Do you remember that brief moment during the pandemic when people on the internet were urging other people on the internet NOT to write about the pandemic?
I love this post for many reasons! 1) I was frustrated with the "too soon" comments all the way back to 9/11. Comedians were warned--but novelists, too--that one shouldn't write about such a tragedy and that no one wanted to hear about it yet. In the MFA where I taught similar warnings were given whenever a big political event or tragedy happened. Hogwash. 2) I've already forgotten so many everyday details of the pandemic (no doubt due to stress!) and I look forward to those novels and movies that remind us how it really was. 3) Thanks for the candor around Good as Gone, including titling issues and publisher expectations. Cheers to you and the motto-bearing name of this Substack!
And as to (1) and (2), YESSSS. I remember when Claire Messud's Emperor's Children came out in 2006, and it was absolutely slammed for depicting 9/11. As if everyone had agreed to tastefully ignore this global-historical event that completely changed the texture of reality. So strange.
Thanks Andromeda! I had an immediate guilt response to spilling about the industry stuff, but the thing is, if no one talks about it, no one ever knows. You know? Closed-door bitching sessions only benefit people already in the in-group. I went back and softened my language because honestly I don't feel as bitter about it as I came off--mostly I feel extremely lucky! But I'm at a point where I'm looking back and re-narrating what happened in order to steer myself where I want to go, and I feel like that's a useful thing to be candid about.
Hoo boy! I think so many of us are going through this right now! I just decided to start writing (and drawing) whatever the hell I want right here on Substack. As you say--if not now, when?
"I feel like a failure but I love everything I write." Same. Ohhh same.
It's....not the worst feeling?? Haha. Something amazing about knocking one's expectations aaaallll the way back down to zero.
I'm so excited to hear about what you're writing right now!
I love this post for many reasons! 1) I was frustrated with the "too soon" comments all the way back to 9/11. Comedians were warned--but novelists, too--that one shouldn't write about such a tragedy and that no one wanted to hear about it yet. In the MFA where I taught similar warnings were given whenever a big political event or tragedy happened. Hogwash. 2) I've already forgotten so many everyday details of the pandemic (no doubt due to stress!) and I look forward to those novels and movies that remind us how it really was. 3) Thanks for the candor around Good as Gone, including titling issues and publisher expectations. Cheers to you and the motto-bearing name of this Substack!
And as to (1) and (2), YESSSS. I remember when Claire Messud's Emperor's Children came out in 2006, and it was absolutely slammed for depicting 9/11. As if everyone had agreed to tastefully ignore this global-historical event that completely changed the texture of reality. So strange.
Thanks Andromeda! I had an immediate guilt response to spilling about the industry stuff, but the thing is, if no one talks about it, no one ever knows. You know? Closed-door bitching sessions only benefit people already in the in-group. I went back and softened my language because honestly I don't feel as bitter about it as I came off--mostly I feel extremely lucky! But I'm at a point where I'm looking back and re-narrating what happened in order to steer myself where I want to go, and I feel like that's a useful thing to be candid about.
Hoo boy! I think so many of us are going through this right now! I just decided to start writing (and drawing) whatever the hell I want right here on Substack. As you say--if not now, when?
I think the pandemic has had that effect on so many of us. Subscribed!