grin and bare it
A blog by Matthew Dicks
Proposed deletions from the canon
The Second Pass, an online publication devoted to reviews, essays, and blog posts about books, new and old, recently proposed ten novels that should be removed from the canon. Of the ten, I have read…
Read MoreFirst sentences, now with ultraviolent zombie mayhem!
Back in March, I wrote about the first sentences in books. I’m expanding on that post a bit here as the topic has recently been tickling my brain cells again: I like the first sentence of…
Read MoreTool of the trade
Since I spend a good portion of my day on a keyboard, its design is important, especially the specific placement of the keys. I have five laptops in my home right now: three that I…
Read MoreMore praise
Another anonymous friend sent along a couple of positive reviews of Something Missing from readers on LibraryThing.com. Appreciated as always!
Read MoreTo write or to revise?
My manuscript for Unexpectedly, Milo arrived in the mail today along with a letter from my editor, Melissa, detailing her suggestions for edits and revisions. Some are broad abe difficult to manage, while others are…
Read MoreNews on “Something Missing”
My author’s website, where you can access this blog, will be up shortly, but until then, here’s the latest news about Something Missing. First, a few appearances at local, independent bookstores and libraries have been…
Read MoreFront page day
It’s been quite a day. The Hartford Courant ran an article about Something Missing and my life story on the front cover of today’s paper, above the fold, and alongside stories about the death of…
Read MoreAmazon sales ranking
My wife found an article that tries to explain the inexplicable means by which the Amazon sales rankings are calculated. Confused? Me too.
Read MoreIs “Something Missing” a bestseller yet?
Many people, friends, and strangers, via email, Facebook, Twitter, and in person, have asked me how the book is doing in the bookstores. Unsure myself, I asked my editor, who explained that it could take…
Read MoreMy favorite words
Inspired by the Guardian’s piece of words that poets hate, I posted my list of words, along with my wife’s least favorite word: Moist She’s not alone. According to a follow-up piece asking for the…
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