I wrote an essay last night
Like this — boom! And so it was written! But it would be an unpopular essay so I have to see if (should it prove worthy to be published) I could stomach the response. Then again I fixed the part that sounded more judgmental than I intended but it does have to be a little opinionated, of course.
More about “so what” in regards to this essay.
So I pretty much think that an essay that tells a story or simply entertains isn’t an essay I’m going to write. I just don’t have it in me. When I’m writing an essay I’m always writing to an imaginary reader and, not to be too precious, I’m writing in service to that imaginary reader.
It’s one thing to spout out loud here on my blog but anything I think would be worth sending in has to have a point. It has to offer opportunity somehow. It has to say, “This helped me, maybe it’ll help you.” Not that I’m setting myself up to be boss of the world, especially since my best work is hard and often humiliating to write. My “so what” answer always has to do with whether or not the reader gets more than entertainment out of it. On paper, I’m not so entertaining. (I hear I’m fun at parties but that’s just nerves making me giddy.)
God, I’m totally in avoidance mode over a job but I can’t spin this entry out any longer!
hey, i am reading Mirah Ribens “The Stork Market” and saw you quoted in there LOTS! I fee like I know a celebrity. Can I have your autograph?
: )
Why would essay be unpopular? Hmmn. Can I read?
I bought an old college textbook of essays at the Worthington Library in the Perpetual Book Sale. It’s called Nelson’s College Caravan Essays Model Materials and was published in 1936. I flipped it open at random and read the sweetest, most heart-breaking obituary ever. It was written by William Allen White, a famous journalist from Emporia Kansas, and the essay/obit was about his own daughter who died in the 1920s after a horse-back riding related accident. Then I went and looked him up on Google and found that he’s the author of the original “What Wrong with Kansas” AND that They Might Be Giants used his portrait a few times in some of their videos.
ANYWAY, there are some classic essays in the book.
Of course I am dying to read this essay.