Alix Ohlin: Great Short Stories

Earlier this year I was in my local public library.  On a whim I decided to look through the most recent issue of Ploughshares, and I just happened to flip to a story written by Alix Ohlin.  It was called “Only Child.”  I really liked it!  A lot of stories have “back-story” but she weaved in future looking story, which I guess was still back-story.  Whatever you want to call it I thought it worked well.  I tried to copy it in a story and I failed miserably.

I also have a subscription to One-Story.  The other day I was looking through their archives and saw a story called “The Tennis Partner.”  I’m an avid tennis player, so that jumped out at me.  And guess who wrote it?  You guessed right (that was an easy one).  I ordered it, read it last night, and really enjoyed it.  It was great, but also a little depressing to read because it makes you doubt whether you’ll ever be able to write that well.  Her short stories – at least the two I’ve read – are like little novels; they pack a lot in.

So I Googled her and she’s interviewed by Hobart.  They ask her if she can remember the best writing advice she’s ever gotten.  I thought this was good:

“I do sometimes talk about one of my teachers from graduate school, the brilliant Scottish writer James Kelman.  Kelman hated the American workshop system and when class discussions got too technical he’d throw manuscript papers down on the table and yell, ‘This is shite!  Shite!’ then storm out of the room.  He believed passionately in the personal and political urgency of art, and that’s what he wanted to be talking about.  Anyway, at the end of the year, I went to talk to him about this novel I was thinking of starting and wasn’t sure about, and he looked me in the eye and said, ‘Make art.  Be bold.  Take risks.  Don’t wait another second.’  And that is pretty good advice to pass on to students, although I do think it sounds better in a Scottish accent.”

Of the writers I’ve read and have known personally this really reminded me of my friend Greg.  He definitely goes for it.  He follows his own voice.  He’s fearless.  I’m usually blown away by his creativity.

2008: Looking Back

Last night I was reflecting on the past year.  It was a big one for me!  I had a lot of major life milestones and fun things, too.  I thought I’d capture a few of them in a list, so here goes….

 

Mark’s 2008 List

 

• Shaved my head
• Fiancée became pregnant
• Company I worked for announced poor quarter and layoffs…
• …on the same day had my bachelor party in the French Quarter
• Got married
• Went on honeymoon (Cozumel)
• Went 8-1 in my tennis league (hurt my back and couldn’t participate in playoffs)
• Laid off from job
• Took two months off
• Started new job
• First short story published
• The odds are that my first child will be born in this year, too.  If not, then 2009 will get off to a good start!

Hey Big Three: Look to Apple Computer

There is a great story about Apple Computer that is well known here in Silicon Valley.  Well, at the very least I know it.

 

About 10 years ago Gil Amelio, the then CEO of Apple, was kicked out (finally) by Apple’s BofD. After meeting with his direct lieutenants to tell them he was fired, Amelio directed them to go into another room where their new CEO was waiting.  And who was that person?  It was the erstwhile CEO and founder of the company, Steve Jobs.

 

As the story goes, Jobs asked each of the people in the room to explain why they felt Apple was doing so poorly.  They each gave a different reason, things like organization, sales structure, etc.  When they finished Jobs said something along the lines of: “No.  We’re failing because our products suck.  We’re going to change that.”

 

So 10 years later where are we?  Well, Apple has a rockin’ line of Macs, shook things up with the iPod, and then really shook things up with the iPhone.  I’ve personally bought all three products and am very, very happy.  Apple just recorded a record quarter and is doing very well (let’s hope that continues in this rough economy).

 

Oh, and what did Jobs get for turning the company around?  He had a $1 a year salary (he only took that because the law required him to have a salary).  He did become a billion based on the stock options, but the man clearly talked it and then walked it.

 

So Ford, GM, and Chrysler: we all recognize your products suck.  What are you doing to do about it?

Jack London: Wolf House

This past weekend my sister and her husband were visiting from Indiana (where they helped to elect President-Elect Obama!).  They stayed in Sonoma, close to Glen Ellen, where you can tour the skeletal ruins of Jack London’s Wolf House.

When I was a teenager (oh so many years ago) Jack London was one of my favorite writers.  I really enjoyed three of his books: Call of the Wild, White Fang and Sea Wolf.  And I’ve been to see Wolf House four or five times.  I even wrote an article about it (The House That Jack Built).

So if you’re in the Bay Area and looking for a fun daytrip, Glen Ellen and London’s Beauty Ranch are fun. You can always stop by one of the wineries afterwards!

FoxBusiness: Interwoven’s Success

Joe Cowan, Interwoven’s CEO, appeared this morning on FoxBusiness.  Joe highlights Interwoven’s 20 straight quarters of growth.  He also emphasizes that we’re confident about the future, predicting that Interwoven will continue to do well in both of our core businesses.

Click here to check it out.

Feels great to work for a growing company!

 

Week 32 (aka 8th month)

Tomorrow is the start of week 32 in my wife’s pregnancy.  Over the weekend we bought and assembled a crib, including the mattress, sheets and other assorted items.  We also did a test drive to the hospital so I know exactly where to go!  It is really starting to sink in that in a few short weeks I will be a father!

Tattoo Woman

My first published short story – “Tattoo Woman” – is now live on the Switchback Website.  Go here to read it.

 

And tonight at 7:00 I’ll be attending the launch party for Issue 8 of Switchback.  I’ll also be reading part of my story, which is not something I ever really expected myself to be doing.  But it should be a gas!  If you’re in San Francisco you’re welcome to come the Cantina Bar at 580 Sutter St. (just off Union Square) and join the fun.  I’ll probably blog later on the whole reading experience.

Ben Franklin’s Virtues List

Later this year I plan to post my second annual review of books.  But I want to share something now.

I’m currently reading “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.”  In it Ben outlines his “Thirteen Names Of Virtues” that he tried to live his life by. 

Franklin wrote that when he was a fairly young man (I’m guessing in his early 30’s) he decided that “It was about this time that I conceiv’d the bold and arduous Project of arriving at moral Perfection.  I wish’d to live without committing any Fault at any time…”

A bold goal!  I’m sure not even Ben Franklin achieved it.  But I found the list interesting.  Check it out (note: the awkward capitalized words are his doing, not mine):

 “These Names of Virtues with their Precepts were”

1.    Temperance.

Eat not to Dulness

Drink not to Elevation 

2.    Silence.

Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself.  Avoid trifling Conversation.

3.    Order.

Let all your Things have their Places.  Let each Part of your Business have Its time.

4.    Resolution.

Resolve to perform what you ought.  Perform without fail what you resolve.

5.    Frugality.

Make no Expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing. 

6.    Industry.

Lose no Time.  Be always employ’d in something useful.  Cut off all unnecessary Actions.

7.    Sincerity.

Use no hurtful Deceit.

Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8.    Justice.

Wrong none, by doing Injuries or omitting the Benefits that are your Duty.

9.    Moderation.

Avoid Extremes.  Forbear resenting Injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10.         Cleanliness.

Tolerate no Uncleanness in Body, Cloaths or Habitation.

11.         Tranquility.

Do not disturb at Trifles, or at Accidents Common or unavoidable.

12.         Chastity.

Rarely use Venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dulness, Weakness, or the Injury of your own or another’s Peace or Reputation.

13.         Humility.

Imitate Jesus and Socrates.  

So Ends “The Summer of Mark”

Tomorrow I start a new job as the PR guy at Interwoven.  It’s a smallish company, just over $225 million in annual revenue, but has recorded 19 straight quarters of growth and profitability.  Interwoven’s financial health is a big change from my last employer, Sun Microsystems, which has been struggling for seven years to find a path back to growth.

Sun cut me free at the start of July.  With a comfortable severance package I embraced what I called “The Summer of Mark.”  When was the last time you had a near three-month holiday with your full salary?  Not bad if you can get it.  For the past two months I took the train everywhere possible, played tennis in the middle of the day, watched movie matinees with retirees, slept in, cooked, read a lot of books, took another Italian class, and made a point of relaxing.

Tomorrow is the first day of fall, which seems very appropriate.  And this Tuesday marks the start of week 26 in Jenn’s pregnancy.  She definitely looks pregnant now.  Little Ben Leonard Richardson is just three months away from making an appearance.  Jenn and I spent most of yesterday at Stanford mall and elsewhere looking at baby stuff (cribs, blankets, clothes, etc.)  Getting excited!

Also, the Cubs clinched the NL Central yesterday.  Go Cubbies! And finally, it looks like the national debt is going to balloon up to $11 trillion as a result of the most recent government bailouts.  I have a bad feeling that my unborn son is going to be burdened with paying it off.

Man of Steele at Burning Man

My good friend Kim Steele just returned from five days at Burning Man in the Sierra desert.  It sounds like he had a fun and crazy time.  I love this photo.