To do good writing, read good writing. Here’s the good writing I’ve been reading this week:
My advice for the weekend — read a book. I’m traveling this weekend and plan to bring a few along that I’m been meaning to tuck into, including “Wildwood,” part one of Colin Meloy’s two-part series that was partially inspired by Portland’s own Forest Park; and “The Savage City,” my friend T.J. English’s tale of the New York City’s race wars and the 60s through early 1970s.
What are you reading?
Other good reads from this week:
Hilary Mantel – By the Book (New York Times) – The “Wolf Hall” and “Bringing Up the Bodies” author talks about books, reading and writing. My favorite quotes from this: “I do like a bit of action. I get impatient with love,” and also “It’s fine to give up books even after a page; there’s so much to read in the world that will delight you.” Inspiring.
2013-2014 Portland Arts & Lectures Series (Literary Arts) – Talk about inspiration. The line up for this Portland author lecture series has never been better – and I don’t say that lightly since in recent years I’ve had series tickets to see the likes of Barbara Kingsolver, Abraham Verghese and Annie Proulx. The series kicks off with Salman Rushdie (Oct. 8) and continues with Ann Patchett (Nov. 20), Lawrene Wright (Jan. 14, 2014), Chris Ware (Feb. 18, 2014) and Julia Alvarez (April 3, 2014). If you’re planning a visit to the city, schedule it around one of these dates and order tickets soon. And if you’re wondering what to get a certain freelance writer/editor for a late birthday present, well, now you know.
Famous authors’ handwritten outlines for great works of literature (Flavorwire) – “Outlining” means different things to different writers, as evidenced by examples from writers including William Faulkner, Slyvia Path, Joseph Heller and J.K. Rowling.
My medical choice (New York Times) – Such an innocent-sounding headline for such an explosive op-ed, the one in which actress/activist Angelina Jolie announced to the world she’d had a preventative double mastectomy, showing that in some situations, the truth is all you need to make a difference.
Writing News
Use these secret NSA Google search tips to become your own spy agency (Wired) – The super secret spy agency released Untangling the Web: A Guide to Internet Research, a 643-page .pdf based on a Freedom of Information Act request “filed by MuckRock, a site that charges fees to process public records for activists and others.”
Start-up hopes to help freelancers (New York Times) – Add Assignmint to the ranks of online freelance marketplaces, cloud-based project management tools and other startups looking to match publishers with freelancers.
10 questions to ask before naming your business (Entrepreneur.com) – Good advice for naming a business, or a blog.
Industry News
The U.S. government spies on rep0rters all too frequently (Slate) – Fallout continues from the week’s revelation that the Justice Department secretly obtained Associated Press journalists’ phone records.
Free the press, buy the Tribune Co. (Kickstarter) – The nonprofit group The Other 98% launches funny – but serious – Indigogo campaign to raise $660 million to buy Tribune Co. One day in, they’ve collected more than $61,000.
PBSMediaShift starts publishing ebooks (paidContent) – Mark Glaser, head of the PBS media website, is starting an ebook line and plans to release 10 to 20 books in 2013, “depending on how well the first titles do.”
New Yorker introduces Aaron Swartz-developed privacy tool Strongbox (Poynter) – The electronic tip line “ostensibly allows people to submit letters, documents, emails or any other files to the New Yorker anonymously.”