May was a busy month.
It began with the death of Osama bin Laden. A week or so later I finished the first draft of my novel, news of which later became my most popular blog to date. Then I wrote my first guest blog, for my MFA little sister Erin Corriveau's blog. That was followed by Oprah's final episode and the Bruins going to the Stanley Cup Finals.
I bring this up because thanks to you, my loyal followers, my blog received more hits in May than any other month since I started.
This will be difficult to top. June has only 30 days, and I'll be away for a good chunk of July at my upcoming residency. But this was a great May for me and my blog and hopefully for you guys. So, thanks.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Insomnia
I thought I was on track last night. I was tired so I called it an early night.
The problem with going to bed early, though, is that you wake up at 3:30 in the morning and can't get back to sleep.
So if anyone has any good insomnia tips, let me know, because when this happens it always messes with my day.
The problem with going to bed early, though, is that you wake up at 3:30 in the morning and can't get back to sleep.
So if anyone has any good insomnia tips, let me know, because when this happens it always messes with my day.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Memorial Day
Maybe I'm just talking to the right people or clicking on the right blogs or Internet sites or emails, but it seems like a lot of people are reminding each other of the true meaning of Memorial Day -- not the unofficial beginning of summer, but the remembrance of lives lost for our country. Maybe Osama bin Laden's death has it a little more in the forefront.
Whatever the reason, I'm glad. I wholeheartedly agree. We should spend at least a few minutes thinking about those who gave their lives for our country on this day.
Happy Memorial Day.
Whatever the reason, I'm glad. I wholeheartedly agree. We should spend at least a few minutes thinking about those who gave their lives for our country on this day.
Happy Memorial Day.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Sending Out the Good News
I've spent the past couple of months as fiction co-editor for Mason's Road, the online literary journal in the Fairfield MFA program. (Contrary to what you might think, it's not for us MFAers to publish our own stuff -- we're not eligible to submit pieces.)
In fiction, we received nearly 200 submissions. Some of them were really bad, like, laughably bad. Some of them had potential but were too first-draft-y.
We've come up with seven that we really like and will be publishing in July's issue. After sending out rejection emails to a ton of stories, which sucks (having been on the other side of that, I know the feeling), it's nice to be able to send out emails to budding writers, telling them we like their stories and want to publish them. And it's nice to get the emails back with excited responses from the authors.
In fiction, we received nearly 200 submissions. Some of them were really bad, like, laughably bad. Some of them had potential but were too first-draft-y.
We've come up with seven that we really like and will be publishing in July's issue. After sending out rejection emails to a ton of stories, which sucks (having been on the other side of that, I know the feeling), it's nice to be able to send out emails to budding writers, telling them we like their stories and want to publish them. And it's nice to get the emails back with excited responses from the authors.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Stanley Cup Finals
The Bruins are going to the Stanley Cup Finals. But this is the matchup I least wanted.
I like the Vancouver Canucks. Growing up, the Bruins were (and always will be) my favorite team. But I've always had a casual affinity for two other teams -- the Hartford Whalers (because they were still New England) and the Vancouver Canucks.
Because the Canucks were that team I could identify with as a long-suffering Boston sports fan. Vancouver was generally a bad team that would have a great season once a decade, only to lose to a team, I hated (New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers).
Generally, fate seems to feed off of my hatred of other teams, pitting my Boston teams in their respective league finals against teams I can't stand -- Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bears, New York Mets, Edmonton Oilers, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants. But this time, fate has thrown me for a loop. If the Bruins lose to Vancouver, that would ordinarily constitute instant and henceforth permanent lifetime hatred toward the Canucks. But I'm not sure I can hate them, no matter what the outcome.
Hopefully, that's a positive sign, a sign that I won't need to bother learning to hate the Canucks. Go Bruins!
I like the Vancouver Canucks. Growing up, the Bruins were (and always will be) my favorite team. But I've always had a casual affinity for two other teams -- the Hartford Whalers (because they were still New England) and the Vancouver Canucks.
Because the Canucks were that team I could identify with as a long-suffering Boston sports fan. Vancouver was generally a bad team that would have a great season once a decade, only to lose to a team, I hated (New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers).
Generally, fate seems to feed off of my hatred of other teams, pitting my Boston teams in their respective league finals against teams I can't stand -- Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bears, New York Mets, Edmonton Oilers, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants. But this time, fate has thrown me for a loop. If the Bruins lose to Vancouver, that would ordinarily constitute instant and henceforth permanent lifetime hatred toward the Canucks. But I'm not sure I can hate them, no matter what the outcome.
Hopefully, that's a positive sign, a sign that I won't need to bother learning to hate the Canucks. Go Bruins!
Oprah
I don't normally watch much Oprah, but I did tune in to a few of her final shows.
Last week I watched the two-part interview with James Frey, their first meeting since she eviscerated him five years ago for billing A Million Little Pieces as a memoir when large swaths of it were fiction. Ironically, he seems to be doing better than ever now. He told Oprah how he originally billed it as a novel and publishers told him they liked it, but didn't want to publish it unless he called it a memoir. (Although, with him credibility will always be an issue, so who knows if that's true.)
Still, it's an interesting dilemma. I found it fascinating that this interview aired the day I finished the first draft of my novel. I can't say how I would respond if I were in that position, though, based on the content of my novel, I highly doubt any publisher will ever say, "Phil, we like this, but we won't publish it unless you call it a memoir."
One last thing. Oprah has aired a ton of shows over the past 25 years. To me they ran the gamut. Some of them were eye-opening to me, others I found schmaltzy and contrived. But on her last show, Oprah talked about finding your true calling, and how important that is for personal fulfillment.
For that, I can say that she went out with a bang. I can only hope writing is my true calling.
Last week I watched the two-part interview with James Frey, their first meeting since she eviscerated him five years ago for billing A Million Little Pieces as a memoir when large swaths of it were fiction. Ironically, he seems to be doing better than ever now. He told Oprah how he originally billed it as a novel and publishers told him they liked it, but didn't want to publish it unless he called it a memoir. (Although, with him credibility will always be an issue, so who knows if that's true.)
Still, it's an interesting dilemma. I found it fascinating that this interview aired the day I finished the first draft of my novel. I can't say how I would respond if I were in that position, though, based on the content of my novel, I highly doubt any publisher will ever say, "Phil, we like this, but we won't publish it unless you call it a memoir."
One last thing. Oprah has aired a ton of shows over the past 25 years. To me they ran the gamut. Some of them were eye-opening to me, others I found schmaltzy and contrived. But on her last show, Oprah talked about finding your true calling, and how important that is for personal fulfillment.
For that, I can say that she went out with a bang. I can only hope writing is my true calling.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
My First Guest Blog
I wrote my first guest blog recently, for Erin Corriveau, my little sister in the Fairfield MFA program. For those of you who are interested, here it is.
I feel like I need a cigarette now.
Anyway, I was pleased to be able to help Erin out. I've already extended the invite to Erin to write a guest blog for me if she wants. If anyone else has a good idea for a guest blog, let me know and I'll see if I can fit you in.
Happy blogging everyone. And thanks again for the support.
I feel like I need a cigarette now.
Anyway, I was pleased to be able to help Erin out. I've already extended the invite to Erin to write a guest blog for me if she wants. If anyone else has a good idea for a guest blog, let me know and I'll see if I can fit you in.
Happy blogging everyone. And thanks again for the support.
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