Emerson teacher weaves advice on writing, life into a novella
Even though he is a published author and teaches creative writing at Emerson College, Mike Heppner shares commonly held frustrations with the publishing industry. So after putting the finishing touches on a piece of work too lengthy for a short story but not long enough to be released as a novel, he decided to offer it free on his website, mikeheppner.com.
In return, all he asks is that readers who enjoy "Man Talking" pass it on.
The Belmont resident's first two novels, "The Egg Code" and "Pike's Folly," were published by Knopf in 2002 and 2006, respectively. "Man Talking," which Heppner said can be read in about 90 minutes, is about a middle-age writer who has made sacrifices in his personal life in order to achieve commercial success. In fact, Heppner calls his novella a "hybrid novel and writing manual" that serves to warn aspiring writers that even publishing the novel of their dreams won't solve problems in their noncreative lives.
"It took me seven months to write [the novella]. And although length affects commercial possibility, writing is a profession and writers should get paid for their work," Heppner says. "In my case, posting it on my website is an alternative to putting it away in my closet. I might not be able to sell Harry Potter numbers, but there's still value in it."
Heppner will read from "Man Talking" on Friday in the Dire Literary Series, which begins at 8 p.m. at 106 Prospect St. in Cambridge. For more information, visit direreader.com.
CINDY CANTRELL
