Rachel Swirsky's Blog, page 41
July 31, 2010
A Meta-Fictional Diptych Relating to the Stories "Appogiatura" and "Fixing Hanover"
Last month, Matt Cheney emailed me to let me know that he was putting together a celebration of Jeff VanderMeer's new collection, Third Bear. He asked a number of writers and critics if we would each write about two stories from Jeff's collection sometime in July.
"Sure," I said, "but my July is busy. It might be late in July." Matt assured me that was okay, and here I am, as promised, at the very last minute.
Matt told us we could write however we wished about Jeff's stories. In this case, I ...
"Sure," I said, "but my July is busy. It might be late in July." Matt assured me that was okay, and here I am, as promised, at the very last minute.
Matt told us we could write however we wished about Jeff's stories. In this case, I ...
July 30, 2010
Analyzing the Claim That $250,000 Is A Lower Middle Class Salary in New York City
Over on Alas, one of our resident conservatives recently argued that it's not fair to raise taxes on people who earn over $250,000 because, while someone who earns $250,000 in rural Mississipi is very wealthy, someone who earns the same in Manhattan is lower middle class.
I decided to look up some numbers to analyze his claim. Assuming the numbers I've found are accurate, the median salary in New York City according to the bureau of labor statistics was approximately $50,000.*
Does that go up a...
I decided to look up some numbers to analyze his claim. Assuming the numbers I've found are accurate, the median salary in New York City according to the bureau of labor statistics was approximately $50,000.*
Does that go up a...
July 21, 2010
YA fantasy novel idea
I had an idea for a fantasy novel today.
I may do it as a short story, or as a YA novel, or as an adult novel. Or I may not do it, and those reasons may have nothing to do with the below. But:
The protagonist of this novel or short story will be a poor, seventeen-year-old black girl. (The secondary protagonist will be a middle class seventeen-year-old boy, either black or a white Jew.)
I am an upper-middle class, twenty-eight year old, white woman.
So, here's the thing: I'm terrified of writin...
I may do it as a short story, or as a YA novel, or as an adult novel. Or I may not do it, and those reasons may have nothing to do with the below. But:
The protagonist of this novel or short story will be a poor, seventeen-year-old black girl. (The secondary protagonist will be a middle class seventeen-year-old boy, either black or a white Jew.)
I am an upper-middle class, twenty-eight year old, white woman.
So, here's the thing: I'm terrified of writin...
July 16, 2010
Any help out there?
Is there some reason why my plugged-in laptop would be drawing enough power to keep going, but not enough to recharge at all?
July 13, 2010
Liveblogging Launch Pad
Hello, livejournal!
I wanted to let you know that I'm liveblogging the astronomy workshop, Launch Pad, which I am extremely lucky to be visiting Laramie, Wyoming, in order to attend.
I'm publishing the Launch Pad posts at Jeff VanderMeer's Blog, Ecstatic Days. So far I've posted:
Launch Pad, Day Minus One
Launch Pad, Day One: Who We Are and Why We're Here
Launch Pad, Day One: Mike Brotherton on the Scales of the Universe
Launch Pad, Day One: Jim Verley on The Seasons, the Moon, and the...
I wanted to let you know that I'm liveblogging the astronomy workshop, Launch Pad, which I am extremely lucky to be visiting Laramie, Wyoming, in order to attend.
I'm publishing the Launch Pad posts at Jeff VanderMeer's Blog, Ecstatic Days. So far I've posted:
Launch Pad, Day Minus One
Launch Pad, Day One: Who We Are and Why We're Here
Launch Pad, Day One: Mike Brotherton on the Scales of the Universe
Launch Pad, Day One: Jim Verley on The Seasons, the Moon, and the...
June 23, 2010
Octavia Butler, inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame
Octavia Butler is being inducted into the science fiction hall of fame, an honor richly deserved by the author of Blood Child, Lilith's Brood, and Parable of the Sower, not to mention her other rich and varied work.
The Carl Brandon society is hosting a celebration in her honor in Seattle:
The Carl Brandon society is hosting a celebration in her honor in Seattle:
CARL BRANDON SOCIETY CELEBRATES OCTAVIA E. BUTLER'S HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
On Saturday, June 26, the Carl Brandon Society is hosting a party in honor of Octavia E. Butler's induction into the Science Fiction ...
June 6, 2010
Clarion West Write-a-thon 2010
I have a lot of stuff to post on my blog! Developments have happened! Publications! Awards! News! Contemplations of actual political issues and deep thoughts, not to mention reviews and tourist stuff.
But let's start with this.
Clarion West is holding its annual write-a-thon this summer, and as I have for the past 5 years, I am participating. If you like earrings, sponsor me for $10 or more, and I will make and send you a pair according to a color set of your choice. Keep them, give them away, ...
But let's start with this.
Clarion West is holding its annual write-a-thon this summer, and as I have for the past 5 years, I am participating. If you like earrings, sponsor me for $10 or more, and I will make and send you a pair according to a color set of your choice. Keep them, give them away, ...
May 8, 2010
Chicagoans!
Dear Chicagoans,
I will be hanging out in Chicago the 26th and 27th and possibly part of the 28th. I might be there a bit earlier than that, too.
Anyone want to get together?
I will be hanging out in Chicago the 26th and 27th and possibly part of the 28th. I might be there a bit earlier than that, too.
Anyone want to get together?
May 5, 2010
Fogcon
I'm on the concom for a new literary convention that will be launching in San Francisco on March 11-13, 2011. Fogcon is hosting guests of honor Pat Murphy and Jeff VanderMeer.
You can visit them at fogcon.org, where there's more information available, along with registrations starting at $55.
From the press release:
You can visit them at fogcon.org, where there's more information available, along with registrations starting at $55.
From the press release:
"Each year we'll explore a new theme related to speculative literature. Our goal is to build a literary-themed convention modeled after some of our favorite conventions, which...
April 30, 2010
The History Within Us
"The History Within Us" by Matthew Kressel is one of the most powerful stories I've read in a long time. I am deeply moved by it. Go read.
