The Nudge

Ethan Koss-Smith -- musician, poet, and resident devotee of Robinson Jeffers -- describes his process of putting Jeffers' poems to music and the particular limitations of that form. Later the group jumps into a shared writing exercise to create a 'new' form (if such a thing exists...). Further discussion and references can be found on our Discord. Our books are available on our website, https://clawfootpress.com/.

Tim and Eric duet about revision, discussing what it means to leave a piece aside. How long should it be left? Should it be left at all? Why is it so difficult to climb back into the seat and take the creative spark back to an existing, grown form? Further discussion and references can be found on our Discord. Our books are available on our website, https://clawfootpress.com/.

Screenwriter Jamie Grefe gets Nudged, as he begins chatting with Eric & Matt about his sound-editing and leads into a discussion of his many writing projects with various filmmakers. Jamie talks about the highs and lows of working in the business, and ultimately comes to accept failure as a healthy part of the process. Further discussion and references can be found on our Discord. Our books are available on our website, https://clawfootpress.com/.

How does one engage with culture while retaining sympathy for creators and audience? Is it the role of the artist to offer themselves up to the vultures? Jason joins The Nudge to discuss responsible engagement with media, writing for the public, and old-fashioned photography. Further discussion and references can be found on our Discord. Our books are available on our website, https://clawfootpress.com/.

Evan joins the conversation and brings the 2013 documentary film Tim's Vermeer to the party. Kyle and Evan debate with Eric over a definition of art, and Matt brings his perspective of process to bear. They agree, at least, that the "last five miles" of any artistic project are certainly the hardest.  Further discussion and references can be found on our Discord. Our books are available on our website, https://clawfootpress.com/.

Following Matt's sitting-in on Tim's creative writing class, Tim, Matt, and Eric have a lengthy discussion on a variety of topics, from developing surprise in written work to vulnerability as a requisite sauce for quality. Beyond that, they touch on risk in writing, what it's like and whether it's possible to write 'for a prize', dealing with rejection and avoiding tokenism, and being white, male, and grown-up about it. Further discussion and references can be found on our Discord. Our books are available on our website, https://clawfootpress.com/.

Eric & Kyle meet at the end of their month of novel-writing. They discuss depicting afflictions and mental illness in fiction, how afflictions end up driving plot, and how they're viewing their month of writing after the fact. They also discuss Anton Chekhov's short story "The Lady With The Dog", which can be found online here and on our Discord, along with Kyle's story "The Newest Place For Noodles." Find us and our books on our website, https://clawfootpress.com/.

The boys turn their questions on one of their own, inquiring after Eric's process writing his short story "The Gold-Boned Monk". Conversation hangs around how it happened, to start, and when Tim takes off to track down his wife, Matt and Eric talk feedback, a relatively unspoken element in the writing how-to. How to give it, but as importantly, how to receive it. Join the conversation and share your writing here, on our Discord. Find our books and contact info on our website, https://clawfootpress.com/.

Collin Scanley, amateur wrestler and professional teacher, helps the boys bridge the subject of writing with Collin's own personal interests; in the end the group finds grounding in a discussion of 'leadership,' its implications and possible definitions. Join the conversation and share your writing here, on our Discord. Find our books and contact info on our website, https://clawfootpress.com/.

The boys discuss Matt’s piece, A Buzzing in the Corner of his Ear¸ the story of a maestro driven mad, perhaps by his musical talents, perhaps by something worse. Matt answers various interrogating questions, topics ranging from title choice to character motives, drifting periodically into places that may or may not deserve disclaimer. The story will be published as The Remains in our upcoming text, Haergrole. However, it can also be found as a free PDF on our Discord. Join the conversation and share your writing here, on our Discord. Find our books and contact info on our website, https://clawfootpress.com/.