John Irving and memoirist Novella Carpenter on Writers on Writing

We're still reconstructing the podcast site, re-posting shows for which the audio fell out. Here's one that I especially liked: John Irving, author of Last Night at Twisted River and memoirist Novella Carpenter, who talk about fiction and memoir, last lines, first lines, chickens, and more.

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 (Broadcast date: 7/8/2010)

A Must Listen To: Nathan Englander and Pam Houston with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Nathan Englander, author of What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank, and Pam Houston, author of Contents May Have Shifted talk with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett on this fantabulous show.  Two authors that any serious student of writing should be digesting their fiction.  One of my favorite shows, of late.  (Of late...my son hates that phrase, and so do I! But you get the gist.)

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 (Broadcast date: February 29, 2012)

Keija Parsinnen and Eric Weiner, on Writers on Writing: Podcast is up!

Keija Parsinnen, author of the novel,The Ruins of Us, and Eric Weiner, author of the narrative nonfiction book, Man Seeks God, talk about their books, read from their books, and discuss the art and craft--and business--of writing with me. I loved talking with both of them.  It's a week later and I'm still thinking about Keija's novel. Such a different culture and place.  The closest I may ever get to the Middle East is via novels and The Ruins of Us took me there.

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(Broadcast date: February 8, 2012)

Fictional novel, true memoir: Not

Those of you who already know this, please, don't throw tomatoes, potatoes, or pie. Some quite intelligent writers have trouble with this one. (With each one of us, it's always something...)

This comes up a lot with new(ish), or not so new(ish) writers: In talking about their work, they say, "My fictional novel...."

No no no.

If you query an agent and you say this, you risk said agent pitching your project into the trash, or at the very least, sending you a form rejection letter.

Why is it a big deal?

Because agents figure that if you're writing a novel, you know it's fiction. Just as if you're writing a memoir, one hopes it's true. And if you say "fictional novel" or "true memoir" to an agent, it makes it easy for them to say no to you, and what with all the material slamming agents on a daily basis, if there's the slightest reason to say no, they will.

Of course they want to say yes. They want stellar work to come in the door, mailbox, email inbox, wherever! So make it easy for them to say yes. Learn the business of writing as well as the craft, and never ever ever say "fictional novel."