Media Miscellany: 05.17.2005

The art of procrastination: This week, the New Yorker’s Ben McGrath goes underground with would-be novelists in Queens, who are holing up in specially-designed “habitats” meant to encourage their individual creative process for an art installation called “novel.” The plan is for each of them to finish their books by June 4th, focused and undistracted in the creative space of their dreams. Alas, even in custom-made spaces, the last thing anyone wants to do is finish their novel.