How to write? How to edit? How to history? This week’s literary links go instructive.
Wonder Woman: The Weird True Story
Sarah Kerr reviews two of the laterst Wonder Woman books in conversation with each other: The Secret History of Wonder Woman from Jill Lepore, and Wonder Woman Unbound by Tim Hanley.
Wonder Woman was one of only a few symbols of womanhood who could be considered strong enough to win so big a battle. And she was enjoying a revival in the 1970s. In 1972, Gloria Steinem and the cofounders of Ms. magazine picked Wonder Woman to be the cover girl of its first issue. Ms. even helped publish a book, a culling of feminist-friendly story lines, that for decades was a much-used compilation of the comic’s early years. In the introduction, Steinem recalled the thrill she felt encountering at the age of eight this stunning, buff Amazon princess, flying by invisible airplane from her sheltered island to help America in World War II: “Looking back now at these Wonder Woman stories from the ’40s, I am amazed by the strength of their feminist message.”
— Megan
An illustrated guide to writing people of colour
Superstar indie cartoonists (in OUR hearts, at least), Mari Naomi has published a useful guide to writing people of colour that pulls no punches.
— Christa
On editing as an art form
This interview, or conversation, with Rebecca Saletan is engaging and enlightening and inspiring. If you wonder what the heck an editor even does (or should do), be bewildered no more! If you’re into creative writing but aren’t really sure if you’re an author, this is food for thought. And if you never really considered that discussing people’s ideas with them, helping them find the best way, and giving them permission to really go wild could be a job? Get in line, sucker, I saw it first.
— Claire
