Dallas Robbins

Random Thoughts on MFA Writing Programs, Ponzi Scemes, and Workmanlike Novels

I have occasionally pondered on the possibility of getting an MFA in creative writing.  The idea has never really appealed to me, especially weighing the cost/benefit.  Would it make me a better writer?  Likely, but not certain. Does it guarantee a writing career?  No, not particularly.  Would it put me in a awful state of debt?  Without a doubt. 

Pulitzer Prize Book Winners, 2009

Just found out about this year’s Pulitzer Prize book winners.  Interesting choices.  Fiction always seems something unexpected, something that is usually off my radar.  For those who care about awards, here’s the list.

The Manipulations of Ian McEwan

In regards to Ian McEwan's Atonement, James Woods writes:

"And indeed, knowing what readers want is at the heart of the diabolical success of this book. What is especially interesting about Atonement in the light of McEwan’s status as a popular but serious manipulator, is the delicate way it makes readers aware of their own desire to be gratified by serious narrative manipulation."

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