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If you’re looking for a few craft classes to meet one or more New Year’s resolutions, Salon has helpfully come through for you. Choose from a variety of options (satire, chicklit, screenwriting), and start your year off write! Yes, too much coffee. We promise, that will hardly happen again. Salon eClasses

Even as we predicted the continued health of the library, we knew of one situation where that was not to be the case. The irony that libraries are shuttering in Salinas cannot be escaped, unless, we suppose, you’ve chanced to drive through the area recently. Then it might make sense, but not in a good […]

‘Cause what is she gonna do? There’s no way she can be here before morning, and by then, we’ll be filled with appropriate remorse and promising to never disobey her again. Besides, we were quite intrigued by this article about endings — something we, strangely, do well. Do not burst our bubble. Usually we have […]

Ray Rhamey works through the idea of compelling openings in the best of all possible ways. Yes, pictures. Not only does he explain the various approaches, but the helpful photographs make it crystal clear. Okay, fine, we couldn’t resist the kittens. We all have our weaknesses. Open your novel with kitty-cats in action

Yes, we’re giving ourselves points for laziness here — we’ve let someone else do the work. We think it is time for American literary commentary to raise the bar: the British have taken pretentious fiddle faddle to new heights. Next year, we want to link to a similar piece, but one compiling the works of […]

Try as I might, I have not found any other way to get actual recorded written words than by sitting down and writing them. Someone once coined the phrase BIC-HOK (butt in chair – hands on keyboard). A painful, yet true sentiment. For me, tackling a manuscript best works very early in the morning. After […]

We don’t know how the New Year is celebrated in other parts of the world, but around here (the Center of the Universe), it begins in earnest in mid-December with acres of scaffolding and bleachers along a major thoroughfare. Soon, we have the March of the Mobile Homes (this will be followed by the even […]