Interview with Beverly Cleary
The Atlantic interviews author Beverly Cleary, probably most famous for her Ramona books and pairs the interview with a literary pilgrimage to Cleary’s homes.
Dogs and Smurfs
Who are to blame for male writers getting taken more seriously than female writers? Max Barry says, “Dogs and Smurfs.”
DC’s Centre Does Hold
Based on the current comics, and Flashpoint: Hal Jordan, in particular, Colin Smith breaks down DC’s assumptions about what makes an excellent comic and how that will likely effect the comics in DC’s relaunch. “After all, the same folks who piloted Flashpoint and its tie-ins are in charge […]
China Mieville Draws a Monster
China Miéville draws a monster. Mark Charan Newton has to write it into his own novel. (via @Pornokitsch)
Quint’s Speech
It took 3–or maybe 4–stout men, including John Milius, to write Quint’s famous speech in Jaws.
Honest and Dishonest Swearing
In 1969, Joanna Russ spoke to the Philadelphia Science Fiction Convention about taboo words, their honest and dishonest uses and the unearned thrill: “I want to be able to use dirty wordies without shocking anybody. I want to write about the subjects they refer to without shocking anybody. […]
The Cultural Gutter 