Headed out of town for a few days. Gangrey is left to the masses.
Topic of discussion: Who do you read? When you need to get in the right head, who do you look up? Is there something you go to time and again? Do you browse? Do you meditate? Do you drink?
Discuss.
Additional question: Which newspapers should I aspire to work at that appreciate/nurture/will let me do the type of writing I see on Gangrey? Looking for a list.
One of my favorite writers has always been Richard Brautigan. He's just insanely original. His writing is also quite beautiful, but in a much different way than, say, Cormac McCarthy. The guy's writing, however weird, even at times nonsensical, literally reminds me that anything is possible, and always has. Not stories, but I mean wordplay, rhythm, just ... anything.
As best I can tell, this is a link to most of his book "Trout Fishing in America."
http://books.google.com/books?id=Qe8nSj13h_UC&printsec=frontcover&dq=richard+brautigan+trout+fishing+in+america&cd=3#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Also the poetry of Charles Simic. A link to some of his poems:
http://books.google.com/books?id=ugtsc5_87XQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=charles+simic&cd=7#v=onepage&q=charles%20simic&f=false
Raymond Carver is an excellent example for reporters. No wasted words. I like Annie Proulx too, especially her short stories. Jhumpha Lahiri. The novels of South African J.M. Coetzee (most of them log in at about 200 pages).
For newspapers to aspire to, I'd exclude the obvious (Times, Post, L.A. Times, Wall Street Journal). Break the others into two groups smaller/mid-sized and larger dailies. For smaller/mid-sized: Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star ; Wichita (Kan.) Eagle; Lexington (Ky) Herald-Leader; Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI); Providence (R.I.) Journal; Raleigh News & Observer. For larger dailies: St. Pete Times, of course; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (forgive the plug); Boston Globe; Philly Inquirer (may be on the rise again); Charlotte Observer; Seattle Times.