About writing generally
bcohen | February 20, 2008Listen, we've got a lot to do here, it's a hectic post, lots of links, so stay awake, put down your cell phone, and keep those new windows open and visible in new tabs.
World's Fair guest contributor Oronte Churm uses a pen name -- if it wasn't obvious. But he reveals his identity today in two spots. Check out the great interview with him at Litpark.com. It's good reading on its own. Go look real quick, I can wait.
Now you're back. So then check out the new volume of Dispatches from Adjunct Faculty at a Large State University over at McSweeneys. This is your must-read of the day. I…
worldsfair | February 15, 2008
A few days ago, I wrote about a neat little book ("Not what I was planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure") coming out which revolves around the concept of trying to encapsulate your life in 6 words:
It stems from a great anecdote about Ernest Hemingway once writing a story with only six words, and coming up with an eloquent: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."
It also occurred to me that for most of our readers, the thought of already writing a memoir is kind of a daunting task, especially in light of how young (relatively speaking) many of us are. But then again, here…
worldsfair | February 13, 2008A new book just (or just about to be) released called "Not what I was planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure" has been on the media blitz lately. It stems from a great anecdote about Ernest Hemingway once writing a story with only six words, and coming up with an eloquent: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."
Anyway, this new book is a collection of such short short stories. Here's the nice trailer for it - you'll note some pretty well known names in the mix:
It also occurred to me that for most of our readers, the thought of already writing a memoir is kind of a…
bcohen | December 19, 2007I had the fortune to be a bit experimental in the classroom this semester. Curricular innovation, they call it. More precisely, in one of my courses (called "STS 200: Technology, Nature, and Sustainable Communities"), the students wrote an entire book. These are engineering students. All engineers. They wrote a book. A book about relationships between technology and nature as exemplified in a local UVA sustainable housing project called ecoMOD. A full, cohesive, compelling, well-argued, well-researched book. We were glad to see a nice write-up of the project linked from the university…
worldsfair | December 11, 2007From the Science Creative Quarterly. Two days left to enter, so I'm just moving this post back up.
"O.K. so we're waaay behind on sorting out the Bill Hick, Science Prick contest, but figure that the best way to deal with that is to simply host another writing contest. This time, the book on the line is "I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean!" by Kevin Sherry.
This book is great by the way, and this appears regardless of the fondness many people have for squids.
This time we'll take any kind of submission. Just send some stuff in - because essentially the thing we like the best, is the thing…
worldsfair | November 14, 2007We had such great fun with the "I rank number 1!" meme, that I thought it would be worth the effort to try another. This one might even guarantee you a spot in immortality - especially if your contribution manages to strike a chord with academia.
Anyway, this meme asks that you come up with your own scientific eponym. What's that exactly? Well, first read this excellent primer by Samuel Arbesman, which basically provides a step by step description of how to do this effectively. Then have a go at your own blog. If all goes well, I'd like to create a page at the Science Creative Quarterly…
worldsfair | November 1, 2007I just wanted to highlight this excellent post by a student who use to work with me on the Terry project.
Basically, Shagufta begins:
Political science is not the only way to understand the world. It seems like a simple statement, but when I first entered the Faculty of Arts I was surprised how many students grimaced when they heard the word science. As a former life sciences student, this distressed me.
It continues where eventually, you realize that the point of the post, is to seek opinion of whether creative literature should have a more prominent role in looking into globally relevant…
worldsfair | October 29, 2007A couple months back, I had a piece published at The Walrus which kind of looked at brief encounters with famous people - you know, the type that I'm sure many of us had during the course of our academic careers.
One of the people listed was the time I bumped into Sir Francis Crick, and that it was notable because the cartoon actually threw off the "truthiness" to it.
Anyway, at the SCQ today, I've set the record straight, and doing so, hope to attract other stories and anecdote like this for publication there.
- - -
CRICK: Is that your Ford Escort?
ME: Yes it is.
CRICK: It's in my parking…
worldsfair | October 9, 2007So, my New Yorker subscription is about done, and I've decided not to renew it this time. This is a shame, because I've been getting it for almost three years now, and it's become a bit of comfortable habit now. Hard to beat some of the writing that is presented there, despite my disappointment at not cracking the "Shouts and Murmur" door.
Also, it's not that cheap (although, price per word, it's awesome value), but the thing is, is that I just can't keep up. Right now, I'm wondering if a better use of magazine reading time is to get something like the Economist (which I always get when I'…
worldsfair | September 12, 2007Specifically, this pretty one:
Very nicely done biography of Charles Darwin, presented in the children's book genre, that also happens to be pretty enough for the coffee table (more info about the book here).
Basically, the SCQ is hoping to give away a science themed hardcopy children's book each month. All you have to do is submit something - anything really. For you bloggers out there, a post that you're particularly proud of would also work. (more details about this can be found here)
worldsfair | June 28, 2007Isn't this a great cover?
It's called "Bright Idea" and was done by Bob Staake.
As well, the shouts and murmur piece (by Jack Handey) in this issue is priceless. Here's the start of the piece, but click here to read all of it.
Show monkey in a tree. Narrator says, "The monkey, proud and smart, in his native habitat. But one thing he does not have . . ." Show a giraffe. ". . . is a long neck, like the giraffe. Which is why nature has allowed them to combine forces." Show monkey on giraffe's neck. (Note: Monkey may have to be tied on.)
Then the narrator says, "The monkey can now see very far…
worldsfair | June 18, 2007
Image by Baskervillain
Last week I was in San Francisco for a meeting (sorry Janet for not touching base - I literally got my passport the day before flying out). This was actually the first work-related trip I've taken in about 5 years (the last being the workshop in Lagos, Nigeria), so it was with some amusement that this particular meeting happened to involve a pirate store.
Which makes more sense when you realize that the Pirate Store (no joke) is actually a front for a non-profit organization known as 826 Valencia. This is a remarkable set up with a general mandate that reads:…
worldsfair | April 12, 2007
Is it just me or don't you think that Mr. Vonnegut would've been the person to have written the perfect piece about his death. He'll be missed - that's for sure.
(Kurt Vonnegut, 1922 - 2007)
worldsfair | March 27, 2007Another writing contest I'm affiliated with. And to reiterate, pretty much anything goes as long as it fits (even remotely) in the global issues genre. Plus (plus), there's a category for non-UBC folk, and the insider info is that we don't have an awful lot of those kind of submissions (full details below)
* * *
Note that the contest deadline has been extended to March 31st, 2007
PDF | JPG
There once was a website named Terry1
That wanted to make people wary
Of things going on
In the world that are wrong
Without making it all seem too scary.
So this is a call for submissions
To write or…
worldsfair | January 16, 2007Not counting Shouts and Murmurs email queries, I've sent pieces to the New Yorker proper on three occasions, the last of which just a few months ago. What I've noticed is that there is a clear trend is how these rejection letters have been developing over the years.
Here's the first one I got, which I think is pretty impressive and earned a rating of "A" in a previous post. I mean, it's got it all. Handwritten, reference to a powerful editor at the top of his game, written and signed even by someone in the same plateau. Plus, just the right amount of pretention in the letter to make it…
worldsfair | January 10, 2007I'm not sure if it's kosher to discuss article queries before they are even entertained. I'm not even sure if I spelt kosher correctly, but in any event, not being a career writer, I'll take my chances because I think the query and the question I'd like to tackle would also make for an intriguing blog post.
Anyway, the mystery involves the Radiohead video below. It's the one for the song "Just" (great song by the way), and it's a bit of cultural phenom, because of the way it ends.
Here watch it first:
Here is what Gavin Edwards (a regular at Rolling Stone writes in his newish book, "Is…
worldsfair | December 23, 2006I don't suspect there will be much going on here for the remainder of the year, so here are two poems I find lovely and notable.
CHRISTMAS 1924
By Thomas Hardy
'Peace upon earth!' was said. We sing it
And pay a million priests to bring it.
After two thousand years of mass
We've got as far as poison-gas.
CHRISTMAS 1970
by Spike Milligan
A little girl called Sile Javotte
Said 'Look at the lovely presents I've got'
While a little girl in Biafra said
'Oh what a lovely slice of bread'.
(Happy holidays everyone!)
worldsfair | December 20, 2006Happy to announce and promote a new science web-magazine - the ever so funky INKLING. Courtesy of fellow Vancouver-based dudettes, Anne and Anna (of Inkycircus fame).
It's got a really great tone to it, much needed really, different from the stuff out there, and with good pieces and a nice layout to boot. I especially liked the author's page (see below the fold). It's nice (as a fellow writer of sorts) to have a place where the writer can indulge a little with their blurb especially after all the effort that goes into a piece.
Check it out at http://inklingmagazine.com
worldsfair | December 6, 2006O.K. Here goes:
First up. Most likely the easiest to read piece on LOC technology (Lab on a Chip). Who knew that microfluidics and lithography techniques were so cool? After reading this, you will too. ("Living la Vida Loc(A): A brief insight into the world of "lab on a chip" and microfluidics")
Next up. A McSweeney's list that would also make a perfect slide if your talk was on nuclear energy. Freaky really. ("Nuclear Plant or Retirement Community")
And finally - looking for love? Anyway, this ad on craigslist might fit the bill. ("I'm looking for a man to photophosylate me all night long…