Today marks a special stop on my blog tour. Richard Thomas and I have it out a new installment of his dueling columns series which essentially pits two writers against one another to voice their individuals takes on a hot-button issue of the day. Our issue: to MFA or not to MFA. I've posted both of our write-ups below, which can also be seen at Richard Thomas' site. Click here to read the guest post. Also, don’t forget that if you comment on all guest blog posts, you will get free stuff. FOR MFA PROGRAMS – Richard As Caleb mentioned in his column, if you want to teach at the university level, then you must get an MFA. And at many fine universities, you may need a PhD these days as well. In addition to that, most schools want you to have at least one published novel or short story collection (the bigger and better the press,…
Posts By Caleb J. Ross
Caleb began writing his sophomore year of undergrad study when, tired of the formal art education then being taught, he abandoned the pursuit in the middle of a compositional drawing class. Major-less and fearful of losing his financial aid, he signed up to seek a degree in English Literature for no other reason than his lengthy history with the language. Coincidentally, this decision not only introduced him to writing but to reading as well. Prior this transition he had read three books. One of which he understood.
Virginia Woolf was an advocate of a writer having a dedicated place to write, as examined in her famous essay "A Room of One's Own." I know, the essay speaks specifically to women and how their treatment as lesser citizens prevented them from potential as serious writers. Hence, having the financial and social freedom afforded (or perhaps implied) by having a room of one's own would be what makes the writer as woman a more accepted presence in the world of books. But me, I just read the title of the essay and have taken from it what I want. Most writers would agree a dedicated writing space is important. But is it really? Is there something to be said about the paralyzing effect that comes with such a freedom? Is the wish of a dedicated room just an excuse some writers use to explain lack of productivity? Show Notes and Mentions:…
During the preorder phase of Stranger Will (around January(ish) of 2011) I decided to do something special, as I try to do with all of my book preorders. With Stranger Will, the temptation to integrate the preorder extras into the thematic content of the book itself was obvious and too persistent to ignore. A large part of the book deals with the trade of messenger pigeon messages between a woman named Mrs. Rose and to-be parents who are, shall we say, less than excited about their coming children. What comes of these transactions is an intricate, yet intentionally misdirected, sales pitch designed to encourage the to-be parents to abort their pregnancies. Heavy stuff, I know. I decided to use one of those exchanges presented in Stranger Will as a base for expanding the communication chain into a longer dialog between Mrs. Rose and a parent. What became of this is a 14-part,…
"Click-Clack" is a favorite of my stories. It has a rhythm and a focus that I am particularly proud of. So, it makes me all warm and bound to read Matthew C. Funk's review of the story at Spinetinger Magazine. Spinetingler, for whatever beautiful reason, has decided to review a handful of stories from the recent Warmed and Bound anthology, in which my story, along with 37 others, appear for your reading pleasure. Rather than blather on, I'll just post a few of Mr. Funk's words: Click-Clack by Caleb J. Ross is attuned to these mortal rhythms, and makes them sing seamlessly in a narrative that is as much a ballad as it is lyrical prose. This vignette is a song masquerading as short story. It achieves this with a brilliance as flawless as any modern masterpiece of music. Ross crafts wondrously illustrated personalities. Jack and Ernie are vivid as both symbols in a fable…
Sometimes I get bored. When I get bored I tend to pretend there is a camera in front of me. This time, I pretended...FOR REAL! I rather like making promotional videos for my books. Perhaps I will continue. But then again, the new season of Nick Swardson's Pretend Time finally started so boredom may be a thing of the past.
Today at Martine Svanevik's Nascent Novelist blog I talk a bit about my very first non-academic publication, years ago at Dogmatika.com (may it rest in peace). The lesson: I'm so glad one of my earlier tries at fiction writing didn't get out there for everyone else to see. I'm as proud of this first story now as I was then. Click here to read the guest post. Also, don’t forget that if you comment on all guest blog posts, you will get free stuff.
Today at the American Typo blog, I talk about some sound wisdom from a source I've long forgotten: too many writers don't want to write, they want to have written. It's hard to remember this at times (which may be indicative of the "writers" lack of reason for being a writer in the first place). I want to be the author performer. I want to be the author on display. But do I want to be the author, alone, in front of a computer screen? A valid question for most of us. Click here to read the guest post. Also, don’t forget that if you comment on all guest blog posts, you will get free stuff.