Let me pitch a secret third thing lol: literary rejections can also be collected as some sort of utilitarian practice--building up (then maintaining) the finger calluses 'required' to play guitar without pain. They don't have to signify anything we want or don't want them to.
Hm actually another use might be as 'echolocation' to feel out 'the literary landscape' and one's place within it. Getting nothing but acceptances...that feels gross to me. My compass would get wonky so fast.
I invented this hypothetical in my head a while ago, about if I could get a book published, but it would have to be under a pseudonym and nobody would ever know it was me and I myself would never get credit, would I still be happy? For those writers who can say yes, they're in the best place mentally because it's all about the work. It's not about wanting to be popular (at last!) or validated or any of the scene-related things that Freddie deBoer wrote about in his piece, "The Party's Over."
When I grow up I hope to be smart enough to properly understanding this essay. Always compelling to read your work regardless of how much I feel like I understand (more, each time). Thank you for writing Terry <3
Let me pitch a secret third thing lol: literary rejections can also be collected as some sort of utilitarian practice--building up (then maintaining) the finger calluses 'required' to play guitar without pain. They don't have to signify anything we want or don't want them to.
Hm actually another use might be as 'echolocation' to feel out 'the literary landscape' and one's place within it. Getting nothing but acceptances...that feels gross to me. My compass would get wonky so fast.
That Gary Indiana book sounds very interesting. Will put it on my to-read list, thanks.
Coincidentally, I just read this other Substack piece that comments on some writers who are still sad yet having achieved some monumental careerist goals (novel published, gotten big advance, etc.): https://theleftovers.substack.com/p/the-sadness-of-the-published-author?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
I guess the chase never ends.
I invented this hypothetical in my head a while ago, about if I could get a book published, but it would have to be under a pseudonym and nobody would ever know it was me and I myself would never get credit, would I still be happy? For those writers who can say yes, they're in the best place mentally because it's all about the work. It's not about wanting to be popular (at last!) or validated or any of the scene-related things that Freddie deBoer wrote about in his piece, "The Party's Over."
When I grow up I hope to be smart enough to properly understanding this essay. Always compelling to read your work regardless of how much I feel like I understand (more, each time). Thank you for writing Terry <3
I'm hearing very good things about Tony's new book. Easily my favorite contemporary Asian-American male novelist working right now.