It’s early in the morning—-the sun is not yet up, but here I am, typing away, coffee at the ready.

What’s going on? Why aren’t I sleeping?

Though I didn’t get home last night until 1:30AM, I’ve got things to write.

You see, I’m just back from a creative writing residency as part of the Stonecoast MFA program in Creative Writing, at the University of Southern Maine–I’m brimming with ideas, energy, knowledge, and . . . → Read More: How to Choose a Creative Writing MFA Program]]>

It’s early in the morning—-the sun is not yet up, but here I am, typing away, coffee at the ready.

What’s going on? Why aren’t I sleeping?

Though I didn’t get home last night until 1:30AM, I’ve got things to write.

You see, I’m just back from a creative writing residency as part of the Stonecoast MFA program in Creative Writing, at the University of Southern Maine–I’m brimming with ideas, energy, knowledge, and inspiration, and am still warm from the love and fellowship of other dedicated writers.

A good MFA program will motivate you this way. Though Stonecoast is a top-ten program and I’m absolutely thrilled with my experience there so far, for those of you who have the inkling that they might want to become a writer, but aren’t sure if they want to commit to an MFA program, I want to take a step back and talk for a moment about how to choose a creative writing MFA program that is best for your own specific writing needs and goals, and whether or not you should go for an MFA after all.

WHO WANTS TO WRITE?

So, you want to be a writer? You want to write poetry, a novel, or maybe a screenplay?

Well, nothing is stopping you—just start writing!

Or maybe you want a way to guarantee that your book will be published? Maybe you want to know how to write a best-seller?

Sorry, there are no guarantees, though there is always self-publication and hoping for the best.

Maybe you want an MFA so you can earn tons of money?

Um, you just might indeed write the next bestseller, but, in general, “tons of money” and “writer” are seldom seen in the same sentence, unless also combined with “are you crazy?”

However, maybe you want to learn how to write well and to improve your writing so that it is the best it can be. Maybe you want to work with top writers and develop a circle of motivated writers like yourself. Maybe you want to go to stimulating workshops and learn the ins and outs of writing craft and the profession of writing. Maybe you need structure and dedicated time to write.

If so, there are several choices available to you, one of which is to get an MFA in Creative Writing. Everyone has their own writing goals and writing interests, so know right upfront that there is no one best program for all students. There are programs that are better for certain students than others, however, and so below I’ll touch on some of the criteria and options you should consider before applying. It’s a serious decision, but I hope this guide will provide some help and clarity.

WHY I WROTE THIS GUIDE

I went through this entire process myself—the same process you are now undertaking. I agonized over different programs and unfamiliar jargon, and compiled reams of data. After deciding to get an MFA and analyzing all the different choices available, in the end I applied to a top-ten creative writing MFA program (Stonecoast) and, luckily, I got in! I couldn’t be happier with my decision. So, after realizing that a lot of the resources out there on how to choose MFA programs are a little dated, I decided to write this guide, compiling together all my notes, thoughts, questions, and discoveries, in the hope that it might help someone else.

WHY GET AN MFA?

I alluded above to some reasons why you might want to get an MFA, including:

• improving your writing
• networking with other writers
• learning writing craft and professionalism.

These are noble goals, for sure, and an MFA can help take your writing to the next level. However, getting an MFA will require a lot of work, will take time, and may cost a lot of money, so it helps to be sure that this is really what you want to do.

All of the reasons I listed center on the desire to make yourself the best writer you can be. Note that none of these reasons say that with an MFA you will automatically get your book published or that you will automatically get a job teaching. Getting an MFA may help with these two events, but again, there are no guarantees. An MFA program costs a lot of money and time, so be sure you are spending your time and money on the right things. In the end, it’s up to you to do your homework. Only you can make the decision on whether or not to go, and where to go.

So, with those caveats out of the way, let’s dig in.

SHOULD YOU GET AN MFA?

Questions to ask yourself:

• Are you looking to become a writer or a creative writing teacher?
• Are you mainly interested in self-expression or is your focus on getting published?
• What do you want to write? Poetry? Literary fiction? Popular Fiction? Screenplays? Creative NonFiction? Horror? Romance? Crime? Science Fiction? Fantasy?
• Do you want to go for your PhD?
• Can you relocate to another city/state easily or do you have job/family obligations that would make moving impractical?

Since the expected financial return from an MFA degree is rather low compared to other graduate degrees, especially degrees in engineering, be sure you really are making the wisest choice. I.e., an MFA might be right for you if you are passionate about writing, really want to improve your writing, and are willing to assume the time/money burden such a program will entail. If you are looking for your MFA to guarantee a six-figure salary to support your spouse and five children, then you might want to reconsider.

Note that, again, you don’t need an MFA to write. Many people have developed successful writing careers without one. There is a lot of debate out there on whether or not the MFA program is worth the money/time cost. Some of the arguments made are valid, some not, but you have to decide for yourself based on your unique goals, expectations, and life situation.

So here are some additional resources that may help you decide if an MFA is for you:

• Are MFA programs helping make good writers?
• A review of ‘The Programme Era’ and a comment on MFA programs
• Another take on MFA programs
• And another take on MFA programs and the pro/con debate
• The MFA vs the Creative Writing PhD debate
• The Great MFA Debate

CREATIVE WRITING MFA PROGRAM MODELS

The Creative Writing Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree is a terminal graduate degree, meaning that it is considered to be the highest degree in its field. With an MFA, you can often be hired to teach in a college or university. Note, however, that current trends have seen the rise of Creative Writing PhD programs. Be aware of this if your goal is to teach in a university, since universities often, all else being equal, tend to favor someone with a PhD rather than just an MFA. So if you are only in it to teach, then you should seriously consider enrolling in a PhD program or continuing on to a PhD program after your MFA.

Generally, MFA programs last 2-3 years and, at a minimum, you will be required to present some sort of portfolio of your writing to graduate. Each school has their own course, project, teaching, writing, and other requirements, so you will need to look at the requirements for the schools you are interested in.

The MFA is more of an applied degree—the end products you create are actual creative writing stories, novels, poems, and screenplays. The Creative Writing MA degree (not an MFA degree) is less applied and more academic.

There are generally two “models” for how the MFA programs are run—the “full-residency” model and the “low-residency” model. (Note that currently I am not considering online models.)

The “full-residency” model is the traditional way MFA programs were organized—you go to classes on campus during the day and do your homework at night, probably much like you did during your undergraduate experience. Many graduate programs, especially in the Humanities, are organized this way.

A newer model is the “low-residency” model. Here, students attend classes and workshops on campus for a few days of the semester during a “residency,” then complete the semester working from home. The on-campus residencies are often at the beginning of the semester and generally last 7-10 days. For the rest of the semester you usually work with a faculty mentor, who critiques your writing and provides guidance based on your specific writing needs and interests.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each model, so deciding whether you want to go to a full-residency program or a low-residency program is one of your big decisions. There are more full-residency programs available to choose from, since that is the traditional model. Also, this type of academic experience will likely be familiar to you from your undergraduate years, so most students are familiar with the structure of this type of program.

However, there are some disadvantages to the full-residency program, which is why low-residency programs were created and are becoming so popular. In the full-residency model, just like in your undergraduate years, you are on campus away from home for the duration of your program. If you have family or work obligations, maybe leaving home for a few years to go back to school is not really an option. Also, since most full-residency courses are taught during the day, and you have to go to class every day of the semester, this might conflict with getting or keeping a job. Finally, some feel that the traditional classroom experience—classes during the day and homework at night—is a bit insulated from how writers work “in the real world.” So, the full-residency model is often more attractive to students going into an MFA program directly from their undergrad program, or for people who do not have work or family obligations to keep them from moving away for several years.

No surprises then, but the low-residency model is ideal for students who have family or job obligations that keep them from moving away, or who aren’t really looking for the whole “full-time” student experience again. Except for the few days at the start of each semester, in the low-residency model the student spends the rest of their time at home. Also, some feel that the low-residency model better trains the student for learning how to write “in the real world”—balancing family and job obligations with writing goals, deadlines, and the need to structure their own time to make everything fit. However, some students don’t want to deal yet with balancing home and writing obligations—they are looking for the structure, support, and “writing cocoon” that the full-time residency model offers.

As I’ve discussed, there are pros and cons to each model, so deciding which model will work best with your writing goals and what you are looking for is an important step to take.

RANKINGS

Just like with universities and colleges as a whole, there are rankings for individual creative writing MFA programs. The rankings for the 2012 year are below, by Poets and Writers magazine.

• Top 50 full-residency rankings
• Full-residency honorable mentions
• Top 10 low-residency rankings

That said, you should take the rankings with a grain of salt. One advantage of the rankings is that, for a given set of criteria, you can compare across different MFA programs based on those criteria. One disadvantage is that the rankings are often made based on a subjective methodology weighted by criteria that you, as an individual person with your own writing goals and needs, do not care about. Here is the methodology used to create the 2012 MFA rankings.

Just for completeness, here are a few articles criticizing or cautioning against rankings:

• AWP on why rankings are misleading
• A Columbia alumni’s take on why rankings are a sham
• A letter against rankings and against Columbia’s low score

OTHER CRITERIA TO CONSIDER

What else should you base your decision on?

• Visits to Prospective Schools: Especially if you are considering a full-residency program, be sure you won’t mind being a full-time student at that particular school. Some programs have alumni weeks or opportunities for visitors to sit in on a class or talk to current/past students.
• The Books Written by the Faculty: If you want to write and publish horror or science fiction and the faculty members write like Jane Austin (or vice-versa), while you will be able to learn something from those faculty, there may also be a disconnect between your writing goals and their sensibilities.
• Funding: In general, many of the full-residency programs offer full funding, whereas many of the low-residency programs do not. Most programs offer partial funding. If you want the full-residency option, since there are so many good full-residency creative writing programs that offer full funding, unless you have some overriding reason otherwise, I would only consider going to full-residency schools that offer you full funding.
• Location: For those interested in the full-residency option, if you are used to the big city and are moving to a more rural environment, or vice-versa, consider carefully the campus location. Big city folks often feel isolated and don’t know how to find things to do on their own when in a rural environment. On the other hand, students from rural locations often feel overwhelmed when coming to a large city. Can you spend 2-3 years in your program’s city? This is less of a factor for low-residency programs, since the residencies are so short. In this respect, an on-campus residency becomes more of a vacation.
• Genre: As with reading the books that the faculty members write, most full-residency programs teach “literary” fiction–reading and writing the classics. However, this is a different genre than “popular” or “mainstream” or “commercial” fiction: e.g., science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, crime, thriller, young adult, etc. If you like to read Chekov, James, and Faulkner, then it is likely you will want to write in that style as well, so a literary fiction program might be better for you. On the other hand, if you like to read authors like Stephen King, J. R. R. Tolkien, Jim Kelly, Liz Hand, David Durham, Nancy Holder, or Scott Wolven, then you might want to consider an MFA program that has a commercial or popular fiction program. Stonecoast, for example, has literary as well as popular fiction tracks. In fact, I’ve spoken with students who chose Stonecoast because they actually wanted exposure to both genres. Reasonable advice says that you should study the type of writing you like to read, since that is where your interest and passion are located. In this regard, here’s a podcast where Liz Hand talks about MFA programs and Young Adult Fiction.

ALTERNATIVES TO AN MFA

After all this, maybe you still aren’t sure if an MFA is for you. Are there other options for improving your writing craft without going through an MFA program?

Yes!

You can:

• Just write
• Take one of many writing workshops, such as Clarion, Odyssey, or Norton’s Island
• Start a writing group
• Take free writing classes

In the End

In the end, only you can decide if and which MFA program is right for you. Either way, I hope that this guide has been of help in making your decision. The important thing however is to write to the best of your ability, and toward your dreams and goals.

Related Posts:

• Resolutions, Goals, and Improving Your Craft
• Four writerly books
• Stonecoast: halfway through a residency
• A lecture and reading by Jeffrey Ford
• Review: Noodler’s Heart of Darkness Bulletproof Black Fountain Pen Ink

I made a resolution to myself years ago that I would make a serious effort to pursue and improve my writing.

I’ve always been interested in writing stories and telling tales–hey, maybe I’ll even write a novel one day–but somehow job, career, and family always seemed to take a higher priority. And so no progress was made toward my goal.

There wasn’t enough time left over at the end of the day to . . . → Read More: Resolutions, Goals, and Improving Your Craft]]>

I made a resolution to myself years ago that I would make a serious effort to pursue and improve my writing.

I’ve always been interested in writing stories and telling tales–hey, maybe I’ll even write a novel one day–but somehow job, career, and family always seemed to take a higher priority. And so no progress was made toward my goal.

There wasn’t enough time left over at the end of the day to work on my fiction after getting home late each night from work, then cooking dinner, then spending quality time with the family. I was too tired, mentally and physically. And if there was a spare moment here or there, other projects, emergencies, and duties jumped to the head of the queue, demanding attention.

If only there was more time in the day, I’d have time to work on my writing.

If only I didn’t have so many other obligations, I’d be able to focus my schedule and make progress toward my goal.

If only there weren’t so many other more important things to do, I’d be able to do something for myself.

You know what?

If you truly want something, you’ll find the time for it.

So when I caught myself making endless “if only …” excuses for why I wasn’t making progress on my writing, I realized that the problem wasn’t all the external obligations, duties, and responsibilities I had that kept me from my goal. Rather, it was my internal lack of commitment and strength to take seriously my own goal that I had declared.

When I caught myself in my own lie, I resolved to recommit myself to my goal, starting from scratch, with renewed commitment and strength.

And you know what?

I found the time.

It wasn’t easy though:

• I cut out time from my sleep to sneak in a writing session here and there.
• I declined many social invitations.
• I sold my television.
• I trimmed back the number of non-priority projects I was working on.
• I drank way too much coffee.
• I realized I essentially was doing more work for other people at the expense of my own health and happiness, and was wasting my time on things that weren’t getting me closer to my goal.

If you truly want something, you’ll find the time for it.

However, there was a price for my diligence.

I found myself lost when my friends discussed the television shows they were watching or the movies they had seen at the theatre.

I didn’t know the latest pop music albums/songs.

I missed out on all the excitement of people playing all the new online and mobile games.

But you know what?

When I started taking my writing goal seriously, within the last two years I:

• got accepted to a top-ten graduate creative writing program
• was invited to read a flash fiction story at an international art symposium
• won a horror writing contest, judged by Dr. Michael Arnzen and Raw Dog Screaming Press
• got a short story published by an online journal
• published a collection of my own haunting short stories
• was asked to edit a well-received book of inspiration, motivation, achievement, and philosophy
• found the time to secret myself away to a writing retreat on a (haunted?) island.

This, after basically starting my writing career from scratch.

I’m currently in Maine on a writing retreat:

Just last night, I heard Jim Kelly read a flash fiction story:

I heard Nancy Holder read her new work:

I heard poets, memoirists, essayists, and master storytellers like Liz Hand, Boman Desai, Tony Barnstone, Sarah Braunstein, Annie Finch, Aaron Hamburger, Joy Harjo, and Debra Marquart. I’ll work with David Durham, Scott Wolven, and others. All of them inspire me with their energy and enthusiasm and passion for writing.

I’ll be eating with, listening to, and learning from these people, and more, over the next ten days in a concentrated revelry for those serious about improving the craft of their writing.

And I’ll be setting my alarm earlier than normal. And going to bed later than I should.

And I’ll be losing out on the latest Reality TV results.

And I won’t know who won this or that sports contest.

And you know what?

The problem with goal setting and achieving your goals is not external, it is internal.

Related Posts:

• How to Choose a Creative Writing MFA Program
• Stonecoast: halfway through a residency
• Review: Every Writer’s Dream, by Jeff Goins
• New Podcast Series – Episode 1 – Beginnings
• VCU Cabell First Novelist Festival and panel discussion

Here is the third annual Totally Awesome Gift Guide–a collection of gift ideas that go beyond the mundane.

These gifts are curated based on: my personal review (i.e., after using the item, I found it to be totally awesome), or I just really, really want the item myself (i.e., it is totally awesome, period).

So, here are some totally awesome gifts for totally awesome people (like you!). I’ve grouped them into three categories: . . . → Read More: Totally Awesome Gift Guide 2011]]>

Here is the third annual Totally Awesome Gift Guide–a collection of gift ideas that go beyond the mundane.

These gifts are curated based on: my personal review (i.e., after using the item, I found it to be totally awesome), or I just really, really want the item myself (i.e., it is totally awesome, period).

So, here are some totally awesome gifts for totally awesome people (like you!). I’ve grouped them into three categories: Fitness, Electronics, and Books.

FITNESS

1.) DemonBells

Truth be told, these are the kettlebells I covet.

Kettlebells are one of the best ways I’ve found to get in shape, get strong, and ramp up the cardio capacity. This one piece of iron will replace a gym’s worth of fancy expensive equipment.

If you are not quite bold enough for demonbells, then I’d recommend you buy your kettlebell from Dragondoor. Their kettlebells may be a little more expensive, but the Dragondoor kettlebells are the gold standard. For example, I’ve used other brands of kettlebells that just shred your hands because of their poor-quality finish.

Here’s a quick guide I made on how to get started with kettlebells.

If you can learn to use the kettlebell appropriately, then you have a lifetime of fitness gains and health ahead of you.

2.) Chin Up Bar, Pull Up Bar

Whether you do chinups (palms facing you) or pullups (palms facing away from you), a chin up or pull up bar can be one of your most important pieces of exercise equipment.

Not everyone has the space or ability to install a permanent pullup bar, so one that quickly installs over a door frame is a really good alternative.

Here’s a review I did for one pullup bar, plus a list of other popular chinup bars, plus a few pullup routines to get you started.

3.) Klean Kanteen

Looking for something inexpensive, useful, and healthy? I really get a lot of use out of my Klean Kanteen. It is made of 18/8 food-grade stainless steel, which is free of BPA and other toxins, and doesn’t retain or impart flavors. It keeps cold liquids cold, hot liquids hot, and you don’t have to worry about toxic metals leaching into what you drink.

4.) MIR Weighted Vest

Lately I’ve been doing a lot of bodyweight exercises and I use a weighted vest to increase the resistance in order to help build more strength. This MIR Weighted Vest is the one I use.

MIR sells many different kinds of weighted vests in a variety of weights. The one I bought, however, does not come with weights already inside it, but has strong velcro pockets in which you can put your own weights. This makes the weight vest much more flexible and customizable, since I can vary the weights in it, increasing the weights as my strength levels suggest. You can also use the pockets to hold your wallet and car keys in case you want to go for a run in your weight vest.

The weight is well distributed across my shoulders and the vest securely straps around my chest. In addition to using the vest for pullups, I’ve also used it for short sprints, pushups, and squats. I even sometimes use it when taking my dog for a walk, just to get a little workout from even a mundane activity.

I don’t know how long the sale will last, but as I type this, the vest is 50% off…

ELECTRONICS

1.) Amazon Kindle Reader

If you like to read, then it is likely you’ll enjoy an ereader. Never heard of it? Don’t know what an ebook or an ereader is? Don’t know your Kindle from your Kendall? What’s this Kindle Fire everyone’s talking about? Here’s a quick guide I put together, explaining what are ereaders, ebooks, and Kindles.

Here’s an overview of the Kindle ereaders now available.

And here’s an unboxing video I made of the Amazon Kindle Fire.

2.) IronKey USB Drive, 4GB

These days we all know how important it is to keep our files, data, and passwords safe. The IronKey USB Drive, 4GB, is specifically designed with safety and security in mind, including hardware encryption. Numerous security features are built-in to the drive and its case is stainless-steel and waterproof. There’s even a self-destruct mechanism in the event someone steals your drive and tries to guess your password. Keep your data safe with IronKey.

3.) Soundmatters foxLv2 portable speaker

After another brand’s external speaker fizzled after just using it for a few months, I stumbled onto the Soundmatters foxLv2 portable speaker and have been in listening heaven since. Also, here’s my review of the Soundmatters speaker, including a video demo I made.

BOOKS

1.) Audible subscription

Audible is a company that makes audio books, so you can catch up on your reading when on the go. For example, pop in a book you’ve been meaning to read and listen to it while commuting, walking the dog, or working out. I’ve been a member for several years now, ever since Audible saved my sanity.

Audible is now offering 3, 6 or 12 month gift memberships, or you can even give individual titles. Perfect for the book-lover in your life.

2.) Heart-Shaped Box, by Joe Hill

In Heart-Shaped Box, by Joe Hill, when aging rocker Judas Coyne buys a “ghost” advertised on the Internet, his life is turned upside down when he gets more than he bargained for. This is a book of horror, but also redemption. It is touching, moving, lyric, and will make you wonder who is waiting outside your bedroom door. Great debut novel by Hill.

3.) Five Slices of Death, by Kendall Giles

Yes, this is a collection of some of my haunting stories I put together, plus a cherry pie recipe! I think you’ll really like it. Here is more about the collection and where to buy it.

ENJOY!

So, that’s it for this year’s list of gift items–I hope you’ve been able to find at least something of interest. Consider shopping for yourself or someone else using this link to Amazon.com.

Related Posts:

• Great Gift Ideas 2010
• What is a Kindle?
• 12 Great Gift Ideas for 2009
• Exercise while on travel: chin-up / pull-up bar
• Amazon Kindle Fire Unboxing

On Tuesday November 15, 2011, in the VCU Commonwealth Ballroom, day 1 of the VCU Cabell First Novelist Festival kicked off with an evening celebrating the novel, writing, reading, and building a career as an author. This two-day festival is a special event recognizing the tenth anniversary of the Award.

The keynote talk was given by NPR book critic and novelist Alan Cheuse, who spoke on “First and Last Novels: Rumblings About Writing and . . . → Read More: VCU Cabell First Novelist Festival and panel discussion]]>

On Tuesday November 15, 2011, in the VCU Commonwealth Ballroom, day 1 of the VCU Cabell First Novelist Festival kicked off with an evening celebrating the novel, writing, reading, and building a career as an author. This two-day festival is a special event recognizing the tenth anniversary of the Award.

The keynote talk was given by NPR book critic and novelist Alan Cheuse, who spoke on “First and Last Novels: Rumblings About Writing and Publishing in the 21st Century.” In his talk, we gained an appreciation for James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, we heard about the struggles in getting that first novel published (yes, editors sometimes lose manuscripts in liquor stores), and we were reminded of the importance of writing quality in the tempest of the modern publishing world.

After Cheuse’s talk, VCU professor, novelist, and Cabell First Novelist Award co-founder Tom de Haven moderated a panel including Alan Cheuse and previous Cabell First Novelist winners Michael Byers, Maribeth Fischer, and Victor Lodato.

The theme of the panel was “Building a Career After Winning an Award,” and de Haven led the discussion by the panelists on what happens after that first novel is published. We heard insights and experiences about agents, publishing, writing that second novel, voice and writing styles across multiple novels, and author branding. Questions from the audience were also invited.

After the panel, there was a reception and author signing.

Wednesday November 16, 2011 is day 2 of the festival, where the 2011 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award Winner, David Gordon, will be celebrated.

For more information:

• About the Cabell First Novelist Festival and award
• David Gordon wins 2011 Cabell First Novelist Award in StyleWeekly
• A Decade of Firsts in VirginiaLiving
• The Big 10 in RichmondMagazine

Related Posts:

• New Podcast Series – Episode 1 – Beginnings
• Review: Every Writer’s Dream, by Jeff Goins
• How to Choose a Creative Writing MFA Program
• Resolutions, Goals, and Improving Your Craft
• Five Slices of Death, my new horror short story collection, is available now

I was on a long flight from Los Angeles to Richmond, Virginia, and I thought I was going to go insane.

It wasn’t because of the long flight itself, nor was it because of the hassles of air travel. No, I was going out of my mind because two passengers behind me were prattling on about some reality TV show and I couldn’t escape.

It’s not like they were discussing an interesting show . . . → Read More: Read more and save your sanity with Audible]]>

I was on a long flight from Los Angeles to Richmond, Virginia, and I thought I was going to go insane.

It wasn’t because of the long flight itself, nor was it because of the hassles of air travel. No, I was going out of my mind because two passengers behind me were prattling on about some reality TV show and I couldn’t escape.

It’s not like they were discussing an interesting show or book, perhaps one of the latest best-sellers. They could have talked about any number of interesting books, say, books about zombies, vampires, or even werewolves. The choices are endless! I might not have minded so much then, because I might have learned about a new book to read or movie to watch. But no, they were droning on and on about some reality show about a dancing competition.

My mind struggled to comprehend their fascination. I would have thought discussing the results of a dancing competition would take just a few minutes:

PERSON A: So, who won the dancing competition on the show last night?

PERSON B: John Travolta. He was born to hand jive.

PERSON A: Oh, neat.

But no. Those two behind me went on for hours talking about what costumes the contestants wore, whether Contestant 1 was sleeping with Contestant 2′s dance partner, and on and on and on. And oh, remember all the riveting excitement that happened last season? Here, let’s recap in detail. And they did.

Multiple seasons of a dancing show?!

Did I mention they kept up this topic for hours?

It seemed my life was flashing before my eyes, and would quickly come to an end:

• I hadn’t heard as much angst and drama since high school.
• I couldn’t read a book on my Kindle because their voices were now like an icepick to the brain.
• I thought for sure I was going to pull the emergency-exit chute and escape to the safety of oblivion, like that Jet Blue flight attendant.

When I finally got home from that flight, I did some research and decided to sign up for Audible, a company that publishes audio books, and I’ve been in book-reading heaven since then.

Now, when I’m driving, walking the dog, grocery shopping, or sitting trapped on a plane next to people chatting about a reality TV show, I can make use of this idle time by “reading” about something interesting by listening to an audio book.

I’ll post more later about how the program works and a neat way I’ve found to optimize your reading time even more, but for now, I just wanted to say that Audible has helped me read a lot more than I used to, and it has even prevented one person (me) from going insane on plane flights. Audible is that good.

If you are interested in trying Audible yourself, here’s a special offer I found: Download an audiobook for $7.49 and save 50% for your first 3 months.

Related Posts:

• 12 Great Gift Ideas for 2009
• New Podcast Series – Episode 1 – Beginnings
• Review: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
• Totally Awesome Gift Guide 2011
• What is a Kindle?

Now that Halloween is behind us, we’ve a brisk march toward the end of the year in front of us. Here are five quick links to contemplate along the way.

Today we’ve got an interesting look at college degrees and whether or not college has been oversold, a look at Steve Jobs’s Buddhism, growing your own vegetables, and, of course, Vikings!

Find out how about the Slave Leia costume dilemma, meet Thor’s daughter–the fittest woman in the world, learn some life hacks, see why thermostats might soon be cool, and hear an inspiring cover of John Lennon’s Imagine!

I received a beautiful postcard containing event information about the Think Small 6 biennial international miniature invitational.

Note that as a part of this event I’ve been invited to read my story “Searching” at the November 11, 2011, 7PM flash fiction reading.

This story is also a part of my collection of five haunting stories called Five Slices of Death.

Hope to see you there!

This is an action-packed set of links to start off your weekend, what with knife throwing, a Sherlock Holmes 2 movie trailer, an exciting Chess Boxing Championship, and a Led Zepplin song done as only Michael Winslow can do it. And, if in all this excitement you lose your ereader, I’ve also included a link with advice on what to do about it.

A couple links are in the spirit of the season: demon kettlebells and an essay on the way of the monster by Scott Poole. But there’s always room for Martin Amis, a funny essay about Comic Sans, and, of course, Vikings!