Struggling with the Supposed Distinction of Literary vs. Commercial

On December 4, 2012December 4, 2012 By Patrick RossIn Memoir, MFA, Publishing, Storytelling, Writing15 Comments

In three weeks I will drive to Montpelier, Vermont, to begin my final semester in an MFA in Writing program. Over the last few weeks I have devoted every spare minute to polishing the first draft of my work-in-progress--a travel memoir--so that I can hand the manuscript to whichever faculty member I am paired with …

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When a Novel’s Narrator Comes Alive

On December 20, 2011 By Patrick RossIn MFA, Storytelling, Writing54 Comments

Quick. When I ask you to name a novel where the first-person narrator leaps off the page, what comes to mind? Now skip to the bottom of this post and type it into the comments. Ah, you're back. Good! Thank you for helping me formulate a reading list for the next semester in my MFA …

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