Word of the Day: Vergence
(n.); simultaneous movement of eyes toward or away from one another; c. 1902 in ophthalmology “Some days I can move the mower slowly, along lazy paths. … On other days,…
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The Millions
291 posts
Writing for Sport
What do writing and sports have in common? For The Millions, Tracy O’Neill suggests that both writers and athletes are in the “business” of constructing “narratives,” and likens the experience of…
Zen and the Art of Shepherding
For The Millions, Caroline Crampton explores the prevalence of “sheep lit” (writing about shepherds and sheep) in 20th century British literature. According to Crampton, writing about sheep shows a relationship between the…
The Power of the Common Tongue
For The Millions, Lauren Alwan provides “a brief history” and analysis of colloquial titles, including works from authors like Ernest Hemingway, Flannery O’Connor, Lorrie Moore, and Raymond Carver. In addition, Alwan…
Writing, Titling, Tricoloning
Greek for “of equal number of clauses,” isocolon is a rhetorical device that produces a sense of order by balancing parallel elements that are similar in structure and length within…
Topics Not Discussed Elsewhere
For The Millions, Sonya Chung sits down with James Hannaham to explore “questions and topics not discussed elsewhere” about his new novel Delicious Foods. In the interview, the two discuss the research that went into…
A Treacherous Crossroads
For The Millions, Bill Morris reflects on the documentary Havana Motor Club, and his own trip to Cuba in 1998, noting how the country is now getting “ready to navigate…
Introducing Introductions
“No matter whether it is called an introduction, foreword, or preface, the best front piece written by the book’s own author encourages a reader to turn the page and start,…
High Romance and Envy
Before Joan Didion, there was Eileen Chang. A slender, dramatic woman with a taste for livid details and feverish colors, Chang combined Didion’s glamor and sensibility with the terrific wit of Evelyn…
To MFA or not to MFA? That Isn’t the Question.
Recently, it has become fashionable to debate the pros and cons of pursuing a MFA. However, for the Millions, Hannah Gersen suggests that this debate has steered the conversation away from…
Bar Reading
At The Millions, Edward Mullany regimentally tries to read War and Peace. Instead, he has a conversation with a stranger at a bar.