I think you are absolutely right! Such a well written and thoughtful piece. I would love to be a better writer, but the energy and desire to do the work is in the past. Others here are more than capable of great work and should excel. For me, occasionally being a literary thorn in someone’s side is enough. I’m just here to cause trouble!
And Kerouac also couldn’t get past himself. The drinking, yes. But he started to fall into alienated obscurity in his lifetime because of the virulent racist, antisemitic and racist rants the alcohol unloosed from his mind and tongue.
So glad to discover you at the end of 2024. This article stirs creative juices for a story I need to write and chain link your writing, the Kerouac piece, and the current experiences of Gifted Professionals and Communicators. The reach--the connection with words and images, not marketing or anything artificial, is the game changer from the past 600 years. Even in 1962, Kerouac didn't see what you just explained to all who see writing as commercially viable today.
I'll be 63 in another 10 days. Sometimes I still think about the alternate universe where teenage me had the courage and self-knowledge to stick to her guns, "But I want to write, I can't not write."
I wonder what would have happened. Could I have persuaded my parents to support me for three years of writing instead of three years of a degree course? I don't know. They were both from working-class backgrounds and they wanted me to be financially secure. I had classmates whose parents wouldn't support their daughters for anything more ambitious than hairdressing or a factory floor. It wasn't like I had much self-discipline at 18. Perhaps I would have starved. Perhaps I would have wound up studying software much later anyway.
Or maybe, just maybe, I would have been able to practise enough to hit the bestseller lists.
Are you Italian, Sheila lol! I was the first person in my family to go to college. Even though I paid my own way, I was haunted by my mom's reproach to do "something practical." I went into journalism, which fell under the Communications. I wish I had studied literature and creative writing. Like your classmates...my sister went to beauty school
I am sharpening my pencil this very minute. You are an inspiration. Please keep writing and writing and writing. Perfection is impossible. Well, maybe Michelangelo's "David" is perfect. But writing is different. Words probably penetrate the brain more than visual images do. We have to write beauty and truth and darkness and sun-rays. We just have to keep going.
I always wonder how many genius books and other works of art are languishing in obscurity, out of view. At least with fine art you can hang it on your wall or display it somewhere in your garret. Books, not so much. And with today's goldfish-length attention span even in the publishing industry, I wonder if today's Kerouacs' works would even be around to be discovered posthumously, or ever.
Good point. Doubtful. Publishing has become incredibly ideological and sadly myopic. It's all about the narrow "message" now and often not the style, nuance, talent.
In many venues, yes. Luckily not in all. Playing devil's advocate here, but I wonder if there ever has been a time when writers were satisfied with the publishing industry ;-)
It's not just writing. You can be an okay doctor, engineer or lawyer etc. and just do fine but if you're in the arts getting anywhere is near impossible. Did you know that Rembrandt and Toulouse-Lautrec among other notables died broke and broken. You have to be more than simply wonderfully unique; you have to be on time. Your particular aesthetic sensibility,
your gestalt if you will have to connect with the "body mind state" of at least an element a culture just so. It's a privilege given too few to make their way as sustained art royalty - come to think of it so is being a champion fighter.
I love that scene from Dr. Who! Have you read Vincent's letters to his brother Theo? The one I included in this essay (mixed with the clip) always gets me 🫶🏻🥹 https://www.theinneract.com/p/good-materialism
I learned to be open to criticism of my writing. It ended up earning me awards. Also I think Kerouac would be among us, wondering why his piece didn’t get boosted.
Love this piece, Linda. As a nominator on Medium as well, I would say the boost program is an exception to the rejection rules since the ones who decide what to accept aren't necessarily great writers themselves. Nor is the boost requirement always about great writing. I continue to remind myself when rejected for any writing not to take it personally nor put the ones in charge of rejecting on a pedestal. While at the same time learning whatever lessons I need to with the goal to continually improve my writing.
It's the boost program that made me step away from Medium for a time. I wish I'd had the courage to write on Medium back when I was introduced to the platform in 2018. I was too scared to try back then. I found Substack the place to have the courage to write and publish. It's been almost two years.
I have often thought about this idea of being born with a talent vs learning. I have concluded that both can exist. Someone can have a knack for a particular skill or art, or they can simply learn the rules. I see the vast majority (it seems to me) of published authors have advanced degrees. If the best writing was just in their DNA, there would be no need for anything more than a high school education. On the other hand, there is no doubt that some people's command of the language propels their writing to a different level. I think I was born to write but would have cherished the opportunity to learn more. I think that getting published almost requires it today.
You had me at Kerouac ............ now I'm off to read the article you mentioned from 1962, thanks
Thought provoking piece. Thanks for the many interesting details.
I think you are absolutely right! Such a well written and thoughtful piece. I would love to be a better writer, but the energy and desire to do the work is in the past. Others here are more than capable of great work and should excel. For me, occasionally being a literary thorn in someone’s side is enough. I’m just here to cause trouble!
And Kerouac also couldn’t get past himself. The drinking, yes. But he started to fall into alienated obscurity in his lifetime because of the virulent racist, antisemitic and racist rants the alcohol unloosed from his mind and tongue.
Kerouac’s work sold during his lifetime because he appealed to to the mood of the public at that time.
So glad to discover you at the end of 2024. This article stirs creative juices for a story I need to write and chain link your writing, the Kerouac piece, and the current experiences of Gifted Professionals and Communicators. The reach--the connection with words and images, not marketing or anything artificial, is the game changer from the past 600 years. Even in 1962, Kerouac didn't see what you just explained to all who see writing as commercially viable today.
I'll be 63 in another 10 days. Sometimes I still think about the alternate universe where teenage me had the courage and self-knowledge to stick to her guns, "But I want to write, I can't not write."
I wonder what would have happened. Could I have persuaded my parents to support me for three years of writing instead of three years of a degree course? I don't know. They were both from working-class backgrounds and they wanted me to be financially secure. I had classmates whose parents wouldn't support their daughters for anything more ambitious than hairdressing or a factory floor. It wasn't like I had much self-discipline at 18. Perhaps I would have starved. Perhaps I would have wound up studying software much later anyway.
Or maybe, just maybe, I would have been able to practise enough to hit the bestseller lists.
(Still working on it.)
I'm a 1962 baby too! And working on it!
Are you Italian, Sheila lol! I was the first person in my family to go to college. Even though I paid my own way, I was haunted by my mom's reproach to do "something practical." I went into journalism, which fell under the Communications. I wish I had studied literature and creative writing. Like your classmates...my sister went to beauty school
I am sharpening my pencil this very minute. You are an inspiration. Please keep writing and writing and writing. Perfection is impossible. Well, maybe Michelangelo's "David" is perfect. But writing is different. Words probably penetrate the brain more than visual images do. We have to write beauty and truth and darkness and sun-rays. We just have to keep going.
I always wonder how many genius books and other works of art are languishing in obscurity, out of view. At least with fine art you can hang it on your wall or display it somewhere in your garret. Books, not so much. And with today's goldfish-length attention span even in the publishing industry, I wonder if today's Kerouacs' works would even be around to be discovered posthumously, or ever.
Good point. Doubtful. Publishing has become incredibly ideological and sadly myopic. It's all about the narrow "message" now and often not the style, nuance, talent.
In many venues, yes. Luckily not in all. Playing devil's advocate here, but I wonder if there ever has been a time when writers were satisfied with the publishing industry ;-)
It's not just writing. You can be an okay doctor, engineer or lawyer etc. and just do fine but if you're in the arts getting anywhere is near impossible. Did you know that Rembrandt and Toulouse-Lautrec among other notables died broke and broken. You have to be more than simply wonderfully unique; you have to be on time. Your particular aesthetic sensibility,
your gestalt if you will have to connect with the "body mind state" of at least an element a culture just so. It's a privilege given too few to make their way as sustained art royalty - come to think of it so is being a champion fighter.
Write on! Thanks for this, and thanks for the encouragement.
I love that scene from Dr. Who! Have you read Vincent's letters to his brother Theo? The one I included in this essay (mixed with the clip) always gets me 🫶🏻🥹 https://www.theinneract.com/p/good-materialism
I learned to be open to criticism of my writing. It ended up earning me awards. Also I think Kerouac would be among us, wondering why his piece didn’t get boosted.
When I learned to listen to feedback my writing improved enormously.
True!
Love this piece, Linda. As a nominator on Medium as well, I would say the boost program is an exception to the rejection rules since the ones who decide what to accept aren't necessarily great writers themselves. Nor is the boost requirement always about great writing. I continue to remind myself when rejected for any writing not to take it personally nor put the ones in charge of rejecting on a pedestal. While at the same time learning whatever lessons I need to with the goal to continually improve my writing.
It's the boost program that made me step away from Medium for a time. I wish I'd had the courage to write on Medium back when I was introduced to the platform in 2018. I was too scared to try back then. I found Substack the place to have the courage to write and publish. It's been almost two years.
I enjoyed reading this and now I am enjoying mulling it over. I hope you think that makes this piece of writing very successful and very good.
I have often thought about this idea of being born with a talent vs learning. I have concluded that both can exist. Someone can have a knack for a particular skill or art, or they can simply learn the rules. I see the vast majority (it seems to me) of published authors have advanced degrees. If the best writing was just in their DNA, there would be no need for anything more than a high school education. On the other hand, there is no doubt that some people's command of the language propels their writing to a different level. I think I was born to write but would have cherished the opportunity to learn more. I think that getting published almost requires it today.