Around The Web: Research Mistakes, Emily Dickinson, Writing Advice and Retreats
Welcome back, readers! This week’s roundup of web content includes a funny research mistake, a new way to read Emily Dickinson, some writing advice, and some thoughts on writing retreats.
Zelda Ingredients in Historical Fiction
Image: syfy.com
Zelda: Breath of the Wild fans noticed something a little off in John Boyne’s latest historical fiction novel. Some ingredients like “red lizalfos” and “Hylian shroom” come from the video game, so what are they doing in a novel about Atilla the Hun? Writer Dana Schwartz guessed that Boyne did a quick google search for red dye ingredients and found a recipe without checking the source—and Boyne admits it! Check out SyFyWire for the full story of how the blunder was revealed and what Boyne plans to do about it.
Emily Dickinson and Pokémon
What does a poet have to do with a children’s show? Both Emily Dickinson’s poems and the Pokémon theme song use the common meter, a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. As twitter user @jeeyonshim pointed out, this means that Dickenson’s poems can be sung to the Pokémon tune. Give it a try with “Because I could not stop for Death” or “I heard a Fly buzz – when I died” and give yourself a laugh.
Writing Advice from New Girl’s Nick Miller
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been watching a lot of television during this pandemic, which means a few of my writing projects aren’t getting much attention. But at least I can get some writing advice from television characters—or least a recent Lit Hub thinks I can. The site recently gathered some advice from New Girl’s Nick Miller, the bartender/writer played by Jake Johnson. If you’re up for some tongue-in-cheek writing guidance, check it out.
Retreating from Writing
If you’re up for some more serious thoughts on writing, check out what Open Book’s writer-in-residence, Alison Wearing, has to say about finding the time and space for writing.