Category Archives: LitReactor

News roundup!

The second round of Path to Publication ran at LitReactor yesterday. I wrote about AWP and readings and book trailers and a bunch of other stuff. You can read that here.

The LitReactor podcast is back! That’s exciting, considering how long it’s been since we recorded an episode. I spend a little bit of it talking about my book deal with Exhibit A. We also talk to Anne Jamison about fan fiction. It’s a good time. Give it a listen.

Finally, newsletter! I figure, for the two or three times a year I have something worth announcing, it might not be a bad idea to start one up. So you can click here… or click on that super-fancy envelope icon in the right-hand column, if you’re into that kind of thing.

James Ross at LitReactor book club

The June pick for the LitReactor book club is a favorite of mine—They Don’t Dance Much by James Ross. Released in 1940, it was the only book Ross ever published, but it’s been lauded by authors like Raymond Chandler, William Gay, Daniel Woodrell, and Flannery O’Connor.

I wrote a  lengthy piece for LitReactor about the history of the book, and the process of publishing it at MysteriousPress.com. Here’s a (very brief) excerpt:

Ross’ prose is both sharp and laconic. Lush with detail and stark in its representation of the human spirit. From page one, the book is shaded with a foreboding sense of dread—you know these people are on a collision course with tragedy. It’s just a matter of how they get there.

You can read the full piece here.

If you’re looking for something to read during the month of June, it’s not too late: Get the book here.

And then join the discussion on LitReactor.

May updates!

  • I’ve got a piece up at Salon on the cult of self-publishing. I measure my relative success or failure on how long it takes for someone to call me a douchebag. Since it happened in the first comment, I’d call this a success.
  • We’ve got a solid slate of classes coming up at LitReactor, covering query letters, eBook coding, thriller and horror writing, character archetypes, and grammar. Find ’em here.
  • New podcast! We talk about transgressive fiction. Good times all around.

April news round-up

kwikI wrote an article for LitReactor called Top 10 Storytelling Cliches Writers Need To Stop Using. It’s gotten more than 35,000 hits. Insane.

There’s a new podcast episode up, featuring special guest Patrick Wensink, author of the fantastic Broken Piano for President. Give it a listen.

My online marketing class starts in less than a week. It’s going to be fun! Check it out.

Speaking of classes, we’ve got a packed slate, with some really cool workshops lined up. Don’t believe me? Go take a look.

Finally, galleys are in for Kwik Krimes. Fancy!

New podcast

A new episode of Unprintable, LitReactor’s podcast, is live. Bask in it. We talk about a lot of goofy stuff, but mostly reading habits. But also how much I LOVED The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch. Which you should read, toot sweet.

Also, in case you’re looking to brush up on your writing skills, we’ve got nine (9!) awesome classes currently accepting enrollments at LitReactor. Including one with Lidia. And also with Jon Gingerich, John Skipp, Zoe Fishman, David Corbett, Suzy Vitello, Richard Thomas, Patrick Wensink, and, oh, me!

Check ’em all out here.

Podcast; hiring; essay

Check out the latest episode of Unprintable, the LitReactor podcast. It features a special guest, literary agent Bree Ogden, and we cover a lot of good ground, re: finding an agent, publishing, etc.

We also talk about the two least controversial figures in modern literature—Orson Scott Card and Bret Easton Ellis. And also I geek out of The Hard Bounce by Todd Robinson, a book that you should be reading right now, at this moment, and if you’re not, then you are making mistakes I can’t help you with.

Also, interested in being a class facilitator for LitReactor? It’s a paid gig, plus you get access to the lectures from our instructors. Details here.

Finally, Craig Clevenger wrote a fantastic essay for LitReactor: The Safety of Transgression versus the Risk of Honesty. Also would be good of you to drop what you’re doing and read it right now.

Make that PROFESSOR Hart

I’m teaching a class on marketing and social media over at LitReactor!

It’s going to be fun. I’ll share my experience as the associate publisher at MysteriousPress.com, a reporter, a publicist, and a writer. There will be lectures and assignments and Q&A’s. And maybe cake? I don’t know about the cake yet. Don’t hold me to it.

Seriously though, check it out. If you have any questions, let me know.