Teaching or learning?

Can you learn how to write creatively? It’s not a new question, and, as far as I’m concerned, the jury is still out.

But here’s a take on the topic that considers how graduate schools might help students hone — if not learn — the craft.

Practical Art: On Teaching the Business of Creative Writing

http://www.themillions.com/2014/08/practical-art-on-teaching-the-business-of-creative-writing.html

Shades of noir

Chicago author Libby Fischer Hellman just released her latest novel, Nobody’s Child, last week. She writes mysteries and thrillers and is a great supporter of other writers. She was a panelist at the Writers Block Party* last Saturday, sharing tips with new and aspiring writers.
Here is a post from her blog about dark mysteries.

Crime Novels: How Dark is Dark by Libby Hellmann

http://www.libbyhellmann.com/crime-novels-dark-dark/

*More on that later.

Now you’re cookin’

I’ve never taken a cooking lesson, but I’ve heard similar advice from a floral design teacher, a Japanese tea ceremony narrator, and a printer who started his career in a Navy print shop.
Chefs learn to operate with everything in its proper place do they can work most efficiently.
(Go ahead and read. I have to clean my desk now. Then I have to tweak the nature of one of my characters.)

For A More Ordered Life, Organize Like A Chef : The Salt : NPR

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/08/11/338850091/for-a-more-ordered-life-organize-like-a-chef?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140811