In our morning reading: new writing by Marlon James, a playlist from Colin Winnette, and more.
Morning Bites: Denis Johnson on Film, Revisiting “Achewood,” Martha Anne Toll’s Recommendations, and More
In our morning reading: Denis Johnson on film, thoughts on George Saunders’s new collection, and more.
Unlearning the Law: Novel Lessons
Unlearning the Law: Novel Lessons
by Martha Anne Toll, former lawyer, current novelist
Myriad lawyers transition from litigating to literature. I am no exception: I recently published my debut novel, THREE MUSES. Before that, I attended law school, practiced law, and worked for many years in social justice and the nonprofit world. Each of those jobs involved intensive writing where I had to learn how to present arguments clearly on the page, and to advocate for strategy and policy positions. I sharpened my research and analytic skills as I tried to present the incontrovertible. However, as I was becoming a novelist, I realized I had to unlearn the writing practices I found most useful in my time in the corporate and non-profit world. I have thus identified three rules in fiction that may come in handy for others following a similar path:
Vol. 1 Brooklyn’s September 2022 Book Preview
We’ve entered the final weeks of summer. In practical terms, that means that it could turn brisk at a moment’s notice — or that a heatwave might be upon us before long. All of which means that this month’s array of books take a similarly wide-ranging approach, encompassing everything from taut poetry to maximalist fiction. Here are some recommendations to get your fall reading started.
Morning Bites: Interviewing Laura Warrell, Ben Loory Fiction, Titaua Peu in Translation, and More
In our morning reading: an interview with Laura Warrell, notes on good writing conferences, and more.
Morning Bites: Patrice Nganang’s Trilogy, Anna Hogeland Nonfiction, Lauren Fensterstock’s Art, and More
In our morning reading: thoughts on Patrice Nganang’s trilogy, an interview with Martha Anne Toll, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Atticus Lish’s Latest, Colson Whitehead Interviewed, Literary Madness, and More
In our afternoon reading: thoughts on Atticus Lish’s new novel, an interview with Colson Whitehead, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Brian Evenson Fiction, British Fantasy Awards, Emma-Jean Thackray’s Latest, and More
In our afternoon reading: new fiction by Brian Evenson, Martha Anne Toll and Ed Simon in conversation, and more.