Write or Die
May 4, 2008
It makes for interesting television. Chefs, dress designers, ballroom dance teams (with "stars" from forgotten sitcoms and yesterday's news) ... So far no neurosurgeons or air traffic controllers.
With such a fertile field, why have no television producers risen to the challenge of seeking out "America's Top Writer!"
At the moment it isn't the purpose of this site to fill that gap. That's not to say the idea isn't attractive in itself. There's something comfortable about being free of the responsibility of drawing one's own conclusions based on one's own informed subjective judgement. Note the danger words in that last sentence: free. responsibility. informed. A triad of anxiety at this particular time.
About twelve years ago the British writer Martin Amis included in his novel The Information the following exchange between a Chicago talk-radio host and his guest, an obscure writer named Richard Tull:
"Don't you wish sometimes," said Dub, "that writing were just like sports? That you could just go out there and see who'd win? See who's better. Measurably. With all the stats."Richard thought about it. "Yeah," he said.
Yeah, says Richard Tull, believing heartily that all the stats would point to his superiority over his former friend, the world's favorite talentless scrivener Gwyn Barry. The Information, it's worth noting, was harshly received by critics when it came out. Sad to say, it was not even selected for Ophrah's club as Gwyn Barry's Amelior certainly would have been.
Well, there will be no stats here. What there will be is some of my current writing, offered to unwary interweb wanderers. And some of your writing, too, if you care to send any. And if I happen to like it.
If you would like to comment on my stuff, please do so. I'll be happy to read yours. Send me anything you're working on and I'll either comment on it in a reply, or maybe post it if you give me permission.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment