Listened a Crawford Kilian interview on NPR while driving home from work. Apparently he's an author, he seemed well read, teaches creative writing, and did an awesome interview about writing. Just starting to research him and found this link:

I skimmed through this website (I plan to sit down and read it thoroughly later) and it has a link to the full interview.

I found Kilian knowledgeable, insightful, and entertaining and thought others might enjoy his ideas. Also, I'm wondering if anyone knows any more about him: could you point me to any blogs or websites about him? Or let me know what you think about his writing?

If this sounds like a jumbled mess--I only slept a couple hours last night because I was up with a sick 6-month-old

Hi

I'm writing what I think is turning out to be a pretty solid novel, but I've only had the opportunity to show it to some friends and colleagues. More importantly, I've only shown it to people who are from where I live, which I feel might make them more inclined to appreciate it for its local authenticity.

So I'd like someone out there on the internet to read my unproofed first part and plot outline. It's a sort of philosophical sci fi novel, set in South Africa. 21 pages of actual plot, and another 16 worth of plotpoints.

If I come across as a little new to this, it's because I am. What are the risks of showing it off to people I don't know, if one of you delightful forumites responds and I'm taken enough with you to show it off?

Appreciate any input.

I want to keep updated on as many aspects of noir and grotesque writing as possible. RSS readers are good, but I feel as though they don't do enough. So, I've come up with something I hope will benefit me and others too.

My idea is to set up multiple Twitter accounts, each that auto-populates RSS feeds for a variety of genre-related blogs. I will then follow that main Twitter account to get all of my literature news. On the plus side, an infinite number of other people can also follow these accounts. It's a win/win.

I am in the process of setting up Twitter accounts for each of the genres I want to follow. So far I have @NoirLiterature and @GrotesqueLit. read more »

If you were to compare congealed blood to a food item, what food item would it be?

I've never actually seen congealed blood before, so I'm hoping maybe someone who has can give me some kind of idea.

Thanks in advance!

I remember reading this book about 15-20 years ago by an author whose name I'm trying to find now... his style is kinda similar to Chuck's and Bret Easton Ellis'
It's about this "normal" guy (wife+kids) who starts to adopt a transvestite lifestyle... things start spiraling and in the end he jumps from a tall building (empire state bldg. perhaps?). It takes place in Chicago or NYC.

Another book, I think from the same author but not sure, is about a serial killer in chicago.

Please help me identify the author(s)!
Thanks!

I'm writing about a homophobic guy who gets an unwanted surgery, a gender transformative surgery, and hates his life. He now wants to commit suicide. What is a good way to do that?

Thought I'd post a resource I've used a lot... I found this website, www.realpolice.net and asked a few questions for my novel and long story short, a retired detective offered to read the whole thing and gave me invaluable advice!

You have to go to "ask-a-cop", then "writer's questions" once you're on the website. Supposedly, the cops have to be verified somehow. Maybe it could answer some legit legal questions too.

Hope that helps someone out there!

Please go in depth about traits, habits etc.

I'm looking for love songs that evoke strong emotion. For example:

Slow Like Honey - Fiona Apple
The Bus Stop - The Decemberists

Etc.

Something that tells a story, and has an undeiable feeling of longing to it.

Any ideas? You mushy gushy smurfs, you.