The Writing Show 2007 Archives

Every writer's dream is to create a legacy that lives on, informing and inspiring readers for generations after they themselves have perished. Ireland's most popular historical novelist, Walter Macken, who died in 1967, did just that. This week's show features a conversation between Dublin-based linguist Rafael Guzmán and Father Walter Macken, Jr., the son of Walter Macken, recorded earlier this year to mark the 40th anniversary of Macken's death. In this fascinating talk, Father Walter Macken Jr. candidly discusses his father's life and legacy, motivations, and methods.

This week we present two hilarious stories submitted by Writing Show listeners Eric Pliner ("Santa Baby") and Tim Tucker ("That Day in the Manger"). After each writer reads his story, he joins Writing Show host Paula B. to talk about writing.

This week we present two hilarious stories submitted by Writing Show listeners Eric Pliner ("Santa Baby") and Tim Tucker ("That Day in the Manger"). After each writer reads his story, he joins Writing Show host Paula B. to talk about writing.

In 1998, a medieval prayer book sold for $2 million at a Christie's auction in New York City, to an anonymous bidder. No one could figure out why it went for so much, especially since it was in terrible shape. And everyone wondered what this mysterious buyer knew that they didn't. Now, almost a decade later, experts at Baltimore's Walters Art Museum, to which the manuscript has been entrusted, are learning the full extent of its value. It turns out that the prayers, penned by a Christian monk circa 1200 A.D., were written over an earlier text. But not just any text. The prayers were written over the lost works of Archimedes, the greatest mathematician of antiquity. What did this ancient manuscript hold? Literally the secrets of the universe. And in The Archimedes Codex, Stanford professor Reviel Netz and Walters Art Museum curator William Noel, who have been on the front lines of its decoding, tell its full story. Please join Reviel Netz, William Noel, and Paula B. as they delve into: How they got involved with the codex What sorts of issues they faced in conserving the artifact Why Archimedes is so important What has been discovered about Archimedes through the codex Why a scribe wrote over Archimedes' texts Where the codex was hiding over the centuries How the codex ended up at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Who's allowed to purchase precious artifacts like the codex, and under what conditions How they finally cracked the text.

Writers are just different. We face a variety of issues unknown to most people. What do we struggle with, and how can we rise to meet those challenges? Jurgen Wolff is a writing coach who writes films, plays, television shows, fiction, and nonfiction. He teaches creativity workshops around the world. Please join Jurgen and host Paula B. as they wrestle with: Which psychological issues are most common among writers How writers sabotage themselves How to keep from falling into bad habits Why we sometimes feel let down when we achieve a goal How to handle friends who are envious or disparaging How to make unpleasant tasks easier to tackle How to decide when to give up.

We just concluded a big experiment: our 2007 First-Chapter-of-a-Novel Contest. Tune in and find out what went on behind the scenes. Join Writing Show host Paula B. and contest judge Ann Paden for this look at our 2007 First-Chapter Contest, including: Why we decided to offer feedback Why it was difficult to find judges How we came up with our fee structure What the role of Literary Market Place was How I flubbed up on the number of judges I'd need How the judges felt about writing 750-word critiques How the judges evaluated your chapters How one judge, Ann Paden, felt about the entries she read and about the contest itself What Ann recommends contestants do to improve their work What was involved in administering the contest.

With the writers' strike in full swing, the timing of this interview with a writer and producer of independent films couldn't be better. Find out why work-for-hire gigs may not be enough for the ambitious screenwriter. Scott Fivelson co-wrote and was a producer on the film "American Reel," starring David Carradine, Mariel Hemingway, and the distinguished British actor Michael Maloney. He also co-wrote the zombie movie "Route 666." Please join Scott and host Paula B. as they chew over, among other things: How Scott got started in Hollywood How "American Reel" and "Route 666" got made How he ended up producing as well as writing How he selects his subjects What a screenwriter does and doesn't get to do on a film What he finds difficult about writing How he comes up with jokes and humorous situations.

Since September of 2006, we've been following Jean as she attempts to find an agent to represent her intergenerational novel Karaoke Nights at the Twilight Lounge. So far, Jean has received a number of rejections, but at least she's heard something. She's also started work on some new projects. In episode 7, we hear once again from listener T.A. Evans, learn what Jean is going to do about her stalled search for an agent, and get an update on the other projects she's pursuing in the meantime, including her new podcast.

This week's guest may be a debut writer, but to my mind he's one of the best wordsmiths I've ever encountered Since 1976, Steven M. Reilly has coached baseball in Connecticut's Lower Naugatuck Valley. Please join Steve Reilly and host Paula B. as they explore: Why readers should care about a fifteen-year-old high school baseball season How Steve achieves sparkling description and lively characters Why he likes the number three How his commentary spices up the narrative How he remembered so many minute details What hyphenated words do for his style How he achieves a cinematic effect.

We announce the winners of our 2007 First-Chapter-of-a-Novel Contest

As a relative newcomer to the self-publishing world, Lulu.com has garnered quite a bit of attention with its unorthodox business model. Nick Popio serves as a communications specialist at Lulu.com. Please join Nick and host Paula B. as they ponder: * What Lulu.com does * How the company makes its revenue * How much it costs to publish through Lulu.com * How many copies of their books Lulu.com authors typically sell * Whether the company rejects manuscripts * How they let authors know what to expect as far as sales and income are concerned * Whether Lulu.com is a vanity press.

If you haven't heard of the heinous phenomenon known as "libel tourism," I urge you to listen to this show. David S. Korzenik, Esq., a partner at Miller Korzenik Sommers LLP, specializes in media and First Amendment law as well as intellectual property. The firm defends book, magazine, and online publishers; broadcasters; news organizations; and human rights groups against claims such as libel, privacy, newsgathering torts, copyright, and so on. Please join us for this important show in which David and host Paula B. discuss: What libel tourism is and how it got started How plaintiffs are able to sue American defendants in foreign courts How laws relating to free speech differ in the U.S. and the UK What some high-profile cases are How libel tourism is affecting publishers, authors, and journalists How the House of Lords is making some changes in authors' and publishers' favor Why bloggers and podcasters need to be aware of the phenomenon.

"Presented for your experience: a psychoacoustic visitation. It is recommended that headphones with good left/right variance be used, and that the listener partake of this recording with "Eyes Closed in a Dark Room." The Tellings: In Foreign Climes The Devil You Don't After The Exit Waiting at the Break Old Man in Wheelchair When All The Lost in Darkness Call "

"On the fields of the African savanna, Lord Caulfield is on safari hunting lions. Little does he know that deep beneath the earth a yet undiscovered breed of humanoids is hunting him, not to kill or make him their trophy, but to take him far beneath the earth where he will discover his new role in their world."

"Daniel Jones hasn't come to terms with the failure of his relationship with Jeannie. But an angry and embittered drive along a darkened freeway, and a swarm of bogon moths, may give him reason to look upon his situation in an entirely different light."