A Few Diversions for Your Work Day

If you are thinking of getting an MFA in creative writing, planning on getting an MFA or just want to keep track of what the hub-bub is about, then The Creative Writing Handbook blog is for you. The blog author, Tom Kealey, is a former Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University and a graduate of the MFA program in creative writing at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is currently teaching creative writing at Stanford. He has a book by the same title due out for publication early in 2006. The blog might be part of the marketing for the book, but Kealey offers solid and thoughtful advice and information. Worth a look. (link via Maude Newton)

What President Bush is reading on his summer vacation--or is he?

For a more literary diversion, visit Red China Magazine

The Guardian has a competition to win the Booker longlist. All you have to do is correctly identify 16 pictures of famous authors. Not as easy as you might think. There is no multiple choice and you only get to look at a piece of the picture--an eye, lips, a forehead. Contest ends September 7th. Good luck!