The Man with the Dog: Writing Tips From Anton Chekhov

Because we're super-committed to keeping our marriage super-spicy, my husband and I recently did something super-radical: We got off the couch, we put on clothing that did not contain elastic, and we trotted our date-ready selves off to the theater to take in Christopher Durang's ode to Chekhov, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. I don't say this often, but it really was worth leaving the house for. The first act was big and loud and riotously funny, woven with references that made you feel good about yourself for catching. The second act grounded the play, ending in a quiet burst of compassion.

All this Chekhovian love prompted me to give some of his short stories a re-read. I started with The Lady with the Dog, which Tennessee Williams referred to as "one of the greatest short stories ever written." I don't disagree, although Chekhov could have described the dog more, or given the dog a name, or maybe written it from the dog's perspective. (I don't say this out of simple dog motherhood. Chekhov was actually a devoted dachshund owner, too, so he had an obligation.) Four-legged representation aside, the economy in this story is dazzling. Here are some takeaways.

Writing Tips From the Master of Melancholy: A Guest Post by Michelle Gates

Today's post comes to us from my friend, Michelle Gates. Michelle is currently at work on her delicious Gothic novel, The Boiling Girl. She's also an Edgar Allan Poe aficionado, and I'm so thrilled that she agreed to share some of her insights with us!

The Buddy System

As evidenced by every other Buzzfeed article in the last year, introverts are having a moment. Like most writers, I'm a hermit, so I'm really enjoying the current social zeitgeist. Avoiding people is suddenly on-trend? Guess I'll put on my party dress and sit on the couch with my dog and some Eudora Welty stories. YOLO.

Ten Thousand Steps: Boring Goals for Characters

I received a Fitbit for Christmas, just in time for the New Year's Resolution frenzy. The Fitbit (in case you don't know, and don't feel bad if you don't, because I didn't) is a rubber bracelet with a pedometer inside that syncs to your computer and tells you how ridiculously lazy you've been each day. It sets fitness goals for you, and it has declared that I should be walking ten thousand steps per day. It would have been easier to ignore this goal if it weren't for the time of year: I mean, I have friends that are resolving to run multiple marathons in bright and shiny 2015. I can at least manage a daily walk, right?

What Readers Want: The Genre Fan

Our next interview comes from my friend Aaron David Kapner, who describes himself as a thirty-something actor who enjoys theater, the movies, music, and art. Aaron's also possesses a practically encyclopedic knowledge of genre fiction and I'm a total muggle, so I'm thrilled he agreed to chat with us.