My New Writing Gig
Posted on March 30, 2016 Posted by John Scalzi 51 Comments
So here’s a cool thing: I, along with nine other folks, am one of the Los Angeles Times’ book section’s “Critics at Large.” This means from time to time in the pages of the Times, I’ll be writing about books, the universe and everything. I’ll be joined in this endeavor by Marlon James, Laila Lalami, Susan Straight, Viet Thanh Nguyen, David Kipen, Alexander Chee, Rigoberto Gonzalez, Rebecca Carroll and Adriana Ramírez. They are deeply impressive writers and it’s an honor to be in their company.
I’m mildly geeking out about this gig because I grew up reading the LA Times and it remains one of my favorite newspapers. When I was a full-time journalist it was one of the three papers I hoped that I might one day write for (the other being the Washington Post and the NY Times). And now I get to! My younger, newspaper writer self is asquee. This will be fun, while it lasts.
Congrats and have fun.
Congrats! Enjoy the new gig, sir.
:-)
Oh sure. Everyone’s a critic….
Very impressive. Congratulations.
Cool. Well done.
Please post links when you publish reviews so we can find them quickly. I look forward to reading them!
Hum, is there a reason your picture is the only one in black and white in the list?
While it lasts?
Congrats!
Awesome! I hope you’re okay with the no sleep thing. :-)
I clicked through to read the bios of the other writers — it’s cool to see such an amazingly diverse panel. Hope you have a total blast doing this.
You dog! Definitely “squee” worthy! That’s what you get for being a good writer…
landrovan:
Because it’s the picture of mine they chose to use, I suspect.
Wow, way cool!! And what a delightfully diverse bunch, too – very nice indeed.
Very COOL!
Will keep eye out for La Large Critic (El Grandé Critico?)
Congratulations!! Be sure to link to your reviews.
Superb
Cool! And congrats. Will this section be published online, dead-tree or both?
Wictionary definition of asquee: First-person singular present subjunctive form of asquear. Definition of asquear: (intransitive) to disgust, to cause disgust
So WTF?
Congratulations! Hope you will repost here on Whatever because the LAT site is locked without a subscription.
The LA Times is no longer the paper you grew up with. It is a shadow of its former self.
Okay… but did you see what is (so far) the only comment on the LA Times article? LOL
quote:
“So the Times goes to a Star Trek knockoff writer in Ohio? No science fiction writers in CA, I guess?” –Gregory Benford
http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-times-critics-at-large-20160330-snap-htmlstory.html
Are you guys friends? Or is that an intentional dig?
Congratulations!
Jeff Matchan:
I know Greg. I do assume he’s ribbing me. And if he’s not: Oh, well!
Congrats! It sounds like you’ve got a very full and fulfilling plate.
Dear John,
That
Is
Too
Cool!
pax / Ctein
Wow! They’ll let anyone in! Congrats, Mr. Scalzi!
Congrats! Looking forward to reading your columns (I hope they’re not behind a paywall).
Last time I was in California, in April 2001, I was able to spend a few hours at the LA Times-sponsored book festival on the UCLA campus. I know the paper has gone through some unwelcome changes since then – what newspaper hasn’t? – but I’m glad they still seem to care about books.
Dear Hugh,
The LAT (like many papers) lets you read a limited number of free articles each month (ten, I think) but I don’t know if that includes columnists. It’d be easy to check out– get a link to a news article there (e.g., via a Google news search) and see if you can step from that article to one of their “feature” or “columnist” links.
~~~~~
Dear Jeff,
Greg’s a friend of mine and I would say that remark would be highly out of character if it were meant seriously. Unless he’s turned into a horrid grouch in the past few years (it’s possible), it’s a rib.
I’d say it’s a very maladroit one, though. Most everyone reading it won’t know him… or that. It makes him sound like a troll.
pax / Ctein
For a Chicago-educated individual I’m mildly surprised you had no ambitions for the Tribune, particularly considering its strong arts section and columnist roster back in the day.
landrovan “Hum, is there a reason your picture is the only one in black and white in the list?”
Shhh. You got it with your first word. It’s the bees. That cover story about “Oh, it’s just the picture they chose” is merely what They want you to think. Don’t let on that you know or the bees will get you.
(In a very small, tiny, and humble voice) does this mean you’ll forget about ….us?
Congrats! I am a fan of many of those author, Marlon James and Laila Lalami in particular.
What a sweet gig :)
Sunday’s paper, I hope.
But, but, I’ve been told that you are not popular. How is this possible? :)
John Scalzi, as has been noted before, you are NOT a very popular author! This is just more SJW nonsense to show that you are more popular than you are which is not very popular at all. It’s all lies! Lying liars maybe pick you because you are popular with liars, but for the REAL PEOPLE, no, you are not even known, much less known. /sarcasm>
Congrats. I don’t really know any of the others, although I vaguely recognize a name or two, but I don’t think they would have been chosen along with you unless they are pretty damn good at their craft. I hope you gives us a few of those linky things to articles you write.
That’s great! Hope you have fun :).
That is wonderful news. Congratulations!.
That’s some impressive company to be among; congratulations and have a blast with it!
I also note that the only two comments on the article specifically refer to you. Evidently this means you are the Titan of the Titans
Congrats, John. A well earned opportunity. I hope you enjoy it.
Regards,
Dann
Whoa, diversity represent! you look so … white in that company! (and now I have more people to put on my to-read list)
Congratulations, John! That’s awesome!
Asquee
That’s a new word for the dictionary. Gotta add that to the lexicon.
This is funny. I saw this announcement floating around, and I twigged on a couple things…one, the diversity of the panel, and two, the appearance of Viet, a friend of a friend, who I was pretty excited for. Never even realized you were included….shows you where my mind’s at
Congratulations, that’s so great!
Congratulations, that’s utterly marvelous! I look forward to book ads which includes a quote from you and crediting the Los Angeles Times.
Congratulations! That’s such cool news, and I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Congratulations. I’m going to your Conversation at the LA Times Book Festival next weekend.
Do you get to have lunch with Jonathan Gold when you’re in LA now?