The Levels of Greatness a Fiction Writer Can Achieve in

[rich]

that old hat about the suffering writer is bullshit now--many of these
so-called are rather enjoying the awards, invitations, fellowships,
and other crap--no wonder there's no substance to most of what comes
out their creative mouths
they are too busy enjoying themselves

bitterness and rage?  at what?  not getting invited to the right parties?

rich

On Dec 1, 2007 1:28 PM, Monte Davis <monte.davis at verizon.net> wrote:
> And let's not forget editors. From (semi-reclusive) Don DeLillo's _Mao II_,
> here's Charlie Everson, editor of reclusive (natch) novelist Bill Gray:
>
> "For many happy years I've listened to writers and their brilliant
> kvetching. The most successful writers make the biggest complainers. This is
> so interesting to me. I wonder if the qualities that produce a top writer
> also account for the ingenuity and size of his complaints. Does writing come
> out of bitterness and rage or does it produce bitterness and rage?"
>
> "Or both," Bill said.
>
> "Everyone complains about the loneliness. The solitude is killing. The
> nights are sleepless. The days are taut with worry and pain. Bemoan, bemoan.
> The novelists are doing interviews. The interviewers are writing novels. The
> money is never enough. The acclaim is falling short. Come on, Bill, what
> else?"
>
> "It must be hard for you, dealing with these wretches day after day."
>
> "No, it's easy. I take them to a major eatery. I say, Pooh pooh pooh pooh. I
> say, Drinky drinky drinky. I tell them their books are doing splendidly in
> the chains. I tell them readers are flocking to the malls. I say, Coochy
> coochy coo. I recommend the roast  onkfish with savoy cabbage. I tell them
> the reprint bidders are howling in the commodity pits. There is miniseries
> interest, there is audiocassette interest, the White House wants a copy for
> the den. I say, The publicity people are setting up tours. The Italians love
> the book completely. The Germans are groping for new levels of rapture. Oh
> my oh my oh my."
>
>
>