Devoted to publishing, publishers and to those who craft the written word

Okay. We are going to take a week off from The Publishing Spot--a chance to go crazy with my novel, catch up on reading, and get out of the city for a little bit.

I hope you have a happy holiday, and I'll see you on January 2nd when they force us all to go back to work.

If you want some content, check out my favorite writing interviews from the last year or so: sci-fi wizard Brian Francis Slattery, pulp fiction hero Paul Malmont, scriptwriting memoirist Allen Rucker, novelist Min Jin Lee, and travelwriting madman Tony D'Souza.

If that's not enough, check out the 20 songs on my Best Writing Music of 2007 list. Instead of reading about writing tips, listen to these songs and WRITE SOMETHING NEW.

20. "Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe" from The Stage Names by Okkervil River. 

19. "Missed the Boat" from Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank by Modest Mouse.

18. "One Two Three Four" from The Reminder by Feist. 

17. "Chemicals Collide" from The Meaning of 8 by Cloud Cult.

16. "If The Brakeman Turns My Way" Cassadaga by Bright Eyes.

15. "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse from Back to Black 

14. "Like Castanets" by Bishop Allen from Broken String  

13. "In Our Talons" by the Bowerbirds from Hymns for the Dark Horse

12. "Up The Wolves" by The Mountain Goats  from The Sunset Tree    

11. "Forks And Knives (La Fete)" by Beirut from The Flying Club Cup

10. "What Light"  by Wilco from  Sky Blue Sky.

9. "To the Dogs or Whoever" by Josh Ritter from The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter.  

8. "Satan Said Dance" by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah  from Some Loud Thunder.

7. "Ultimate" by Gogol Bordello from Super Taranta.

6. "The Underdog" by Spoon from Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga.

5. "C Is The Heavenly Option" by Los Campesinos from The International Tweexcore Underground.

4. "Will You Return?" by The Avett Brothers from Emotionalism.

3. John Allyn Smith Sails by Okkervil River from The Stage Names.

2. Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová from The Once Soundtrack.

1. Flight 180 by Bishop Allen from The Broken String.