THE STORY SPOT

So I took a jaunt up to WeHo the other day for a change of writing venue. You see, I’m a bit of a library whore (no, not that kind, the kind who visits libraries as one of her top sightseeing stops when in a new city). I was looking for a new spot to spur on the novel’s muse.

Here’s what I found:

Behold, the West Hollywood literary core, the nerve-centre of culture, the thinking person’s refuge. The place looked like a grade school forgotten since 1976. Dirty windows. Sloppy signs taped to walls. Bruised furniture and fixtures.

Beyond sad.

The upside is that the tiny place was busy. People filled the archaic PC stations (even the ones marked “out of order”), others trolled the stacks, and there appeared to be ample staff for all.

I can’t help but notice the utter lack of upkeep for what should be a community centre and bank of knowledge. West Hollywood spends on cultural events, transportation infrastructure, and city beautification. I hope, like my beloved City of Santa Monica, there are plans for restoration and expansion of this classic structure so the West Hollywood will have a library to match its formidable cultural presence.

According to a little bit of info on my Facebook homepage:

Top Books in the Los Angeles, CA network.

1. Harry Potter
2. The Bible
3. Catcher in the Rye
4. 1984
5. The Great Gatsby
6. Da Vinci Code
7. Angels and Demons
8. To Kill a Mockingbird
9. The Alchemist

To recap: there’s a novel written for children, a religious text, books one is forced to read in high school, movie tie-ins, and a lone bit of literary fiction. Funny how there isn’t a single non-fiction or CNF book in the lot. Gee, Paulo Coehlo should feel pretty good right about now.

*sigh*

I’m going to take this minute to plug my MFA program (again). Only here in LA can you get the kind of open-minded, diverse, rigourous, and utterly creative masters’ degree a girl like me needs. And recently, Antioch University Los Angeles was named by The Atlantic one of the “five top low-residency MFA programs” in the country.

Why? See that guy up above? He’s the program Chair (hi Steve!) He’s dedicated his life to providing the kind of education and encouragement that fledgling writers need in school and beyond. I’ve never seen him in a suit and he’s never once uttered the phrase “competitive placement” in my presence. That’s not what this MFA is about.

Having been accepted at other school’s programs, I chose Antioch because of its faculty and its “MFA program specifically devoted to literature and the pursuit of social justice.” Now, a year and a bit later, I’m making my living writing (it’s true!) and find myself using many of the program’s practical goodies (setting a semi-annual plan, prepping and teaching a workshop, connecting to my writing community, etc.) Oh, and yeah, I’m a better writer. As Steve said when he welcomed us on our first night as MFA students, this program changed my life.

So, if you’re a writer or poet in need of the kind of support and mentorship that an MFA program can provide, why not apply?

Actors Jenna and Bodhi Elfman have named their newborn son, Story.

Hopefully there’s more to it than a love of M. Night Shyamalan and his bedtime tales. Here’s to all those parents out there who aren’t afraid to bestow upon their children names filled with lyricism and personal meaning. Oooh, I wonder if he has a middle name and what that might be.

Congratulations new mommy and daddy and welcome to the world, little Story.

Ahoy, writerly folks. It’s that time of year again: Time to support your species and purchase the fine, fine fiction issue published annually by the Atlantic Monthly. Don’t be halted by the nagging awareness that The Atlantic may not ever publish your work unless you change your name to Updike. Instead, think rosy thoughts like this one: While the fiction ship sinks in these times of waning literary interest, the editors at The Atlantic are waving their fiction flags high!

Had enough nautical metaphor? Good. Now go buy the darned thing.

The Atlantic Monthly Fiction Issue 2007

And while you’re at it, read about the top MFA programs in the country of which my alma mater, Antioch University Los Angeles, is one.