We’re still in the early weeks of a new year, so it feels right to kick-start a new series on the blog: the Remington Roundup.
Imagine that’s me in the picture on the right, minus the polkadot shirt but, yeah, with the bun. I really do own a Remington (thanks to a good friend). Imagine me compiling a list of links to articles, videos, and resources for you. But instead of ripping the page from the paper bail and sending it slow-post, I’m giving it to you here. Easy access. Good times.
Daily, I filter through emails and Facebook posts and tweets worthy of bookmarking, so let’s make a monthly date of sharing them. Look for the Remington Roundup the first or second week of each month, and feel free to share links to your favorite finds in the comments. This month: links to story, craft, & class.
#Story
Go watch this really cool video interview with George Saunders (discovered via Austin Kleon). Saunders talks about the magic of stories, with insight into how and why we write.
“The idea I love is that a story is kind of a black box. And, you’re gonna put the reader in there…with this thing that you have made. And when she comes out, what’s gonna have happened to her in there is something kind of astonishing.”
This interview plays out like a story itself. Even if you’re not a writer, you’ll enjoy it; it’s bother entertaining and educational.
#Craft
Pamela Hodge’s 19 tips on writing memoir, culled from Marion Roach Smith’s The Memoir Project.
“9. Write one scene at a time. Put each scene on an index card. On the front of the card write the theme, and on the back of the index card write down little details–dialogue, smells you remember.”
I’m not writing memoir, but many of these tips can be useful when tackling any kind of story.
#Class
I’ve been posting about online learning opportunities for the last few weeks. As a follow-up, here’s a link to my Flash Nonfiction Online Course, which is open for registration.
“Christi Craig’s Flash Nonfiction Online Course packed a wealth of resources and prompts into four weeks and gave me a needed motivational push to strengthen the writing habit.” ~ Lisa Rivero, past student
The course runs four weeks beginning mid-February, and is a great opportunity to learn about storytelling within the constraints of a small wordcount. You’ll put a few techniques into practice, walk away with new essays, and meet other writers. Join us!