Robert Detman's Blog, page 5
May 1, 2014
Consistency. And the rise of short forms
A foolish consistency, though it may be the hob goblin of
little minds, is also the way to go for a writing career. This seems
particularly true when it comes to the short story. Perhaps it’s a choice based
on economics: you’ll only grab a reader for those few pages, and if you can
pull it off then, you might be wise to do it again and again. Some of the
greatest writers of short stories are all
little minds, is also the way to go for a writing career. This seems
particularly true when it comes to the short story. Perhaps it’s a choice based
on economics: you’ll only grab a reader for those few pages, and if you can
pull it off then, you might be wise to do it again and again. Some of the
greatest writers of short stories are all
March 2, 2014
Schadenfreude Unlimited! A review of Lorrie Moore's Bark and Apotheke
Schadenfreude Unlimited!--my review of Lorrie Moore's Bark: Stories, is live today at the wonderfully eclectic Trop Magazine. Props to all the folks behind this terrific journal. Here's a teaser: Lorrie Moore will "expand whatever postage stamp-sized garden of humanity you will needlessly, excessively toil over with yard implements and fertilizer for a season, just to grow one ****ing cherry
February 28, 2014
A brief review of Ben Marcus’s Leaving the Sea: Stories
Having immersed myself in Ben
Marcus’s fiction for awhile, it dawned on me: every fiction writer creates
their own world, ready made. Marcus’s new story collection Leaving the Sea is wide ranging, if variable and perhaps uneven because
of the terrain it covers, from the experimental, to the more traditional
narrative with a gloss of dystopia—which for being distilled and strained
through the
Marcus’s fiction for awhile, it dawned on me: every fiction writer creates
their own world, ready made. Marcus’s new story collection Leaving the Sea is wide ranging, if variable and perhaps uneven because
of the terrain it covers, from the experimental, to the more traditional
narrative with a gloss of dystopia—which for being distilled and strained
through the
February 19, 2014
A brief review of Racher Kushner's The Flamethrowers
Rachel Kushner’s The
Flamethrowers has restored my belief in first person narratives. She
somehow seamlessly conveys this character in a way that is at once sympathetic,
and very convincing. Particularly when it comes to the secondary characters,
who come to life through dialogue. First person has always been problematic to
me, maybe because of the insistence on the voice of one. Yet Kushner
Flamethrowers has restored my belief in first person narratives. She
somehow seamlessly conveys this character in a way that is at once sympathetic,
and very convincing. Particularly when it comes to the secondary characters,
who come to life through dialogue. First person has always been problematic to
me, maybe because of the insistence on the voice of one. Yet Kushner
December 7, 2013
Three Firsts: Ten Pubs for Year, Four Pieces in One Week, and Two UK Journals
Trying to place work can
frequently feel like head butting a stuffed rabbit. Still, this year (so far) has produced ten publications for me--a first. Also, this week, four pieces are
appearing in four journals (second first), two of which are UK based journals
(third first).
My recent semifinalist
acknowledgement for the Hudson Prize and Black Lawrence Press for my story collection, The
frequently feel like head butting a stuffed rabbit. Still, this year (so far) has produced ten publications for me--a first. Also, this week, four pieces are
appearing in four journals (second first), two of which are UK based journals
(third first).
My recent semifinalist
acknowledgement for the Hudson Prize and Black Lawrence Press for my story collection, The
October 28, 2013
The Myths and Realities of Writing Every Day
I used to make a habit of writing a thousand words a day. I
have done this in various weeks long or months long pursuits of a goal, but
never consistently. Now, I’m content with around 500 words most days, or four
out of five days. I’m doubtful of writers who claim to do their writing as if it
is a job, four to eight hours a day. If you have that luxury, because there’s
such a demand for your
have done this in various weeks long or months long pursuits of a goal, but
never consistently. Now, I’m content with around 500 words most days, or four
out of five days. I’m doubtful of writers who claim to do their writing as if it
is a job, four to eight hours a day. If you have that luxury, because there’s
such a demand for your
October 6, 2013
Double Barrels: Political Humor and a Double Review
It's been a good few weeks for placing work. This week, my satire, "Kim Jong-un's Unread Spam Emails to Obama" is appearing in The Higgs Weldon, assuring that I'll never step foot in North Korea. Also, a double review of Karl Ove Knausgaard's My Struggle: Book One and Tao Lin's Taipei is to appear in Trop Magazine, assuring that I'll never undertake reviewing two books in one piece again without
