I have been reading Richard Matheson’s I am Legend recently whenever I have the opportunity. I would not say it is a fascinating book, but it is interesting. One particularly interesting aspect is that the book is not just about one man’s fight against zombies (which he terms “vampires”, but which fit better into the modern … Continue reading “Notes on “I am Legend””
A problem I have encountered over the last few months is that most of the short stories on which I am working are too long for most publications, but too short to publish as novels. Most magazines accept short stories of about 2,000 words. Above that, there seems to be a law of inverse proportions : the … Continue reading “Slattery’s Tao of Writing, Part 4: “Warehouses and All””
A quick Google search reveals there are a lot of web articles entitled “The Tao of Writing”. This is mine. Let me begin by explaining what I perceive to be the Tao (others may view it differently and have equally valid perceptions). The Chinese character above translates as Tao, the way, and is pronounced as “dow”, … Continue reading “Slattery’s Tao of Writing, Part 1”
Some writers have interesting habits. I have always found one of the most interesting aspects of studying the lives of famous writers to be the personal habits they have while writing. The habits show the writer’s personal side and perhaps give an insight into how their creativity is ingrained in their natures. Following are some examples … Continue reading “Fascinating Habits of Writers of Horror”
Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu 1814-1873 Over lunch, I was reading the Wikipedia article on horror fiction and came across a reference to Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu, of whom I had never heard. I went to the article and found out some interesting things (granted, Wikipedia is not the most respected source, but … Continue reading “Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu”
Allen Ginsberg, 1978 Photo by Ludwig Urning I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked, dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix, Angel-headed hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night… So run the opening … Continue reading “Ginsberg’s Breath Units”
Baltasar Gracian y Morales (1601-1658) I have a small book entitled The Art of Worldly Wisdom: A collection of Aphorisms from the Works of Baltasar Gracian (translated by Martin Fischer, published by Barnes and Noble, 1993). Baltasar Gracian y Morales (1601-1658) was a Spanish Jesuit scholar and writer of Baroque prose. The Art of Worldly Wisdom … Continue reading “Baltasar Gracian on Expressing Yourself”
Here is an interesting section/stanza from the ancient Chinese work Wen Fu (The Art of Writing). It is entitled “The Terror”. I worry that my ink well will run dry, that right words cannot be found ; I want to respond to the moment’s inspiration. I work with what is given ; that which passes … Continue reading ““The Terror” from the Wen Fu”
A Tale of Hell and Other Works of Horror is a collection of short horror fiction including short stories, flash fiction, and microfiction. Some have been previously published, some not. It is available on Kindle and in paperback. Click is a novelette about a Texas policeman, who, while on a secluded island recovering from the guilt … Continue reading “Published Works”
Phil Slattery, Writer, Publisher 