Matthew Dicks's Blog, page 733
November 4, 2009
Briarwood and Beyond, but no coffee, please.
A couple nights ago, when I wasn't hacking up a lung, I attended the Briarwood and Beyond Book Club meeting where SOMETHING MISSING was the book being discussed. I've attended several bookclubs over the past few months and this one was especially fun. About a dozen enthusiastic women, some of whom I already knew, anxious to talk about the book, the publishing industry, the writing process, and more. The members had written down questions prior to my arrival, but even with the cards in hand...
November 3, 2009
Loving me some new vocabulary
A friend of mine introduced me to a new word today: sprezzatura.
I was explaining to her how I have always treated my post-high school education like a competition. All of my classmates versus me in a battle to determine who was best. Receiving an exceptional grade was great, but knowing that I was on top was even better.
As such, I would routinely find ways to demoralize my classmates on my climb to the top. Finishing tests as quickly as possible. Casually displaying high marks...
AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com
Two things:
1. I can picture any number of the characters from my books appearing on this blog someday.
2. If I am ever in need of a writing prompt, an idea for a story, or just the impetus for a new character, could there be anything more inspiring than photographs like these?
November 2, 2009
November 1, 2009
Honesty translates into respect
One of the most surprising remarks I hear from readers is one that I heard twice last week. In both instances, readers thanked me for handling Martin, the obsessive-compulsive protagonist of SOMETHING MISSING, with "gentleness and respect" and "great decency" when writing about him.
To be honest, I'm not even sure if Martin is truly obsessive-compulsive. When I was writing the book, I thought that Martin's methodical nature was merely a slightly elevated depiction of my own personal...
October 31, 2009
Physical description unnecessary in real life
As a teacher, I abide by a simple and unusual rule in my classroom:
No compliments based upon physical appearance.
I do not comment on a student's wardrobe, hairstyle, shoes or anything else related to the student's image, even if he or she asks.
Student: Mr. Dicks! What do you think of my new haircut?
Me: I think your memorization of the multiplication tables is outstanding!
Some think this policy a bit extreme, but having grown up wearing hand-me-down clothing and the cheapest...
October 30, 2009
Promoting sexism, maybe. But will anyone care?
BOYS ARE DOGS is the YA title by author Leslie Margolis that will be featured in my school's Scholastic book fair next month. I'm waiting for the book fair to purchase a copy, but Amazon's product description is this:
"Middle-school boys act like wild animals.
That's what Annabelle discovers on her first day in her brand-new life. Birchwood Middle School is totally different from her old all-girls elementary. In fact, lots of things in Annabelle's life are totally different now...
Promoting sexism, maybe. But will anyone care?
BOYS ARE DOGS is the YA title by author Leslie Margolis that will be featured in my school's Scholastic book fair next month. I'm waiting for the book fair to purchase a copy, but Amazon's product description is this:
"Middle-school boys act like wild animals.
That's what Annabelle discovers on her first day in her brand-new life. Birchwood Middle School is totally different from her old all-girls elementary. In fact, lots of things in Annabelle's life are totally different now that...
October 29, 2009
Strange days
A friend of mine suggested that I post this, which I wrote a couple years ago. Might be a good way for readers to get to know me a little better. I have edited the original piece slightly to reflect changes in my life.
____________________________________
Here are some strange things about me:
I haven't vomited since the riding on the Music Express at Rocky Point Amusement Park in 1982.
When I was a kid, I had an imaginary friend named Johnson-Johnson, named after Johnson & Johnson's...
Free
I find myself with more than a hundred books that I'd like to eliminate from my life. They are excellent books, classics, bestsellers, collections of essays, etc. I just don't have any reason to keep them in my house anymore. There are too many books that I have not yet read to ever imagine going back and rereading these.
There are some that I have kept. I've held onto my Vonnegut, my Twain, all of my poetry, and a few others for which rereading might someday happen, but the Marquis de Sade...
