Jean Harkin's Blog - Posts Tagged "alexandre-dumas"
Haiku Month, Writing Conferences and Challenges
February is National Haiku Writing Month (nahaiwrimo.com) in which prompter Kathabela Wilson can inspire and challenge you to write one haiku per day. It’s already Feburary—the shortest month—so join in now at www.nahaiwrimo.com. On the website, be sure to take a look at the NO 5-7-5 logo and read an essay about the “urban myth” of 5-7-5 syllables in English language haiku.
Another intriguing challenge for writers and artists is the “42 Stories Anthology,” a collection of 42 (exact) word stories—one each in 42 categories—and 42 art works, one per chapter. Writers are invited to submit a 42-word story with a 42-character title (can vary from 40 to 44 characters), with a 42-word third person bio. One story and art work will be chosen in 42 categories, ranging from alternate reality to crime fiction to humor to writing craft. Deadline is when all 42 categories are filled. Check it out and learn more at https://42storiessubs.submittable.com.
Thinking about attending a writing conference this year? For writers in Oregon and Washington, here are two nearby conferences: WILLAMETTE WRITERS CONFERENCE, Portland, August date pending. Contact: willamettewriters.com/wwcon.
WRITE ON THE SOUND, Edmonds, Washington. October 2-4, 2020. Contact: writeonthesound.com.
To get the most out of a writers’ conference, I recommend Jane Friedman’s guide. Jane is a recognized resource for writers. I found her blog post on maximizing one’s attendance at writing confabs to be chock full of valuable, sensible advice. www.janefriedman.com/guide-to-writers....
LONG STORY SHORT: My college student grandson Ethan gave me two of his favorite books for Christmas, and I rate them both as excellent reads: “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck (90 pages) is the shortest book I read this winter. “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas (1243 pages) is the longest I’ve read—probably ever! I found both books to be page turners; Monte Cristo just gave me more hand exercise.
Another intriguing challenge for writers and artists is the “42 Stories Anthology,” a collection of 42 (exact) word stories—one each in 42 categories—and 42 art works, one per chapter. Writers are invited to submit a 42-word story with a 42-character title (can vary from 40 to 44 characters), with a 42-word third person bio. One story and art work will be chosen in 42 categories, ranging from alternate reality to crime fiction to humor to writing craft. Deadline is when all 42 categories are filled. Check it out and learn more at https://42storiessubs.submittable.com.
Thinking about attending a writing conference this year? For writers in Oregon and Washington, here are two nearby conferences: WILLAMETTE WRITERS CONFERENCE, Portland, August date pending. Contact: willamettewriters.com/wwcon.
WRITE ON THE SOUND, Edmonds, Washington. October 2-4, 2020. Contact: writeonthesound.com.
To get the most out of a writers’ conference, I recommend Jane Friedman’s guide. Jane is a recognized resource for writers. I found her blog post on maximizing one’s attendance at writing confabs to be chock full of valuable, sensible advice. www.janefriedman.com/guide-to-writers....
LONG STORY SHORT: My college student grandson Ethan gave me two of his favorite books for Christmas, and I rate them both as excellent reads: “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck (90 pages) is the shortest book I read this winter. “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas (1243 pages) is the longest I’ve read—probably ever! I found both books to be page turners; Monte Cristo just gave me more hand exercise.
Short Booklist for Fevered and Frantic Times
As our nation shuts down from a virus—and each other, we have extra time for writing (if not too stressed) and reading (to help us relax and focus our minds elsewhere.)
I have a short list of books to recommend that seem especially appropriate for this surreal span of time:
1) “Fever” by Mary Beth Keane. This is historical fiction, set during the typhoid outbreak in 1900s New York. The novel is in the point of view of Typhoid Mary Mallon, who was suspected of being a carrier, although she never fell ill with typhoid. The novel looks at Mary’s flouting of quarantine laws as well as possible prejudice and misunderstanding by the authorities regarding the facts of her case.
2) “Mary Toft; or, The Rabbit Queen” by Dexter Palmer. It’s the weirdness factor of this historical fiction novel that merits inclusion on my booklist for surreal times. A poor woman in rural England, in 1726 gives birth 17 times to rabbits—not cute bunnies who scamper from beneath her skirts, but mutilated adult rabbits, thus horrifying medical witnesses. News of the phenomenon spreads to London, and King George sends medical experts to verify and puzzle out this unexplainable freak of nature.
3) “Shout” is an anthology of resistance writings published in Oregon by Not a Pipe Publishing. This seems a good time to embrace resistance, not only to disease, but to authoritarian leaders and other degradations of a civilized world.
4) My 15-year old grandson recommends “1984” by George Orwell for those who haven’t read it—or for re-reading. The dystopian novel parallels our times in many ways and warns of totalitarian regimentation, mass surveillance, and brazenly misleading terminology (aka lies and fake news.) The book is relevant to what is happening in the U.S. since 2017 and what could further unfold to restrict the freedoms we cherish.
5) Joshua Keating, staff writer and editor at “Slate” magazine, recommends a dystopian novel for the Social Distancing Era. I haven’t read it but am passing along the following recommendation for something to read when so many facets of our daily lives are disappearing. The book is “The Memory Police” by Yoko Ogawa.
6) "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas. During this enforced quarantine, there will be plenty of time to read the 1243 pages of this unabridged 19th century novel. And it's a page-turner at that! "Wait and hope" becomes the motto of an innocent man in isolated imprisonment for 14 years. Maybe this should be a motto for us today.
I have a short list of books to recommend that seem especially appropriate for this surreal span of time:
1) “Fever” by Mary Beth Keane. This is historical fiction, set during the typhoid outbreak in 1900s New York. The novel is in the point of view of Typhoid Mary Mallon, who was suspected of being a carrier, although she never fell ill with typhoid. The novel looks at Mary’s flouting of quarantine laws as well as possible prejudice and misunderstanding by the authorities regarding the facts of her case.
2) “Mary Toft; or, The Rabbit Queen” by Dexter Palmer. It’s the weirdness factor of this historical fiction novel that merits inclusion on my booklist for surreal times. A poor woman in rural England, in 1726 gives birth 17 times to rabbits—not cute bunnies who scamper from beneath her skirts, but mutilated adult rabbits, thus horrifying medical witnesses. News of the phenomenon spreads to London, and King George sends medical experts to verify and puzzle out this unexplainable freak of nature.
3) “Shout” is an anthology of resistance writings published in Oregon by Not a Pipe Publishing. This seems a good time to embrace resistance, not only to disease, but to authoritarian leaders and other degradations of a civilized world.
4) My 15-year old grandson recommends “1984” by George Orwell for those who haven’t read it—or for re-reading. The dystopian novel parallels our times in many ways and warns of totalitarian regimentation, mass surveillance, and brazenly misleading terminology (aka lies and fake news.) The book is relevant to what is happening in the U.S. since 2017 and what could further unfold to restrict the freedoms we cherish.
5) Joshua Keating, staff writer and editor at “Slate” magazine, recommends a dystopian novel for the Social Distancing Era. I haven’t read it but am passing along the following recommendation for something to read when so many facets of our daily lives are disappearing. The book is “The Memory Police” by Yoko Ogawa.
6) "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas. During this enforced quarantine, there will be plenty of time to read the 1243 pages of this unabridged 19th century novel. And it's a page-turner at that! "Wait and hope" becomes the motto of an innocent man in isolated imprisonment for 14 years. Maybe this should be a motto for us today.
