“It is well-known that there are many faces in the world over the finishing of which nature did not take much trouble, did not employ any fine tools such as files, gimlets, and so on, but simply hacked them out with round strokes: one chop-a nose appears; another chop-lips appear;…
Tag: lrr
The Threat of an Empty Page By Emily Zimmer
“I have a horror of the blank page. I simply cannot write on a blank page or screen. Because once I do, I start to fix it, and I never get past the first sentence.” — Charles Krauthammer The vast emptiness of the page is overwhelming. The stark white seems…
Does Anyone Really Know What Alt-Lit is? by Alexandra Cichon
My freshman year of college, spring semester 2013, I found myself standing on a rooftop in Brooklyn with people I didn’t know. What we did have in common was our ability to Instagram the Manhattan skyline and our following of alt-lit, or Alternative Literature. The semester before, I had discovered…
To Prompt, or Not to Prompt, That is the Question by Theresa Kurzawa
It’s the kind of question you ask yourself, as a writer, when you’re stuck on what to write about. Should you venture into the dangerous and confusing world of Writing Prompts, or should you leave your writing decisions to your own imagination? There are a lot of pros and cons…
Where did the quotation mark go? by Steph Koo
We are approaching copyediting time at the Long River Review and it has me thinking about grammar, punctuation, and writing style—leading me to this question: Why do some authors do away with the quotation mark in dialogue? Perhaps I am noticing it more as I am reading more “serious literature”…
Very, Very, Very, Very, Very Good: A review of Diane Williams’ new book Fine, Fine, Fine, Fine, Fine By Carleton Whaley
“Young farmers and rural characters, obstetrical nurses, scholars, clergy—all the rest!—will have their great hopes realized more often than not—unless I decide to tell their stories.” — from “Head of the Big Man” by Diane Williams As a first time reader of Diane Williams, I wasn’t sure what to expect….
GET SLAPPED IN THE FACE BY LITERATURE: A Small Suggestion on How to Start Reading Again By Therese Masotta
“The one you love and the one who loves you are never, ever the same person.” — from Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk I didn’t always like to read. (What?! But you’re an English major!) Yes I am studying English and no, I did not always like to read. It’s…
The Graphic Novel: Art and Literature Worthy of Merit by Theresa Kurzawa
When approaching the subject of graphic novels (or more colloquially known as “comic books”), one often infers that their sole purpose is the mindless entertainment of youths with little to no literary or artistic merit. There are many reasons that this stereotype of graphic novels exists, and one of them…
Why Lang Leav Should Be Your Post Valentine’s Day Read by Alexandra Cichon
If you spent your Valentine’s Day single and lamenting happy couples, fear not, you may still have a chance at romance. And you may find that hope in Lang Leav, bestselling author of three books of poetry, Memories, Love & Misadventure, and Lullabies. Besides winning the 2014 Goodreads Choice award…
On the Banks of the Long River Review: Its Roots and History by Hattie Wilcox
Will you find a treatise on why pancakes matter? The answer to whether or not Diego Rivera actually had a certificate from his doctor stating he was physically incapable of fidelity? Or the reason why certain Russians have been known to sport watermelon bowl hats and pose for photos in…