Stalk your favorite writers!
So says former MFA student and novelist Katherine Taylor commenting on a New York magazine essay about MFA programs in New York. She gives some hilarious, honest advice about going back to school for writing. Check it out: "Unless you have a fellowship or your parents foot the bill, an MFA is self-destructive. We want the Iowa/Irvine/Columbia label, but a place like UNLV makes a lot more sense. Or else just stalk Denis Johnson at his listed number in Idaho. Move there, work at the iHop, and beg him to mentor you. Free!"
Novelist Tao Lin makes a modest proposal, mocking both the free labor internship economy that supports the magazine industry and the arbitrary blockbuster book syndrome that kills lesser-known writers at the bookstores. Except he does so in a single sentence, instead of my rambling summary here: "i am accepting applications to be one of my interns; your job will be to buy eeeee eee eeee from st. marks bookshop with your own money until it becomes their #1 bestseller."
Finally, Travelgoat is back online, featuring an audio storytelling archive about New York City, including a few of my favorite stories about Manhattan. If you live in or near the city, you should record your favorite New York stories and plug them into the archive--help some tourist follow your memories instead of a tour guide.
Publishing Spotted collects the best of what's around on writing blogs on any given day. Feel free to send tips and suggestions to your fearless editor: jason [at] thepublishingspot.com.
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