If you’ve taken a class with me, this will be familiar. Or if you’ve read my book, you will know why during at least once a class, I berate my students to stop offering disclaimers for their work. And I’ve probably even written about this here.

A little backstory: We always do freewriting at the beginning of class and, inevitably, one or more students preface reading their freewriting with something to the effect of, This isn’t very good, but here goes.

Now, while we all think at one point or another that what we’re writing stinks, I’m anti-verbalizing this negativity aloud. I even like to get at the thought; when you think what you’re writing isn’t very good, quiet the thought by writing some more, not moving away from your computer or tablet.

It’s nothing new: Negative thoughts influence you, well, negatively. We need to be our own biggest advocate, most enthusiastic supporter. And when you put yourself down, it’s like dousing your biggest supporter with a bucket of cold water.

I usually write on the board: NO DISCLAIMERS. In my private group, I penalize students a quarter for giving a disclaimer. I’m out to eradicate disclaimers, don’t you know.

Today, at 9 a.m. PT, tune in to Writers on Writing for guests Robert Sabbag, author of “Down Around Midnight” (Penguin) and Ander Monson, author of “Vanishing Point: Not a Memoir” (Graywolf). A New York Times review of Monson’s book is here.

The show airs on 88.9 FM KUCI, at www.kuci.org and at iTunes: Radio>talk/news.

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett interviews Rebecca Miller, author of The Private Lives of Pippa Lee and poet Victoria Chang, author of Salvinia Molesta: Poems.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: March 10, 2010)

Nice, huh? Designer Dave Mosso at Spacious Mind Web & Graphic Design did a fabulous job with the first official poster for the Pen on Fire Speakers Series. He’s also great to work with and affordable. He did my website, too. A big shout out to Dave.
***

My mother in law and I were emailing about the Evening with the Writers of Orange County Noir that’s taking place next Saturday. She reads mysteries and so I invited her, as my guest, thinking she’ll enjoy it. Not being familiar with the genre, she asked me about noir.

It’s not like mysteries, I said. Everything does not turn out gloriously in the end.

You mean it is like real life??? she said.

I had to laugh. Exactly, I said.

And got to thinking: Noir is probably the fictional form that is closest to real life because it’s about your stupid side taking over, isn’t it? And instead of wising up, you get more and more stupid, at the mercy of your lower nature. Think of Double Indemnity (one of my favorite movies) or The Postman Always Rings Twice. Things start out okay, even wistful, but they go downhill fast.

Barbara in flight, because the book is doing well….

Sweet, brilliant, witty Patricia…

Gary, who doesn’t look like he’d have the most booming laugh in the entire Southern California area, but he does…
And the articulate, funny and oh-so-svelt Marrie Stone …


Tune in tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. Pacific time for Writers on Writing, featuring Marrie Stone as host, and Orange County Noir contributors Gary Phillips (editor as well as writer), Patricia McFall, and Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, who will discuss the short story, noir fiction, and their stories included in Orange County Noir, which made the SCIBA bestseller list last week, its first week out.

Listen at 88.9 FM in Orange Co., CA, or listen online at www.kuci.org or at iTunes>radio>Talk/News.