Dana Gioia, the California poet who heads the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, D.C., steps down next month.

Gioia, 57, told the Los Angeles Times he plans to divide his time between writing and a position at the Aspen Institute as the institute’s director of the Harman-Eisner Program in the Arts. “The reason I’m leaving is to be a poet. I’ve given up six years of my creative life for public service, and I’m not allowed to publish while I’m in office. I shall never have a more exciting job than the NEA, but a poet needs a little boredom.”

Choosing Gioia’s replacement is among the key decisions facing Barack Obama and his team.

Bill Moyers asks Berkeley writer Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals) what he would do if he was named Secretary of Agriculture. Pollans says the job is not for him, but he has lots of good ideas, including the creation of a Food Policy Czar, to connect the dots between agriculture, public health, energy, climate change, and education. Watch the very interesting interview — which includes an introduction on agri-business and hunger in America — here.

Edward Humes writes at Huffington Post to suggest a buy-in, not a bail-out, of the nation’s automakers and a sea change in Detroit. “These are, after all, the same carmakers who LOVED the Hummer and smirked at the Prius as the height of folly, and who lobbied hard to make sure Congress provided many years of lucrative tax breaks for the gas guzzlers rather than the green machines we so desperately need.” Ed also has a new blog called the Eco Barons.

Our Latest Book Lotto: a copy of My California Journeys by Great Writers. The anthology is a great holiday gift. And we’re giving it away this week over at Seal Beach Daily.

Writers Digest recently profiled Wired founder Chris Anderson, who wants to give you his next book for free.

Michelle Vranizan Rafter compiles a handy year-end to-do list for freelance writers.

LA author and blogger Kevin Roderick receives the first-ever Distinguished Work in New Media Award from the Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. LAO has a round up of other SPJ winners too.

Don Waldie blogs for KCET, at “Where We Are.” I also stumbled upon Jan Burke’s blog recently and noticed that she has another novel, The Messenger, out this month.

Galley Cat writes about indie bookstores that start blogs. “You know those little handwritten cards your employees post in the store, guiding people to favorite reads?” asks Kassia Krozser of Booksquare. “Why not use your blog for a similar purpose? … Think of your blog as a way to handsell on the Internet.” Join the discussion here.

Derek P. introduces Ripley, the eerily adorable shop cat at Borderlands Books in the Mission.

LAist includes some excellent lit and literacy-related suggestions in its Philanthropist Gift Guide. An example: “The Library Foundation of Los Angeles supports the Central LA Library and its 71 neighborhood branches. Inside the Central Library downtown, they have a cool store (also online) with some unique items including a Romeo and Julienne Cutting Board ($12), autographed copies of books such as Robert Scheer’s The Pornography of Power ($24.99), Earthquake Safety Playing Cards ($5). Another option is supporting the libraries by purchasing an associate membership ($50 and up, tax-deductible).”

Another shopping pointer: these wonderful Books with a Heart. These mostly California titles feature writers as advocates for literacy, the arts and environmental preservation.