Rarely Likable: Old School Linkbucket

I realized the other day that I used to curate linkbuckets a bit more. In other words, I'd provide the link and then prattle about it for a line or two. I have no idea which method people prefer, so here's your chance to compare.

Issue 36 of Storyglossia has a very interesting theme: Musical Obsession. I know of a story that should be subbed here. It's not mine, so all I can do is nag...or work on something of my own.

The posted-damn-near-everywhere NPR three minute fiction contest. The page kinda hints that reading lots of Lydia Davis is a good way to prime the pump, doesn't it?

iTunes for comics. I would buy a lot more comics and especially manga if I had something like this. Well, something like this, plus a job. But I digress. Portable, please. Not just iPhone/iPod Touch, please.

A review of The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction. I really enjoyed this guide. There's a very wide range of approaches, examples, and exercises.

(British) suburbia needs a new literary champion. Am I dim, or is David Mitchell missing from this list? My prediction for today: Thanks to the demographic shifts now taking place, literature about suburbia will change dramatically in the next twenty years. Anyway, a few books I haven't read in this article -- and now I also have the itch to go look for my copy of The Buddha of Suburbia.

Nine unique ambient advertisements. Naturally, the Spiderman one is my favorite, even though spiders don't urinate.

My local newspaper has a fondness for really poorly done charts and graphs. This past Sunday, they had one that was something like "Five Summer Beach Reads." It included stuff like The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, which I haven't read. But it also included J. Robert Lennon's Castle, which I have. It startled me because (1) my local newspaper almost never deals in anything fantastic and (2) while Castle is my kinda beach read, I'm not sure that would be true of the sort of reader who gravitates toward The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. The only reason I haven't written a post about Castle is because it would turn into a dissertation.

I'm glad to see that other, more successful writers don't always know what's missing when they sit down to work, either.

Two for one advice! It's interesting to think about what Cary Tennis and Gawker would each have to say about my problems, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Maybe they should pair up all the time?

If you come here for the LOLMFA links, then you owe it to yourself to read Tod Goldberg's thoughtful post on some timely teaching-of-creative-writing topics.

An interview with Ron Currie (Everything Matters!). While I am really looking forward to checking the book out, can someone please direct me to women who write novels like this? I know of some almosts, and I could also probably use some reminders.

One for the research file: If distant worlds watch our transmissions, here's what they're seeing right now.

There are other reasons I think Dubai would be an interesting place to visit, but this is definitely one of them.

20+ minireviews of fountain pen inks. Still haven't inked the True Writer yet. I may cartridge it first. Or I might see about getting some samples myself.

Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Prince. All three turned 50 last year.

Tayari on choosing readers. I love how she gives writer advice in categories that are often skipped in favor of ones that are done to death. Maybe her next book should be a compilation?

Want to enroll in a writing class online? Here's an overview.

Looking for Calvin and Hobbes: The Unconventional Story of Bill Watterson and his Revolutionary Comic Strip, comes out on 10/1. My daughter wanted to be Bill Watterson for her school's Biography Day this year, and I had to explain to her that there wasn't going to be enough source material for the report part of the project. She ended up choosing Tiger Woods instead. Neither of her parents play or watch golf.

And finally: If you're like me and enjoy giggling at others who use social networking? There's Lamebook and Oh Crap. My Parents Joined Facebook.