The Writer's Almanac

A good long drive will force you deep into your podcast collection, and it has been some time since I've listened to Garrison Keillor's daily affirmation for writers and aspiring poets. Gems from his last week's entries -- an ode to Kafka and the opening lines of his two great works, a quotation on reality from Hesse and a homage to Strunk and White.

Many days of the week, I am no fan of the way Strunk and White have beat the life out of prose, but two reminders that their little seminal collaboration remains useful (when taken in moderation or under strict doctor's orders):

Write in the active tense
Use no more words than necessary

Two S&W guidelines far more SIDs and journalists need to follow.

Keillor's daily podcast is brief, and found either through Minnesota Public Radio or more simply at iTunes. Always ends with a poem, and since Keillor has used my favorite American poet laurete, Billy Collins, frequently, it's always a pleasure.