Friday Fridge Clean-Out: Links for Writers -- April 20, 2018 Edition

>Publishers Weekly reports on "A New Generation of African-American-Owned Bookstores."

> In case you missed it, the 2018 Pulitzer Prizes were awarded this week. Of note: the novel prize went to Less, by Andrew Sean Greer, which addresses love and growing older in the same breath and with humor. And in general nonfiction, Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder, by Caroline Fraser, the first complete and intricately researched biography of the beloved author.

> At a workshop I led recently, many memoir writers were working through stories of trauma and grief (as is usual), but at one point we explored why readers also need to experience some happy moments amid the sadness. Then I came across Laura Gilkey's post in the Brevity blog, and she said it so well.

> At The Writers Circle blog, Michelle Cameron's post, "Lack of Control" probably speaks for every writer with a manuscript their agent has sent out on submission to publishers. 

> Funds for Writers has advice for authors on how to connect with book clubs.

> At the Front Porch Journal blog, a look at a failed novel and the (fixable) problem of writing what you don't know. 

> Finally, two items for fun. In the maybe-I'm-not-so-odd category: "20 Quirks and Strange Habits: The Weird Side of Famous Writers." Someone opens to a random dictionary page when faced with writing description, then uses word he finds there to complete the task. And, always dependable for a laugh with his reports on humans (not writers) acting strangely, there's Dr. Grumpy in the House.

Have a great weekend!

Poems, Writing Together, Prizes and One Peeve

►How to celebrate National Poetry Month? A bunch of MFA students sent out a request to 1,300 poets (well known and not so) asking them to write and send back one poem within six hours. See the 100 who responded at LeftFacingBird.

►What do you get when you combine blogs, group writing, traditional publishing, very non-conventional publishing, and a bunch of other stuff I don't even understand but find really intriguing. Find the answer at WEbook.

►In case you missed the full list, check out the Pulitzer Prize winners.

►Ok, this is not exactly on point, but…no wait a minute, yes it is. It's exactly on point because it addresses one of my pet peeves about modern literary contrivances aimed at kids. Pete Sagal was right on when he observed, after seeing Horton Hears a Who,

"In a new subplot added by the filmmakers, the mayor of Whoville has 96 daughters. He has one son. Guess who gets all his attention? Guess who saves the day? Go ahead, think about it, I'll wait."

Sagal has three daughters, and I have two sons, but this irks me as much as it does him. He goes on,

"And while we're at it, how come a girl doesn't get to blow up the Death Star! Or send ET home? Or defeat Captain Hook! Or Destroy the Ring of Power!"

And, I might add, how come every kid protagonist in modern films has at least one dead parent, usually the mother?

Read the full text of Sagal's NPR rant here.

Ok, I feel better now.