June Reading

In a Metal Web -Michael Manning. Porn graphic novel. Didn't really get much of the story, because it's book 3 in a series. The series is out of print and crazy expensive, so when I saw this on Better World for $12 bucks, I pounced even though I don't have any of the others that come before it. Story is kinda secondary anyway. Excellent art, though some panels are stylized to the point of inclarity.

The Making of a Story Alice LaPlante. Writing how-to, and one of the best I've ever read. This introduced me to scenes a faire, about which I have a giant writing ramble brewing. And the book really stressed *thinking* about your writing from a working pov. What am I trying to accomplish in this scene? What about this idea triggered me to write it rather than just play with a fun idea in my head?

Plus, each chapter concluded with a short story and non-fic essay that handled well the points discussed. Lots of good fic, and the essay on Raymond Carver and Gordon Lish, his editor made me uncomfortable and sad and worried. That's powerful writing.