Author Archives: James Goldberg

A Live Reading, the Lit Blitz, and our Master Class Application

Posted on May 9, 2013 by James Goldberg

Confession: I have mixed feelings about writing as a technology. On the one hand, I’m amazed by how abstract marks on a page or screen can evoke the voice of a person thousands of miles–or years–away. Writing does a wonderful … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcements, Storytelling and Community | 6 Comments

My experience with self-publication (so far)

Posted on April 12, 2013 by James Goldberg

We’ve talked a fair amount on this blog about the publishing aspects of Mormon Lit. Wednesday, Darrel Nelson wrote about his experience as an LDS author with a Christian-market publisher. For three years, Chris Bigelow arranged a regular Publishers’ Corner … Continue reading →

Posted in Publishers Corner, The Writer's Desk | Tagged | 15 Comments

Mormon Lit Blitz Deadline Extended

Posted on March 14, 2013 by James Goldberg

Announcement: the deadline for Mormon Lit Blitz submissions (of works under 1,000 words that will speak to language-loving LDS readers) has been extended to April 27th. Any help spreading word about the contest would be greatly appreciated. Below, I’ve included … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcements, The Writer's Desk | Tagged | 6 Comments

Four Thoughts on Love and Desire

Posted on February 14, 2013 by James Goldberg

The headline I saw on Google News read, “Kate Upton says body shut down after Antarctic bikini shoot.” Beside it were various thumbnail photos of an almost-naked young woman in various poses against the tundra. I’d imagine her body was … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal Narratives, Storytelling and Community | 9 Comments

2013 Everyday Mormon Writer Events

Posted on January 10, 2013 by James Goldberg

It’s a new year, and that means a new set of contests (and a class) through Everyday Mormon Writer. We’ll be holding a second Mormon Lit Blitz, a master class devoted to issues in Mormon writing, and a contest for … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcements, The Writer's Desk | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Getting It Wrong

Posted on December 13, 2012 by James Goldberg

Writers spend a lot of time trying to get things right. We typically want our characters to behave in ways consistent with human nature, with their cultural context, and with their values. We want our plots to be at least … Continue reading →

Posted in The Writer's Desk | Tagged | 38 Comments

A Mormon Writing Master Class?

Posted on November 15, 2012 by James Goldberg

In July, I wrote about my experience at Orson Scott Card’s Literary Boot Camp. The short version is: it’s one week of awesome. Card’s instruction is great for sharpening skills of invention, arrangement, and style in your fiction. He’s also … Continue reading →

Posted in The Writer's Desk | Tagged | 18 Comments

Four Centuries Contest Discussion: “Little Karl”

Posted on October 15, 2012 by James Goldberg

The first finalist in Everyday Mormon Writer‘s “Four Centuries of Mormon Stories” contest is Melissa Leilani Larson’s “Little Karl,”which is based on real events in Larson’s family history. Because the stories are relatively short and publicly accessible, this contest gives … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronic Age, Mormon LitCrit | Tagged , , | 19 Comments

I’m ready for a party. Let’s have two.

Posted on October 12, 2012 by James Goldberg

We talk about Mormon Literature a lot on this blog–what with it being the blog topic and all. But it’s time we did more than talk. Friends, it is time to step up. And celebrate.

Posted in Storytelling and Community | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Four Centuries Contest Deadline Reminder

Posted on September 24, 2012 by James Goldberg

Reminder: the deadline for the “Four Centuries of Mormon Stories” contest is tonight at midnight. Email entries under 2,000 words (under 1,000 preferred) to everydaymormonwriter@gmail.com. A final, brief Q&A on the contest:

Posted in Announcements | Tagged , | 2 Comments