March 22, 2004
The Hell of Being a Successful Writer
A new and eye-opening peice in Salon, on just what being a "mid-list" author is like. A good friend and former professor of mine falls squarely within this group, and as shameful as it is for me to admit it, the image of his small, graceless apartment, not to mention witnessing his repeated, desperate attempts to get teaching positions, went a long way to easing my turn away from ambitions of authorhood. Now, the only novels I seriously consider writing involve post-apocalyptic scenarios and wisecracking heroes who would make easily licensed action figures (hence the overpoetic breakdown of sci-fi plot mechanics above - I've been thinking about this stuff too much).
However, I'm not sure I can really agree with the bleak assesment that this situation is somehow a blow to the very foundations of civilization. There's nothing inherently holy about the literary novel as a means of cultural transmission. Its decline is not all that significant in the grand scheme, and I can personally entertain the possibility that it's opening up a space for critics and essayists like Chuck Klostermann and, well, me - but my increasingly vested interest on the other side of the equation doesn't make the story any less heartbreaking.
I read the article too--interesting, but not necessarily knockout writing. Hence her midlist status.
I don't think the conditions described by this article necessarily imply the impending death of the literary novel--just the necessity of hyping and whoring oneself (think of Eggers, Wallace, Oprah Book Clubies). That is, being the right kind of commodity and cultivating the right kind of relationships. Yet I think the open market system we have today, coupled with the system of literary prizes, actually opens up more possibilities for new authors than existed in the past. Nevertheless, luck and contacts still have a lot to do with it (as you can see from the article).
Also, I'm really not convinced literary writers are doomed to such a bad life. Of course, compared to popular writers they're not going to taste much wealth or success. If you don't take yourself too seriously and aren't consumed by egoism and/or commodity fetishísm, why can't you be happy as a modest writer or a teacher or journalist (if that's what you need to do). Being a creative writing teacher/writer is still a very privledged and highly autonomous worklife.
I suppose part of being a successful writer is being perpetually unsatisfied with what one does, hence the incessant bitching. I'm all for shooting for the moon, bit I think it's WAY unrealistic to want it all--to be a genunie artist, to have a big family, and accumulate lots of commodities. Usually, you can only choose one of these.
Authors are *supposed* to take themselves too seriously and be consumed by egoism, Scott. Do you think Faulkner or Eliot were humble, laid-back guys?
Aye, there's the rub. And it makes us hard for us proles to identify with their self-pity.
"Us"? Do not include me in your club of pathetic non-Writers.
John Bruce has some comments about this post up on his site here:
http://mthollywood.blogspot.com/2004_03_01_mthollywood_archive.html#108023060061264001