Information
- Affiliation:
- The New Yorker magazine
- Birthday:
- October 31
Photos
2 of 3 albumsSee All
Rin Tin TinCreated about 8 months ago
Reading from LAZY LITTLE LOAFERSCreated about 9 months ago
Events
17 past eventsSee All
- Philadelphia Book Fair
Story Hour Room, Parkway Central Li...
Saturday, April 18 at 3:00pm - Talking about Bookmaking
Soho House
Monday, March 23 at 7:00pm - Spring Reading
New York University Lillian Vernon ...
Friday, January 30 at 5:00pm - Zinapalooza
Coolidge Corner Theater
Monday, November 17 at 7:00pm - Lazy Little Loafers at the Tex...
Texas Book Festival 2008
Saturday, November 1 at 5:00pm - Festival of Reading -- St. Pet...
140 Seventh Avenue South - at ...
Saturday, October 25 at 10:00am - Lazy Little Loafers
Joseph-Beth Boksellers
Monday, October 13 at 6:00pm - Lazy Little Loafers at the Sou...
War Memorial Plaza
Friday, October 10 at 5:00pm - Lazy Little Loafers
Elliot Bay Book Company
Thursday, October 9 at 6:00pm - Lazy Little Loafers
Third Place Books
Thursday, October 9 at 10:00am
Notes
RECENT ACTIVITY
Susan Orlean edited their Affiliation and Personal Interests.
Susan Orlean discussed dan's question about safety... on the Susan Orlean discussion board.
Susan Orlean discussed aaron's question about adaptation(s) on the Susan Orlean discussion board.
A conversation between authors Susan Orlean and Said Sayrafiezadeh about the sometimes difficult process of turning a magazine piece into a book. ****THE EVENT IS FREE AND OP...
Host:Susan Orlean
Time:7:00PM Monday, March 23rd
Location:Soho House
Susan Orlean
Re: Amy's question...I write about things that I find interesting -- and hope that my excitement about them will draw other people in. I rarely write about anything that seems obviously "commercial", although dog stories seem to be perennially popular. I just count on my own enthusiasm for the story and my passion for storytelling to carry it, rather than the subject matter. But worrying about whether the work will be in vain is ALWAYS a concern -- a writer wants readers! In the case of my new book about Rin Tin Tin, I'm counting on the story being fascinating (which it is) and full of great historical stuff, as well as having compelling characters and themes that anyone (even a cat lover) can relate to. I hope.
As for telling my younger self something...trust your instincts; write what you love; work hard; be honest. And keep your receipts.
February 24 at 3:35pm · Report
Susan Orlean
Okay, now I'll be careful about how wordy I am so I don't run out of space again :)
Devan asked about including my thoughts, and knowing when it's too much or too little. I definitely struggle with this -- it's important to me to be in the piece, just as a guide to the reader and to acknowledge the subjectivity of my observations. I try to include as much as feels natural -- that might sound vague, but it should never be forced or obvious. It should feel as if you were telling the story out loud, to a group of friends -- in that setting you'd include yourself where it was part of the story but not try to draw attention to yourself as much as just refer to your experience. It's a matter of instinct and it's not always easy to tell if you've gone overboard (or not shown yourself enough!)
February 24 at 3:28pm · Report
Susan Orlean
Greetings to all of Professor Underhill's students -- happy to see you here!
I'd like to try to get to all of your questions...might take a bit of time but I'll do my best.
First, Kate's question about quotations...it's obviously very important to me, and I find that sometimes a perfect quote just makes a story. That said, it's impossible to "get" someone to say something witty/insightful/portentous/meaningful. I find that the more time you spend with a subject, the more likely he/she will begin talking freely, unselfconsciously, & that's when you get the "good quote". There is also a weird phenomenon that as soon as you put your notebook away, your subject will begin saying the things you're dying for. When that happens, I try to keep them talking and slowly bring my notebook back out and start scribbling, and lead them back to what they said that sounded great. I also find the best quotes come during conversations that seem off-subject. Oops I've exceeded the space limit of posts!
February 24 at 3:23pm · Report
And you can check out the Liberty Bell, while you're here!
I'll be reading and signing at the book fair -- please come! I'll be in the Story Hour Room reading & signing books.
Host:Susan Orlean
Time:3:00PM Saturday, April 18th
Location:Story Hour Room, Parkway Central Library
A little early for spring, but...
I'll be reading along with author Judith Baumel as part of NYU's Friday Happy Hour Series.
Host:Susan Orlean
Time:5:00PM Friday, January 30th
Location:New York University Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House
Susan Orlean
Hi Kelly,
I have mixed feelings about MFA programs...I think the best effect they can have is to pry you from your day-job and from treating writing as the thing you do when you have a little extra time and instead make you feel purposeful and really determined to write. They also introduce you to a lot of great people and you get serious, focused editing. On the other hand, I have always felt the better way to go is to try to find any writing job you can find and just write, write, write -- and have real deadlines and not school deadlines; real stories instead of class assignments. But honestly, it's a tough call. I'm not sure that the kinds of writing jobs that I think are great training grounds are that easy to find anymore, and maybe getting into an MFA program is a good way to get yourself geared up to Be A Writer (notice the important-looking capital letters). Short answer: I'm not sure!
January 7 at 8:01pm · Report
Susan Orlean Hi Picasso -- if you want to post your piece here when you're done, it would be great to read it. Good luck -- I hope you end up with an A+ ...!
December 16, 2008 at 11:01am · Report
susanorlean: Is packing for California and happy to be redeploying flip-flops, at least for a few weeks.
susanorlean: is looking at her CDs with the same puzzlement that she recently felt about her books. Now what does one do with them after iPoding?
susanorlean: is watching old Rin Tin Tin episodes and realizing that this is my...uh...JOB.
Susan Orlean
Hi Elsa,
I shy away from naming genres, since the labels never seem to quite fit, but the most often used one is "literary non-fiction" or "literary journalism" or "creative non-fiction", none of which are too easy on the ears. I don't really think of myself as a journalist in the traditional sense, so I usually settle on simply calling myself a writer of non-fiction.
I think anyone who can write 3000 words any day of the week is amazing, and anyone with children who can write a word is a hero -- I don't find it easy! It never feels simple, and finding the ability to focus when I need to is a huge challenge -- and has become more of one since I had a child. Deadlines have a very sobering effect on procrastinators (!!) at least.
Good luck!
November 20, 2008 at 1:01pm · Report
susanorlean: is unearthing the original galleys of her first book (1990!!) in a slightly mildewy basement in Boston.
A celebration at the Coolidge Corner Theater in Boston for the irreplaceable Joe Zina!
Coolidge Corner Theater is saying goodbye to director Joe Zina with a huge variety show/party/tribute...MC for the festivities will be Susan Orlean -- it will feature music, f...
Host:Susan Orlean
Time:7:00PM Monday, November 17th
Location:Coolidge Corner Theater
susanorlean: is trying to figure out why the lead of a story is called a 'lede'. Isn't it the lead into the story? What's with that spelling?
susanorlean: is really excited to try the Google thing where you ask your phone,.like, say, 'Where's pizza around here?" and it gives you an answer.
susanorlean: is going to get a flu shot this afternoon. What an exciting life I lead!
susanorlean: is bound and determined to write 300 words today. There! I just wrote fourteen.
Susan Orlean Check out Susan at the Texas Book Festival: http://www.youtube.com/v/bUwrIeEB9-Y
November 11, 2008 at 8:26pm · Report
Susan Orlean Hey, all you students of Professor Underhill -- sorry our experiment with Q&A on Facebook didn't quite work out. The new format made it nearly impossible to follow the Qs and the As. Thanks for your great questions; I hope I answered a few. Good luck with your reading and your writing...