Quality Quotes

A Medical Opinion on the Effects of a Writers’ Strike

September 8, 2012

I turned to Castle the elder. “Sir, how does a man die when he’s deprived of the consolations of literature?” “In one of two ways,” he said, “petrescence of the heart or atrophy of the nervous system.” “Neither one very pleasant, I expect,” I [...]

They Is

June 26, 2012

If you haven’t gotten a chance to read Tobias Wolff’s short story, “Bullet in the Brain” — you’re missing out. Not only is it a wonderful study on structure, time, and character, but the exceptional quality of language makes the piece stunning. We encourage our [...]

Our President the Poet

May 6, 2012

In the most recent issue of Vanity Fair, author David Maraniss sheds light on the dark and romantic years Obama spent in New York City following his graduation from Columbia. The piece includes excerpts from letters and diaries of both Barack and his New York girlfriend, Genevieve Cook, whose [...]

The Life of Poetry — Muriel Rukeyser

March 4, 2012

Not a craft book. Not a defense of poetry, either. An inspirational read. “The realization of a poem is an event of belief and experience.” [...]

Good Morning Heartache, What’s New?

January 7, 2012

Breathe in experience, breathe out poetry. ~Muriel [...]

Grammar and Dating

May 19, 2011

One of the TSHS members recently mentioned that grammar was a date deal breaker. How do we get through the world today with all of the poor grammar? With colorful comics and sarcastic wonders from places like Hyperbole and a Half. If you are dating a writer, you don’t have to buy a copy [...]

Jack Gilbert On Horseback Riding/Writing

February 21, 2011

From Jack Gilbert’s 2005 Interview with the Paris Review: “If I’m writing well it comes to an end with an almost-audible click. When I started out I wouldn’t write a poem until I knew the first line and the last line and what it was about and what would make it a success. I was a [...]

“Poems, What a Hoot”

January 29, 2011

(On drafting poems for workshop) E: It’s a write off. A: Is that tax [...]

Tight Pants

January 24, 2011

In lieu of the recent rise in popularity of “jeggings,” we refer to the New York poet Frank O’Hara for his philosophies on poetry as presented in “Personism: A Manifesto“ I’m not saying that I don’t have practically the most lofty ideas of anyone writing [...]

History

December 7, 2010

Sometimes, TS, it’s hard to keep up with all of the history…but one does one’s best. “Whatever words a writer employs, he benefits by knowing as much as possible of the history these words, of the uses to which they have already been applied. Such knowledge facilitates his [...]