Monday Stuff, Including a Favor Please

My cousin Brandon Contes is part of a radio contest: WFAN's Fantasy Phenom Contest—it's for a paid spot doing broadcasting on NYC's biggest sports radio station. Please take a moment—and it only takes a moment as there are no sign-ups or email or anything like that needed—to vote for him. He's the John Stamos of radio! You can vote once per day per device...how many devices do you own or have easy access to? (My answer is four.)

The litosphere exploded this weekend with the publication of Ryan Boudinot's essay What I Can Say About MFA Programs Now That I No Longer Teach In One. Every time I mention this essay, which is specifically about low-residency MFA programs in creative writing, I get a couple of public objections—mostly from people who have never taught at low-residency MFA programs, and a large number of private messages saying "Finally, someone said something!" Among the responses was this one by Laura Valeri—who teaches undergraduates—that people inexplicably rallied behind. I found it sufficiently horrifying that I tweeted out an essay, which I then Storified for your reading pleasure here. Now more than ever, I am pleased that Westconn, where I teach, is an MFA in Creative and Professional Writing, so at least grads can (and do!) land decent jobs as copywriters and corporate communicators. At Westconn, everyone has to finish a practical track and a creative track.

But honestly, I am still waiting for the names of these good writers who didn't ever take writing seriously that objectors to Boudinot's essay claim exist. Name some names, people!

Hugo voting ends on the 10th. If you are a Hugo voter and would like to see a copy of "From the Nothing, With Love" by Project Itoh, which appeared in Phantasm Japan last year, let me know!