Creative Type

Top 50+ creative writing professors on Twitter

Tue, 22 May 2012 15:12:30 GMT

Writers love Twitter. The reason? We work in solitary confinement--a short distance from the fridge and coffeemaker and often with a dog or cat or two to keep us company while we stare at a screen. Twitter is our water cooler, our cocktail party, our cafe. So when we need a break and want to talk about books and other things literary, many of us turn to Twitter. And with its 140-character limit, Twitter sharpens our wordsmithing and can even be a source of inspiration. You don't have to be a professor or even a writer to follow these authors. Following them is like being part of a literary salon--thoughtful conversation sprinkled with irony and wit. You may find that you're buying more books as a result. Thanks to Ken Calhoun, a fiction writer and professor of design and new media at Lasell College, for alerting me to this list of top 50 creative writing professors on Twitter. The list includes me--much to my surprise in the esteemed company of authors I love.

How green is your ebook?

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:18:43 GMT

All those downloaded copies of "50 Shades of Grey" may mean fewer trees are felled in the name of "mommy porn," but that doesn't translate into a smaller carbon footprint. The equation is not that simple, according to Nick Moran, writing for The Millions.

Roars of Memories: Maurice Sendak

Tue, 08 May 2012 18:17:05 GMT

The death of Maurice Sendak has many people quoting their favorite lines from his books and interviews on social media. Even better are people's recollections of Sendak and what his books meant to them--here in the United States and around...

Forensics saves blind woman's handwritten novel

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 16:08:19 GMT

The Telegraph (UK) reported today that police came to Trish Vickers' rescue. The blind woman had written 26 pages of her novel by hand without realizing her pen had run dry. Here's the story:

What's the real price of an e-book?

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:45:28 GMT

A book is worth more than the cost of the paper it's printed on. So says Nathan Bransford, social media manager for CNET who spent eight years in publishing. In a blog post yesterday, Bransford reminds us of what we're paying for when we buy a book and does the math:

Authors galore at Newton book store grand re-opening

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 01:39:35 GMT

The much beloved Newtonville Books held its grand re-opening party Thursday night in its new digs in Newton Centre. (Despite its relocation, the store retains its original name--forever confounding those who rely solely on GPS.) My favorite part of the...

Scent of the Dragon? Game of Thrones Perfume

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:19:01 GMT

It had to happen. Someone out there decided Game of Thrones fans want to smell like ~~teen spirit~~ ~~dragon breath~~ a Khaleesi. The website describes it as "a scent worthy of the blood of the dragon." Here's more:

Novelists love Etch A Sketch, too!

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:12:39 GMT

With Etch A Sketch becoming political fodder this week, I wondered whether authors included the beloved toy--as metaphor or toy--in their novels. Sure enough, they have. Here are 12 novels, among many, in which the Etch A Sketch makes a cameo appearance:

Tiny Mass. library turns to YouTube to raise money

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:30:13 GMT

The M. N. Spear Memorial Library in Shutesbury, Mass., is cramped, the heating grate melts shoe soles, and it has no running water (it has a composting toilet). Its dollhouse proportions have lost its charm for the town's residents (population...

10 Gorgeous 19th century newspaper posters

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:47:10 GMT

Today's newspaper industry might take its cues from these beautiful late nineteenth century newspaper posters. These artistic advertisements exude class and elegance--though some of the headlines may make you think of modern-day tabloids. Such arty posters could entice readers to...

Colbert: Amazon's Jeff Bezos is a "vindictive man"

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:24:58 GMT

Novelist Ann Patchett opened Parnassus, an independent bookstore--and the only bookstore--in Nashville last year. On The Colbert Report, she challenges him to compare a book-signing party at her store to one in an Amazon warehouse. Colbert tells her, "Oooh, independent...

Cooking by the book, letter & diary

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:27:34 GMT

Literature and food feed the mind and the body. Now you can enjoy the literary and culinary in one place. In January, a new blog, Paper and Salt, debuted featuring the recipes that appear in books and in author's letters and diaries, along with tidbits about the author. Talk about a literary feast! The blogger, Nicole (no last name), writes,

Stuff book reviewers say

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:58:27 GMT

Book reviews are perfect for buzzword bingo. Words like compelling, lapidary, page-turner and elegiac appear all-too frequently in book reviews. Ron Charles, fiction editor and book critic for the Washington Post, has entertained book lovers everywhere with several funny videos...

Scrabble ads re-tile famous quotes

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:55:14 GMT

These Scrabble ads by Ogilvy & Mather's office in Costa Rica show a whimsical use of the board game's letter tiles. The quotes are from NASA, Marilyn Monroe and the Beatles. These ads could make for a new twist on...

Dave Barry's guide to Florida

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:08:45 GMT

You may be wondering whether the Republican presidential wannabes are experiencing the real Sunshine State as they criss-cross the Florida while steering clear of its alligators. Come to think of it, their sniping seems like alligators skirmishing over territory. The...