For the first time in more than a year, we got to watch the ABC Evening News on one of the Hong Kong channels (this is usually blocked for some reason, as was today’s CBS Evening News on the other channel). One of the stories that grabbed our attention was about the discovery that a new memoir was falsified. The news went into a list of recent fabrications from other published memoirs.

We don’t mind lies told in writing–that’s what most people would call fiction. However, writers shouldn’t try to pass off lies as honest memoirs. Perhaps these writers need to take advice from William Goldman’s memoir, Which Lie Did I Tell?

Another solution to this memoir-falsifying epidemic could be the beginning of a new genre. We at Terracotta Typewriter would like to propose that new genre be called “faux-moir“ (patent pending). The faux-moir would need to be stylistically similar to a memoir with the fabrication intentionally added. The work would need to be at least 40% actual memoir, but not more than 75% truthful. The remaining portion of the work must be pure fiction and/or exaggeration.

Terracotta Typewriter is proud to be the first publication to officially acknowledge and accept the genre of faux-moir as a legitimate writing style. Please send your fabrications of reality to tctype@gmail.com.

Today I read of the passing of the British playwright Harold Pinter. I was introduced to his work some years ago while studying in London for a semester. It was a wonderful experience being exposed to the work of a man who was a master of dialogue through which he could evoke such a range of emotions. He invented his own element in the world of drama: the Pinter Pause. The void left by that pause created a deeper meaning to the plays that were left to the imaginations of the directors and actors.

Pinter was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005. He used his acceptance speech as an opportunity to condemn US President George W. Bush–words that many people agree with, though not necessarily in the context of a Nobel Prize speech.

While Pinter did not have a connection to China (not that I know of anyway), I would still like to honor the man who created great theatre and encourage those unfamiliar with his work to seek it out and find inspiration in it.

Some words to remember Harold Pinter by: “Rationality went down the drain donkey’s years ago and hasn’t been seen since.” -from Moonlight

This post comes via Danwei.org, which got the information from Access Asia (we would post a link to the original, but it’s a weekly update that is not a static page).

Access Asia put together a list of the year’s best and worst books about China. These are all non-fiction, and a few of them are business related–surprisingly the worst ones are mostly business related. The descriptions of the books are the enjoyable part to read–especially when it comes to the worst books (there’s a nice bit of humor in the review).

On a non-literary note, Happy Festivus from Terracotta Typewriter. May all of your grievances be aired in the ominous glow of the aluminum pole.

China is celebrating 30 years of opening and reform from the days of Deng Xiaoping. Although the publisher of Terracotta Typewriter has only been in China for a little more than a tenth of that time, he has seen a lot of changes. This country can change overnight–and sometimes it really appears to do so.

As we are presently based in Shenzhen, we have seen Deng’s plans as they have greatly affected this sprawling city. New subway lines are being constructed along with schools, hospitals, office buildings, and parks. We’ve also witnessed the emergence of migrant culture in the form of literature, art, and photography. Whether or not this is what Deng envisioned his “Special Economic Zones” would someday become, it is amazing to observe as a spectator.

Facebook that is. Now you can join the group for Terracotta Typewriter on Facebook as well. Yes, we know that many writers feel that this “social networking” site is a bit worthless, but we figured we could make it fun.

This is Terracotta Typewriter‘s first call for submissions. If you have any work that fits our guidelines, we encourage you to submit it. Our target date for the first online issue is the end of February/early March 2009 (the beginning of the Year of the Ox). Please e-mail all submissions to tctype@gmail.com

Please be aware that while we are seeking our first submissions for publication this site will remain under construction as we would like to improve the aesthetic design of the page. Please be patient as we upgrade our image.

Terracotta Typewriter is currently under construction. We hope to have this site up and running soon. Please check back at a later date.