By Callie Oettinger | Published: October 31, 2011
“Halloween in Korea: bobbing for shrapnel. —Hawkeye Pierce, M*A*S*H television series
There’s a scene in the novel M*A*S*H, when a Congressman’s son is wounded. The father does what it takes to find the best chest-cutter in Korea—enter Dr. John “Trapper John” F.X. McIntyre. The pilot sent to pick up the doc finds him on a makeshift golf course with his partner in crime Hawkeye. A few funny back-and-forth lines fly between the pilot and the two docs, and then the three hop in the chopper, golf clubs in tow. (more…)
By Shawn Coyne | Published: October 28, 2011
Prior to 1952, writers were at the rock bottom of the book publishing hierarchy.
A publisher acquired a book back then like this:
An agent and in many cases the author himself (F. Scott Fitzgerald handled his own book deals) would submit a novel and/or proposal for a work of nonfiction to an editor at a publishing house exclusively. As he did not have to compete with other readers at other houses for the opportunity to publish the property, the anointed editor would not have any pressure—beyond his conscience—to read or even respond to the submission with any great alacrity. (more…)
By Steven Pressfield | Published: October 26, 2011
Earlier this year, the “Writing Wednesdays” name was switched to “Do the Work Wednesdays” for the release of the book Do the Work. This post went up May 11, 2011, soon after the book’s release. The comments that followed inspired other posts about addiction—and this reposting today.
Have you ever noticed that addicts are often extremely interesting people? Addiction itself is excruciatingly boring, in that it’s so predictable. The lies, the evasions, the transparent self-justification and self-exoneration. But the addict is himself often a colorful and engrossing person. If he has been a substance abuser for any length of time, his story often reads like a novel, packed with drama, intrigue, conflict and heartbreak. If the addict’s drug of choice is alcohol, the narrative is frequently one of job loss, domestic abuse, divorce, abandonment of children, bankruptcy; if Class One narcotics are the culprit, the tale often includes troubles with the law, crime, prison time, violence, even death. (more…)
