Martha Stallman, a Texas State Master's student and UT-Austin grad has won Playboy's 2011 College Fiction Contest. Her story, Hot Damn (featuring illustrations by Charles Chaisson), tells the tale of a man trying to pick up a social security check. Needless to say, something unexpected happens. Stallman's story is featured in the November issue of the magazine, and she's also won a $3,000 prize. For more information about the contest, go here. more ›

The admirable nonprofit Austin Bat Cave, which is responsible both for awesome readings in town as well as for hosting amazing youth writing workshops, needs your help. more ›

In the beginning was the Word, yo. And, lo, all these years the Word has served me well. A couple of nights ago, as the clock was pushing toward midnight, I wrapped up a day of feverish editing and revisions. I’d been reaching for this very specific moment for over two years, and now the moment was upon me. I added a bit more here, subtracted some there, caught a couple of typos that had previously escaped me and then it was time. The analogy is tired but remains true: completing a massive project and then revealing it to others is kind of like giving birth. This time felt a little different—the nine preceding books I’ve written made this latest slightly less painful to push out. In the end, it was more like seeing a kid off to kindergarten, and the note I sent to the agent over-explaining a few points in my manuscript was akin to pulling the teacher aside and telling her more details than she needed about my baby’s needs and quirks. more ›

Paul Feig, creator of Freaks and Geeks and director of every-other-critically-acclaimed-show-that-the-cool-kids-love, came to bedazzle a number of extremely lucky panels at the Austin Film Festival this weekend. On top of marrying Jim and Pam on The Office a few weeks ago, Feig is currently directing Showtime’s Nurse Jackie and HBO’s Bored to Death in New York. Given that Feig’s X-Men ability is apparently multitasking (have you read his books or figured out that he’s a Twitter connoisseur yet), Austinist tracked the incredibly charismatic man down for a series of questions at the Stephen F. Austin hotel. Note: Paul was kind enough to provide actual detailed answers and anecdotes to each question, so we decided to forgo editing out...pretty much anything. In fact, scratch out interview because this is now deemed Storytime with Paul Feig. more ›

Austin Bat Cave, a non-profit writing and tutoring center for kids, is hosting two free summer camps during these last few precious weeks of summer vacation. The organization focuses on connecting a diverse population of young writers and learners with a vibrant community of adult volunteers in Austin. more ›

To echo Anita Bryant (wow, never thought I'd say that), these books aren't just for young people anymore! These are excellent stories. Period. You don't need to be of a certain age to appreciate them. Right now there is a sort of Renaissance of teen and children's literature going on, and it's so exciting to be a part of that. I hope many others come and experience it this weekend. more ›

David Simon, creator of critic-favorites Homicide: Life on the Streets and The Wire, will be making a stop at the University of Texas tomorrow evening. Simon is delivering the College of Communication’s 2008 William Randolph Hearst Fellow lecture at the Austin City Limits Studio. Simon has won three Peabody awards for his work on Homicide, The Corner and the recently-endedThe Wire, and continues to do freelance work for The Washington Post and other publications. more ›