John Updike (and others) on why fiction matters

Thoughts on “the subtlest instrument for self-examination … that mankind has invented yet”

My town’s public library held a used-book sale recently, and among the armful of treasures I picked up there was The Writer’s Digest Handbook of Short Story Writing, Volume II. I’m a sucker for books about the writing craft, even if they’re nearly 40 years old (this one was published in 1988) and especially if they’re in reasonably good shape and only cost 50 cents. Shut up and take my money, I say.

Continue reading “John Updike (and others) on why fiction matters”

When I can’t write…

… at least I can blog.

There are days when the writing just zips along. The hours devoted to crafting little fictions breeze by.

Then there are the days when writing is a slog, or when life’s many interruptions cut into writing time.

Continue reading “When I can’t write…”