the blankets and hidefrom the scary story we're writing for our kids.” –Paolo Bacigalupi
Born in the small Western Coloradotown of Paonia (population less than 1,500) on this date in 1972, Bacigalupigrew up on a farm, studied writing and Chinese, traveled the globe, and startedhis career writing stories – both journalistic and creative – about Far Easterncultures and countries. Today, he is best known for hisscience fiction and fantasy writing for Young Adults.
Winner of most of the major Sci-Fiprizes, including Hugo, Nebula and Michael L. Printz Awards, he also has beennominated for a National Book Award and is a regular contributor to magazines,journals and newspapers.
Fact-based, journalistic stylepermeates his work, especially in his award-winning collection Pump Sixand Other Stories, and in his much-celebrated novel TheWindup Girl, set in 23rd Century Thailand. A great“What If?” tale, the book made almost every “Best Novel” and “Best Sci-Fi”list. His most recent book is 2024’s Navola,, called “historicalfantasy with echoes of Renaissance Italy, The Godfather and Game ofThrones” by reviewers.
Bacigalupi said he’s glad youngpeople are drawn to his works. “As a writer, you should care about reluctantreaders,” he said. “You want kids to feel like books are amazing andcool and that they're an escape.”
August 4, 2025
A Writer's Moment: 'It's not a popularity contest'
'It's not a popularity contest'
“We don't go into journalism to be popular. It is our job to seek the truth and put constant pressure on our leaders until we get answers.” – Helen Thomas
Born in Winchester, KY on this date in 1920, Thomas plowed new ground for women in journalism and gave true meaning to the term “Watchdog for Democracy.”
The author of 6 bestselling books, led by Front Row at the White House, she was a news reporter for 60 years, writing thousands of articles and doing a syndicated column for the United Press International. She literally began her career in the trenches (as a copygirl at the Washington Daily News) and ended it as the UPI's Chief White House correspondent, earning every major newswriting award and 30 honorary doctorate degrees along the way.
Thomas, who died in 2013, was the first female officer of the National Press Club, and the first female member and president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, covering the administrations of 11 U.S. presidents from Eisenhower to Obama, and often drawing their ire for her tough questions.
“Presidents deserve to be questioned,” she said. “Maybe irreverently, most of the time. I don’t think a tough question is being disrespectful.”
August 2, 2025
A Writer's Moment: 'To cherish the earth'
'To cherish the earth'
“Thecare of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our mostpleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster itsrenewal is our only hope.” – Wendell Berry
Bornin Kentucky on Aug. 5, 1934 the prolific Berry has authored multiple novels,short stories, poems, and essays. Poetry,he said, “exists at the center of a complex reminding.” ForSaturday’s Poem, here is Berry’s,
Water
Iwas born in a drought year. That summer
my mother waited in the house, enclosed
in the sun and the dry ceaseless wind,
for the men to come back in the evenings,
bringing water from a distant spring.
Veins of leaves ran dry, roots shrank.
And all my life I have dreaded the return
of that year, sure that it still is
somewhere, like a dead enemy’s soul.
Fear of dust in my mouth is always with me,
and I am the faithful husband of the rain,
I love the water of wells and springs
and the taste of roofs in the water of cisterns.
I am a dry man whose thirst is praise
of clouds, and whose mind is something of a cup.
My sweetness is to wake in the night
after days of dry heat, hearing the rain.
August 1, 2025
A Writer's Moment: 'Constructing consciousness out of words'
'Constructing consciousness out of words'
"Novelists are in the businessof constructing consciousness out of words, and that's what we all do, cradleto grave. The Self is a story we tell.” –James Gleick
Born in New York City on this date in 1954, Gleick is an author, science historian,and internet pioneer whose work has chronicled the cultural impact of moderntechnology on our lives. I firstinteracted with his work as a member of the Science Writers of America – asomewhat dubious designation for me, although I do like writing science featuresfrom time-to-time and was honored to be accepted into their clan.
Winner of many awards for his writing and critical reviews, he has been athree-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and finalist for the National BookAward for The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood. And, he holds the distinction of being the first editor of "The BestAmerican Science Writing Series."
In a feature about him, the WallStreet Journal said some writers excel at crafting a historical narrative, othersat elucidating esoteric theories, and others at humanizing scientists. Gleick, they said, is a master of all three. Gleick’s books have been translated into morethan 30 languages, his most recent being Time Travel: A History.
“Neither technology nor efficiencycan acquire more time for you,” Gleick wrote, “because time is not a thing youhave lost. It is not a thing you everhad.”
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On a side note, today's is my 4,000th post since starting this blog on Aug. 1, 2014. It's been a definite "kick start" to mywriting day. Thanks to the loyal readers who have followed since itsbeginning, and welcome to those who have recently found these posts and chosento come back for more. Cheers!
July 31, 2025
'Listen, watch and fill your mind with images'
“One thing I'm interested in is whatshapes us: The people? The place where we live? It's both of thoseand more. That's what I keep coming back to.” – SharonCreech
Born in Ohio on July 29, 1945 Creechis the first American to win both the Carnegie Medal and the Newbery Medal for thesame book, her amazing young adult book Walk Two Moons. Thosetwo major awards are among dozens Creech has earned for her writing, noting inher understated fashion: “There seemed to be an audience out there who wantedto read what I wanted to write.”
While her writing career has primarilybeen aimed at the young adult market, adults have been a big audience for herworks, too. She embeds serious topicsinto her stories, including themes of independence, trust, childhood,adulthood, and death, but often softening the blow with humor.
Her writing advice is simple: “Reada lot, live your life, and listen and watch, so that your mind fills up withmillions of images.”
A Writer's Moment: 'Listen, watch and fill your mind with images'
July 30, 2025
Revealing the picture 'bit by bit'
“Something happens between a noveland its reader which is similar to the process of developing photographs, theway they did it before the digital age. The photograph, as it wasprinted in the darkroom, became visible bit by bit. As you read yourway through a novel, the same chemical process takes place.” –Patrick Modiano
Born in France on this date in 1945,Nobel Prize in Literature winner Modiano’s analogy of the development of thenovel “before our eyes” also gives us a look into his writingstyle. He lets the picture slowly appear, sometimes leaving usstartled, sometimes satisfied, sometimes angry, but always interested in what’scoming next.
His novels delve into the puzzle ofidentity in ways seldom seen. And, he tackles a time in France– the German occupation during World War II – that evokes both heroism andshame depending on the point of view from which tale is being told. Although Modiano’sworks have been translated into more than 30 languages, most had not beenavailable in English before he was awarded the Nobel in 2014. His newest book La Danseuse, publishedin French is just out in the English translation.
He said he has never found writing, especially novels, to be easy. “You have this dream of what youwant to create," he said, "but it is like walking around a swimming pool and hesitating tojump in because the water is too cold.”
