Blogs and Slogs

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When I'm in writing mode (as opposed to research mode), I get hungry for books and articles on writing. I've lately been reading the blog posts of  Alexandra Sokoloff; Screenwriting Tricks for Authors (which I just posted to my Links page above). 


Sokoloff has a background in theatre and screenwriting, which gives her a strong feeling for plot and setting. I like her essays: they send sparks flying, which is what it's all about. 


A note on reading
I've given up on Franzen's novel Freedom: I find it a slog, lacking heart. Does Franzen care about his characters? I don't think so. The author perspective seems so condescending. I'm disturbed by the raves this novel has received. Is heartlessness in vogue? I'm in agreement with this review in the Globe and Mail. 



(photo by  mikebaird)


A note on iPad reading
Instapaper allows me to tag interesting blog posts and website finds "read later"—which I can do now in comfort—on my iPad. On my iPad, when I see a passage I like, something I want to remember, I'm able to highlight it and email it to myself as something to follow up on. If it's something to do with research, I can email it to my EverNote database. If it's a quote on writing, I can send it directly to my Tumblr blog. 


If it's a PDF I'm reading—an academic article, for example—I still find iAnnotate the best iPad app because I can send highlighted passages (as well as the marked-up article, should I wish) to my EverNote database. 


I love Kindle reading for the same reason: my highlights are available on-line (with some fiddling: see "Research Tools" on my research blog). These can then be copied and put into a searchable database. 
Could I live without my iPad: I don't think so! 


Sandra Gulland

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