The Nanny Diaries ladies don’t seem to be hacking it with Novel No. 2. Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, despite having a $3 million publishing deal, didn’t agree with Random House’s changes and have sought other opinions. Including Kurt Andersen’s.

Updike profiles Walter Abish.

Jessa Crispin covers graphic novels for the Post.

The Guardian dares to ask Paul Auster where he gets his ideas from.