Friday, December 30, 2011

fiction writing reading list

This fall, I took a Fiction Writing Workshop at the University of Texas through the Extension school program. I am more interested in Creative Non-Fiction, but as I haven't really taken any creative writing courses, I thought it would be a good experience nonetheless. I definitely benefited a lot from forcing myself to write (we submitted 3 pieces plus a final rewrite of one) and then going through the workshopping experience with my classmates. Each week, we also had assigned readings, mostly in our textbook.

The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction
50 North American Stories Since 1970

Our assigned readings:

  • Rick Bass, The Hermit's Story
  • Sanda Cisneros, Never Marry a Mexican
  • Jhumpa Lahiri, A Temporary Matter
  • David Leavitt, Territory
  • Kelly Link, Stone Animals
  • Susan Minot, Lust
  • Tim O'Brien, The Things They Carried
  • Julie Orringer, Pilgrims
  • ZZ Packer, Brownies
There were some other short stories that we read as copies and handouts as well as some other notes on writing. We kept a reading response journal, so perhaps I will type up some of my responses to the stories as individual posts. 

I've not been much of a short story reader, and I still have mixed feelings about it, but it was definitely helpful to read it while trying to write it. It is really surprising to see how different short stories can be and what the author can do within the span of a few to twenty pages. I'm casually reading some of the other stories in the anthology, but I think I prefer a longer medium. 

Bossypants

I love 30 Rock and I love Tina Fey. So, when I saw that Ms. Fey had written a book, I knew I wanted to read it. I was very pleasantly surprised to see that my stepdad/mom had bought the book on our Amazon account, which meant I could read it on my phone (oh, technology!). Even better, the version we have has some pictures and even Tina reading a chapter outloud.

Bossypants
Tina Fey

Well, for starters, let's let the book speak for itself. Because when you have someone as hilarious as Tina Fey writing, what more can I really offer?
Before Liz Lemon, before "Weekend Update," before "Sarah Palin," Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV. She has seen both these dreams come true. At last, Tina Fey's story can be told. From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon -- from the beginning of this paragraph to this final sentence.Tina Fey reveals all, and proves what we've all suspected: you're no one until someone calls you bossy.(Includes Special, Never-Before-Solicited Opinions on Breastfeeding, Princesses, Photoshop, the Electoral Process, and Italian Rum Cake!)
This book was so good and so funny that I read it in two days while laughing uproariously by myself in my little apartment. You, too, can have a great experience like that just by reading this book! I love a book that makes me belly laugh because the author is just that good at comedy. I learned a lot about Tina Fey's life from this book, but mostly, I was just really entertained. I haven't been reading much lately, and this reminded me how much fun it can be.

I will absolutely read it again, and you better at least give it a try. Just go to Barnes and Noble and snag one to read while lurking in the shelves or in one of their comfy chairs. If you get self-conscious at how much you are laughing in public and appearing insane to others, then buy it. Or you can be like me and be comfortable in your off-beat persona. Or you can go to the google books preview and sample it on your computer on the interwebs. Whatever floats your boat.