Critical Margins Podcast

Special note: This is our last episode for 2014, but we’ll be back in January with even better topics, so keep listening! Kevin is taking time off in November and...

In today’s episode, we go where no other writer has gone before: into the great unknown of artificial intelligence. We use tools that augment our lives every day, but as...

In this week’s Critical Margins podcast, Jason Braun and Kevin Eagan discuss crowdfunding and crowdsourcing for writers. How might writers implement smart strategies online to get readers involved in the process? Crowdfunding is the way in which artists and writers can both get funding for their projects and find participants. Crowdsourcing, however, is about getting people involved in the creative and production process. Both approaches work for writers hoping to go at it alone. Show notes: Jason and Kevin discuss these articles: “On Crowdfunding Books: When People Vote with Their Money” by Adam Gomolin in Publishing Perspectives; “Crowdsourcing Tolstoy” by Sally McGrane in The New Yorker; “Walter Isaacson on Crowdsourcing His New Book” by Joshua Brustein in Bloomberg Businessweek Some books worth checking out: Get Known Before the Book Deal by Christina Katz; In the Beginning…was the Command Line by Neal Stephenson We also talk about some crowdfunding sites beyond Kickstarter: Donors Choose – Kevin’s wife Katie used this site to successfully fund some language arts supplies and materials she needed for her classroom but weren’t available to her at her school; Inkshares – promises “crowdfunded publishing”; Pubslush – another publishing/crowdfunding site for literarty types. Check out the Reading Rainbow Kickstarter. We want to hear from you! If you like the podcast, rate us on iTunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud. Or leave us a comment in the show notes. Special thanks to Jason and the Beast for our show’s theme song, “Street Preacher.”

Episode 11: Burritos and Literature In this week’s episode, Jason and I talk about Chipotle’s collaboration with writers like Jonathan Safran Foer and Toni Morrison. These writers’ short stories will show up on Chipotle’s cups and bags in store in the coming months. For more information on the project and to read the stories, go to CultivatingThought.com. Show notes: Vanity Fair broke the story in this excellent breakdown of the programs: “Chipotle Cups Will Now Feature Stories by Jonathan Safran Foer, Toni Morrison, and Other Authors” by Kia Makarechi The New York Times breaks down some of the responses to Foer’s efforts, seen by some as “patrician” and others as “unusual”: “Chipotle Experiments With Disposable Literature” by Daniel E. Slotnik In “Shouts and Murmurs,” The New Yorker had some fun with the campaign: Let’s hear less about your parents’ divorce, and more about the devastation that ego has wrought on the life of man. Toni has a nice piece going. It’s something like, “I took my heart out and gave it to a writer made heartless by fame, someone who needed it to pump blood into veins desiccated by the suck and roar of crowds slobbering or poisoning or licking up the red froth they mistake for happiness…” and so on. That’s the kind of copy that pairs with burrito bowls. You know what I’m saying? “Re: Chipotle Cup Draft” by Kelly Stout Read some stuff from Jonathan Safran Foer to get you an idea behind some of his motivations for this campaign. Jason mentioned the movie No, which covers some motivations behind art, commerce, and power dynamics. We want to hear from you! If you like the podcast, rate us on iTunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud. Or leave us a comment in the show notes. Special thanks to Jason and the Beast for our show’s theme song, “Street Preacher.”

What do computers have to do with how we understand literature? In today’s show, Jason and I talk about the promise of the Digital Humanities, a field of scholarship dedicated to using big data to discover new approaches to reading in the digital age. We discussed two articles in this show from The New Republic: “Technology Is Taking Over English Departments” by Adam Kirsch and “The Immense Promise of the Digital Humanities” by Jeffrey Schnapp et al. Some books worth looking up if you are interested in this subject matter: Digital_Humanities by Jeffrey Schnapp et al. – A good primer for the digital humanities Defining Digital Humanities by Melissa Terras Also, check out our interviews with Melissa Terras (author of the the above mentioned book) and our interview archives, which include work by other prominent digital humanists. Our show’s theme song is “Street Preacher” by Jason and the Beast. You can subscribe and rate our show on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, and Soundcloud, or leave a comment here.

In this week’s Critical Margins Podcast, Jason and Kevin talk about how to give up on reading. When is the best time to give up on reading a book? When is it better to wait for a better time to read? Goodreads conducted a poll last year about why people give up on books. The poll found some interesting facts about our reading lives, and some of the respondents aren’t that honest. In the show, we discuss these books: Books people are most likely to give up, according to Goodreads: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson Top five abandoned classics, according to Goodreads: Catch–22 by Joseph Heller The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Ulysses by James Joyce Moby-Dick by Herman Melville Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand Some books we’ve given up on: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, and John Steinbeck – which one would you give up on? The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (a.k.a J.K. Rowling) A book we mentioned to discover when it’s time to give up on projects: The Dip by Seth Godin We’d love to hear from you! Rate us on iTunes, Soundcloud, or Stitcher radio. Let us know what you think on twitter: @criticalmargins (Kevin) or @jasonanthebeast (Jason).

Do we need to memorize poetry any more? Some say that in the age of text, we’ve lost the art of memorization. Spoken word and slam poets, however, keep the oral tradition of poetry alive. This week, Jason and Kevin discuss the value of memorizing poetry in the digital age. Mentioned in this week’s show: “The lost art of memorizing poetry” by Nina Kang Slam poet Saul Williams on The Colbert Report What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy by James Paul Gee Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain by Maryanne Wolf Poetry Out Loud - National Recitation Contest from the NEA - great example of helping students understand and recite poems they enjoy and get to choose Rap Genius and Poetry Genius - two websites bridging gaps between text annotations and spoken word Take A Walk. Your Writing Depends on It. Our take on a recent study that shows taking a walk increases your creative productivity by 60 percent “A Tone Poem” by John Ashberry - Nina Kang discusses this poem in her article “America” by Allen Ginsberg Poetry Out Loud: the Anthology Future Shock by Alvin Toffler Chicago Slam Works Neruda and Vallejo: Selected Poems, translated by Robert Bly We didn’t cover this in the show, but if you’re interested in arguments for/against orality, check out Plato’s Phaedrus and Walter Ong’s book, Orality and Literacy. Both books give you an idea of why we honor oral communication in a textual age. If you enjoy our show, rate us on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or Soundcloud. Our show theme song is “Street Preacher” by Jason’s band, Jason and the Beast.

Self-publishing: some writers swear by it, others treat it like it’s a dirty word. The truth is, many writers and publishers self-publish something at some point in their career. And self-publishing isn’t new, even though the tools used to self-publish continue to change. In this episode, Jason and I discuss the fraught history of self-publishing. We talk about the DIY art movements of the past, but we also cover what the future holds for DIYers. Is self-publishing finally mainstream? How hard is it for writers to get their name out there? What are some of the best examples of self-published and DIY publishers right now? We discuss a lot of interesting stuff in this show – articles, books published online, and examples of self-publishing. Go check them out: Notable Moments in Self-Publishing History: A Timeline, Poets & Writers How Hugh Howey Turned His Self-Published Story “Wool” Into A Success (& A Book Deal) Shelley Jackson’s Ineradicable Stain – project publishes a story via tattoos The Silent History - A New Kind of Novel [App] “Forget Twitter. In St. Louis, Bare Your Soul Via Typewriter,” NPR Pubslush – a crowdfunding service for writers (works a lot like Kickstarter). Storium — The Online Storytelling Game Espresso Book Machine – On Demand Books The Newer York – Small press doing unique things for artists and writers. Specifically, this book: Small Creatures / Wide Field by John Mortara Jason mentioned this excellent book for the self-starter who wants to do more than publish books: The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau If you need to find your own writer’s group in your area, check out Meetup.com. Finally, what are some of the things you’ve seen self-published that you’ve enjoyed? Sound off in the comments or hit us up on Twitter: @criticalmargins If you enjoy our show, rate us on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or Soundcloud. Our show theme song is “Street Preacher” by Jason’s band, Jason and the Beast.

In this week’s podcast, Jason and I talk about how and why we got started as writers. Here’s the deal: writing is tough. And it’s not easy to get started. Jason and I are not “experts” on getting published or the game of publishing. But we’ve been writing for a long time, and today we talk about what we’ve learned along the way. In the show, we discuss the L.A. Times’ reporting on the 2014 L.A. Times Festival of Books. At the festival, they conducted a nonscientific survey of published authors selling books and found some interesting stats on how these authors got their start. They published this fun game about writing: Game: How to be a Writer. Jason and I mention these books for writers at any level of publishing or writing: On Writing by Stephen King Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron The Practice of Poetry: Writing Exercises From Poets Who Teach by Robin Behn Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Areily Manage Your Day-to-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, and Sharpen Your Creative Mind by Jocelyn K. Glei If you enjoy our show, rate us on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or Soundcloud. Our show theme song is "Street Preacher" by Jason's band, Jason and the Beast.

In today’s podcast, Jason and Kevin wade through the digital shallows and talk about the science of reading. What does it mean to be bi-literate? Is skimming a “worse” type of reading than deep, “serious” reading? We explore the arguments made in a Washington Post article by Michael Rosenwald: “Serious reading takes a hit from online scanning and skimming, researchers say”. We also discuss the neuroscience of reading mentioned in the article and in the book, Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain by Maryanne Wolf. Some more reading: "10 Things Emerging Writers Need To Learn" by Michael Nye "How Shavian is the Pygmalion We Teach?" by Robert Harvey (JSTOR article; requires subscription) If you want to read what we think about this topic, check out some previous Critical Margins articles about reading in the digital age: “In the Ideal World, Digital Social Reading Would Rule on E-Readers” by Kevin Eagan “Going Digital Doesn’t Affect Reading Comprehension (Study)” by Kevin Eagan “Authors Unbound: The Rise of the Maker Author” by Jason Braun Don’t forget: you can subscribe to the Critical Margins podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, and Soundcloud.

In today’s show, Kevin and Jason talk about writing on smartphones. Did you know a lot of students are writing more than tweets and texts on their phones? Is there anything wrong with writing everything on a smartphone? We want to use our smartphones for good, so join us as we uncover how students use their phones for good. In the show, we discuss: Multimodal Composing on Mobile Devices Using Smartphones in the Classroom Jason mentioned these books: Lives on the Boundary by Mike Rose The Tinkerers: The Amateurs, DIYers, and Inventors Who Make America Great by Alec Foege What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy by James Paul Gee We both recommended these apps: Scrivener (Windows and Mac) Google Drive Evernote Lifehacker’s article on how to turn Google Drive into a free desktop suite Final Draft Dragon Dictation Paradise Lost Office - app created by Jason Rooster for iOS Write or Die Homophone Check - also created by Jason If you like writing on a smartphone, check out this Lifehacker article that explains how to create your own smartphone projector for $1. Don’t forget: you can subscribe to the Critical Margins podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, and Soundcloud.

Today, Jason Braun and I talk about writing on trains. The Amtrak Residency is a selective writers’ residency that offers a free, round-trip ticket on an Amtrak train. But is this program worthwhile? We debate the pros and cons of the writer residency 2.0. Read more about the Amtrak Residency’s roots in this article in The New Yorker: “Writing Powered by Amtrak” In the show, we discuss David Foster Wallace and Frank Conroy’s essays on selling out for free cruise trips: DFW: “A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again” (In the book of the same name, available on Amazon) or read the original from Harper’s: “Shipping Out”. (Unfortunately I could not find Conroy’s essay.) We also discuss the Detroit “Write A House” program: WriteAHouse.org as an alternative to the Amtrak Residency program and Victoria Strauss’s article on Writer Beware: “Rights Concerns: Amtrak Residency Program” You can now subscribe to the show on iTunes and Stitcher. We’d love your ratings if you enjoy the show! And please leave a comment below, like us on Facebook or follow us on twitter. And don’t forget: Check your boxes!

What does the show "House of Cards" have to do with blogging? How do characters like Frank Underwood wield power and influence through new media? Today, Kevin and Jason talk about "House of Cards" and the power of influence. How do we get our way in life? What's the point of writing online if it's not to gain something? Can power and influence be achieved through new media? SPOILER ALERT: We talk about the show "House of Cards." So yeah, be ready for that. Links to some of the ideas we brought up in the show: Our new theme song is "Street Preacher" by Jason's band, Jason and the Beast. Thanks, Jason! Woo hoo! Theme song! Jason mentioned the book, Trust Me, I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator by Ryan Holiday. Also, I will appear on Len Edgerly's podcast, The Kindle Chronicles, on Friday. Len's been blogging about the podcast episode. I love that Len's writing about process and how he prepares for his podcast every week. We both appreciate the response we've had to the show so far! Related articles Critical Margins Podcast, Episode 0: Literary Snobbery Critical Margins Podcast, Episode 1: Spies in the Workshop Review: Why Literary Periods Mattered by Ted Underwood 2013: The Year I Discovered Audiobooks Death by 1,000 Clicks: How the News Industry Lost its Way in the Digital Age Current and Future States of the Publishing Industry, Part 2: Advertising, Promoting, & Marketing a Book

Did you know the CIA helped fund the Iowa Writer's Workshop in the 1960s to combat the Soviets? This is all according to an article by Eric Bennett in the Chronicle of Higher Education: "How Iowa Flattened Literature." Bennett also argues that this push to use writing to push a cultural agenda led to the flattening of literature. Luckily, Jason and I have strong opinions on this topic, so check out the podcast: Related articles Critical Margins Podcast, Episode 0: Literary Snobbery How Iowa Flattened Literature: With CIA help, writers were enlisted to battle both Communism and eggheaded abstraction Overtime Ireland Football Podcast Episode 46 2013: The Year I Discovered Audiobooks The Best Books of 2013 Interview with Robert Archambeau, Author of The Poet Resigns

Today, I’m proud to announce the first-ever Critical Margins Podcast episode! This week, Jason Braun and I discuss literary elitism: whether it exists, what it might mean for writers and publishers, and how we perceive reading in the twenty-first century. Are fears or concerns about elitism or snobbery just insecurities or something else? You can also read my thoughts on this topic in this post from last week. You can listen to or download the podcast here (permalink here): Also, you can subscribe to the podcast at Soundcloud. Soon we will have the podcast up at iTunes and Stitcher — stay tuned for that. We labelled our first podcast “Episode 0” because this is sort of a test run, and we want to get your feedback on it. Have any suggestions for improvement? Want to let us know you like what you hear? Leave a comment or e-mail me at kevin [at] criticalmargins.com to let us know what you think! Special thanks to Jason Braun for helping me get this podcast up and running. He’s a regular contributor here at Critical Margins and he’s a GarageBand genius. You’ll hear from both of us on future podcasts, and we may bring in other voices as well. Related articles Forget Literary Fiction. Is Reading Anything Elitist? Building a bridge between literary and genre fiction The Best Books of 2013 How Much Reading is Too Much? 2013: The Year I Discovered Audiobooks Interview with Dr. Ankhi Mukherjee, Author of "What Is a Classic?" Friday Reads: Elitist Anxieties & Tasteful Disdain