Over at Miss Snark’s, the Crapometer festivities have begun. Some of the entries are truly astonishing in their mediocrity (“The candle on the adjacent nightstand beckoned the shadows, and brought them to life” is one sentence for a novel set in “Medieval 18th Century Scotland.”). But Miss Snark doesn’t shy away from telling these folks what’s wrong with them. If this is an accurate examplar of what’s in the slush pile, then I have greater sympathy for agents and editors.

September 1, 2006 by Edward Champion

We’re Still Investigating This “Dr. Mabuse” Character Here at Return of the Reluctant

The New Republic: “After an investigation, The New Republic has determined that the comments in our Talkback section defending Lee Siegel’s articles and blog under the username ‘sprezzatura’ were produced with Siegel’s participation. We deeply regret misleading our readers. Lee Siegel’s blog will no longer be published by TNR, and he has been suspended from writing for the magazine. — Franklin Foer”