Tackling the Hard Work of Writing

“I think that if you have a knack for storytelling, and you work really hard at it, you'll have a chance to tap into something deep. But the fact remains that good sentences are hard won. Any writer worth a lick knows constructing a sentence, a paragraph, or a chapter is hard work. ”– Adam Ross

Born on this date in 1967, Ross grew up in New York City and attended the Trin­ity School, where he was a state cham­pion wrestler, and a child actor, appearing in movies, com­mer­cials, and tele­vi­sion shows, as well as on radio dra­mas.  After studying English at Vassar College, he went on to earn a Master’s degree from Hollins University and Master of Fine Arts degree from Washington University, both in creative writing.   

                                   Author of the critically acclaimed novel Mister Peanut, he also has written stories for magazines, newspapers and journals and served as a fea­ture writer and spe­cial projects edi­tor for the Nashville (TN) Scene.  Ross’s nonfiction has appeared in The New York Times Book Review, The Daily Beast, Tin House, and The Wall Street Jour­nal.   His fic­tion has been published in The Berlin Jour­nal, The Car­olina Quar­terly, and The Sun­day Times of Lon­don.   In addition to his writing, he serves as Editor of The Sewanee Review. 

Asked about story writing, he said, “Simply put, you can read a story in a single sitting and hold it all in your mind. You can experience all of its rhythms, beginning to end, during that span. Consequently it has, I think, greater emotional power than a novel because of this real-time effect.  Stories can stun you.”

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