Taming those 'unruly' novels

“When language istreated beautifully and interestingly, it can feel good for the body: It'snourishing; it's rejuvenating.” – Aimee Bender

 

Born on this date in 1969, Bender is a novelist and shortstory writer who studied creative writing at the University of San Diego andCalifornia Irvine then went into simultaneous careers as a writer andteacher.  She teaches creative writing atthe University of Southern California and was Director of the USC PhD inCreative Writing & Literature for several years. 

 

 Known for her stories about young people,Bender said, “I love to write about people in their 20s. It's such a fraughtand exciting and kind of horrible time.”  The winner of two Pushcart Prizes, her novel An Invisible Sign of MyOwn, was named as a Los Angeles Times “Pick of the Year.”    Her collection of short stories, The Girl in the Flammable Skirt, spentseveral months on both the New York Timesand Los Angeles Times bestsellerlists.  Her latest novel is 2020's The Butterfly Lampshade.

Despite the success of her novels, she said she prefers short stories.  “Novels are so much unrulier and morestressful to write. A short story can last two pages and then it's over, andthat's kind of a relief.  But, I really like balancing the two.”

 

Bender said she enjoys writing.   “The human being'sability to make a metaphor to describe a human experience is just reallycool.” 

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