For this series of six swaps, we’ll read two essays related to writing and/or reading from The Electric Typewriter website.The idea is to get us reading more about the craft of writing in order to grow as writers.

You’ll read the two essays, write your takeaways and thoughts in a notebook and mail it to your partner. For the next rounds, you’ll write in the notebook you received in the last swap and send it along. The idea would be to get some consistency going and your original notebook returned to you before the end of the year. When you launch a notebook, be sure to put your name, email and mailing address on the inside cover so it can be returned to you.

If this is your first round, get a notebook, softbound preferred for mailing, that’s approximately 8.5x5.5 inches with 80-100 pages in it. (The size is a sheet of paper folded in half.) These notebooks are generally sold in 2-, 3- or 5-packs at places like Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart and Amazon and will fit inside a 6x9 manila envelope to mail.

Feel free to read the essays at your leisure – and any of the others on The Electric Typewriter. Each swap will have a pairing of two essays. I provide direct links to the essays as well as a one-sentence bio on the authors with a link if you want more information.

You can write longhand (legibly, please!) or type and adhere your responses to the page(s) in the notebook. Please be sure to date your entry and include the authors and titles of the essays in your response.

Length of response is up to the sender. Aim for at least a couple of paragraphs at the minimum.

Third pairing: David Foster Wallace and Cheryl Strayed

“The Nature of the Fun” by David Foster Wallace

and

“Write like a #*&!” by Cheryl Strayed Note: she uses a profanity in the actual title of her piece.

Wallace, the author of the novels “Infinite Jest” and “The Pale King,” was an English and creative writing instructor who also wrote essays and short stories.

Strayed writes memoir, essays, novels, blog posts and a podcast.

Series Recap:

First pairing: J.K. Rowling and Stephen King.

Second pairing: Annie Dillard and George Orwell.

Fourth paring: Elizabeth Gilbert and Neil Gaiman

Snail mail. Group membership. USA