The Moth of Hope

Worried about the death of publishing or the public’s diminishing appetite for stories? The Moth offers hope.

Last night, as a Christmas gift to me, my daughter took me into NYC for a Moth storytelling event. The doors opened at 7, and we figured that getting there at 6:30 would assure us of a seat. Wrong. The line outside the Bleecker Street entrance snaked around the corner and all the way down LaGuardia Place to Third Avenue. We stood in line for over an hour, braving the wind, the cold, and an incredibly annoying laugh from one of the women standing behind us. We made it to within a few feet of the entrance of the aptly named “Bitter End” rock club, only to be turned away.

All was not lost. My daughter and I had a nice Thai dinner and got to witness two creative subway begging routines (one played the saxophone and claimed to be a space alien). And the woman behind us in that long, wintry line will undoubtedly one day end up in one of my daughter’s own stories… or mine.

Insider's View of the Future

Interesting article in the American Journalism Review about the future of journalism--and what young journalists should do to prepare for it.

Interviewee is a senior exec with the New York Times by the name of Marc Frons.

Interviewer and writer is a sharp young journalist by the name of Katherine King. (Full disclosure: Yes, Katie is my daughter. And yes, I'm extremely proud.)

Here's the interview: Forecasting the Future.

Lesson Learned: How to React to Criticism of Your Writing

So here are excerpts from the email exchange between my daughter and me after yesterday's post:

• Upstart Daughter: Hi Dad. Just read your most recent posts! After reading today's post I am wondering, who is Elizabeth Strout? Where does she teach? What kind of workshop did you take and what did you learn from her? What's the book about?
• Know-It-All Father: It's a bloody blog, not a freakin' feature article!!!! If you want answers to those questions, Google her, buy the book, and figure it out yourself. Sincerely yours, The Cranky Blogger
• Upstart Daughter: Dear Cranky: Please consider writing your next post on how to, after a billion years as a writer, develop the ability to absorb politely worded observations regarding your work.
  

When you're right, you're right. In recognition of my daughter's, er... rightness... I will now offer a five-step approach to reacting to criticism of one's writing.

1. Read or listen carefully. Do not speak, except to say, "Interesting. What else?"
   
2. Be open to the possibility that maybe, just maybe, the person offering the critique has your best interests at heart. Similarly, assume that the person, as a reader, has the right to express his or her opinions on what they like, or don't like, about a particular piece of writing.
3. Thank the person for taking time to not only read your writing, but also to offer comments and suggestions.
4. Revise, if appropriate.
   
5. Be grateful that there are people out there who care enough about writing--and you--to offer their observations (politely worded or not).

Attention Young Journalists

My daughter Kate, an excellent young journalist, has an excellent blog for young journalists. Check it out:

http://thefirstbyline.com