Dan Webster

The main obstacle facing most would-be writers is the self-consciousness that comes with inexperience. Am I good enough? you may ask yourself. Will I look stupid? Do I have anything profound to say? Do I know how to say it correctly? Well, dealing with those kinds of questions is the kind of personal battle each of us has to wage alone. Even so, there are several ways of achieving support.

Tyra Banks - naturally.

(photo of scene from "Chasing Amy")

1. Eugene Levy stars as the friendly dentist, Dr. Allan Pearl 2. Christopher Guest is the leading thespian of Blaine, Mo., Corky St. Clair.

Stanley Tucci, left, and Tony Shalhoub co-star in "Big Night," the story of two Italian immigrant brothers attempting to save their failing restaurant business.

In this era of cultural sensitivity, Brady Udall doesn't mind facing up to the forces of political correctness. For example, in his just-published collection of short stories - "Letting Loose the Hounds" (Norton, 221 pages, $22), from which he will read at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Auntie's Bookstore - the Harvard, Idaho, author writes in, among others, the voices of a drunken Apache man, a twentysomething woman and an elderly Native American of indeterminate heritage.

Brady Udall's writing is greatly influenced by his Arizona ties.

Gwyneth Palthow shows remarkable maturity in her role as Emma Woodhouse.

Daniel Auteuil as Alex and Catherine Deneuve as Marie star in "Thieves."

(No caption-photo of movie)

Joey Lauren Adams is Alyssa in "Chasing Amy," a new film by Kevin Smith, director of "Clerks" and "Mallrats."

Grief is a universal emotion, yet usually it is endured alone. That's especially true for those persons who lose a spouse or long-time partner. Sonya Rose and Rande Linder have experienced such grief, which makes them the perfect keynote speakers for this year's Solo Strategies for Widowed Persons conference that begins its two-day run Friday at Spokane Community College.

If you didn't already know by now, this is National Poetry month. Eastern Washington University is certainly doing its part. First, Eastern's creative writing department is joining with the Spokane Arts Commission to sponsor a reading by poet David Lee at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the City Council Chambers, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

(Scene from film)

"The Magic Flute" is being shown as a benefit for KPBX.

Thugs Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare) await their contact in "Fargo."

Author Joanna Rose visits Auntie's Bookstore on Saturday.

Hegi

If you're anxious to purchase the long-awaited second book of poetry by the late Mary Ann Waters, better calm yourself. The wait goes on.

Brad Pitt and Jason Patric star in the Warner Bros. drama "Sleepers."

There's not a whole lot about the first 94 years of manned flight that you can cover in a 39-minute movie. So, true to the spirit of IMAX technology, "The Magic of Flight" director Greg MacGillivray serves up in thrills what he lacks in content. And trust me here: If you're at all prone to motion sickness, this film will have you swigging Dramamine.

Julia Ormond and Clipper Miano in "Smilla's Sense of Snow."

Computer error. Those are familiar words. And they are particularly appropriate to the recent Spokesman-Review Oscar contest since it appears we made a mistake in tabulating our winners. Sharon John, a movie fan who lives "in the boonies" north of Colville, Wash., actually won the contest on a tie-breaker.

Attention cartoon readers: Don't panic. You aren't going crazy. Check out the date at the top of this page and you'll realize why something strange has happened to 13 of the comic strips in today's Spokesman-Review.