A quote on writing that I pulled from today's paper...

Writing is an obsessive-compulsive disorder. A kind of miracle. Something out of nothing. Out of you. Only you can write it, whether it's good or bad.

T.C. Boyle

There's some wild discussion about what's noir over on Rara-Avis e-mail list. My definitions for everything are always too loose, but this is noir: H.A. DeRosso's western paperback from 1953, .44. Check my blog post here:

http://pulpetti.blogspot.com/2007/10/1000th-post-ha-derosso.html

Pulp Pusher has just put up the final instalment in my four-part interview with the legendary Andrew Vachss . . . he's on blistering form, revealing all about how long the Burke series can run, why he doesn't sign contracts to write books and what he thinks of David Beckham!!! Take a looksee…

So, after spending a day in the school in Kalskag, I flew back to Aniak. The next morning I was being picked up early to fly to Sleetmute - one

of the…

From Publisher's Marketplace: "Graphic novel script rights for Craig McDonald's highly praise Head Games, historical thriller and 1950s-era road novel based on the factual theft of Mexican Revolutionary Pancho Villa's head (available from Bleak House Books, Sept. 2007), to Mark Siegel of First Second Books (Eisner Award-winning imprint of Henry Holt & Co), by Svetlana Pironko at Author Rights Agency."

Head Games has also been selected by Poisoned Pen's…

My short story, MOON OVER MURDER, is live on Amazon Shorts. It is downloadable for only 49 cents at

http://www.amazon.com/Moon-Over-Murder/dp/B000WH7DNI/ref=dp_shrt_new_0/105-6270387-5936403

Such a deal!

A teenage boy in the 1950s gets a dream summer job working in a restaurant beside a lake, owned by his aunt and uncle. It doesn't hurt that three pretty female…

Poor children's book author Lisa Yee. Her computer broke down, taking with it her latest manuscript. She bruised her face after sustaining a fall. And at a book festival this weekend, the bookseller made a mistake and ordered piles of books by Lisa See, the bestselling novelist for grownups.

Instead of being defeated, she directs her blog readers to a Wall Street Journal online piece about these "last lecture" series in which invited professors deliver a lecture as if it is their…

On Wednesday, I visited AdviceRadio.com with host Megan Willingham. Megan is a truly wonderful interviewer. She has a warm, intime interviewing style, and asked many thought-provoking questions. I really enjoyed the hour. You can listen to the podcast this week (they keep them posted for one week) at: http://www.adrenalineradio.com/podcast/

(Click Writers).

Also, I'm blogging today at Killer Hobbies. Stop by for a…

posted by Leann Sweeney

I'm talking about my critique group today. They are a wise and wonderful bunch. I've heard stories about other writers having very bad experiences with critiquers. I've also heard this topic presented as a panel discussion at conferences, have listened to agents and editors warn new writers to be very careful about what others say about a work in progress. I guess this can be a problem, but I said "guess" because that has not been my…

As a novelist you can benefit from writing a short story every once in a while, even if you don't intend to publish it. A short story hones your ability to say what must be said efficiently. Characters must be sketched in a few words. The plot must move along, with everything focused on a main event. Description, while minimal, must bring the story to life. It isn't easy, so it makes you a better writer.

Another nice thing about short stories is that they're useful both before and…