Comments on: THE EDITOR’S DESK: Live From Book Expo America

By: merritt lander

merritt lander — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:30:17 +0000

stephen-

i saw you last night at booksmith (if you care to recall, i’m the girl that came late, in the twirly white dress), and i’m tearing through the Diaries today. i like it so much that i decided to search you out online, found that you actually edit the rumpus, and ended up at this essay, which made me very happy at 9:22 on this wednesday morning.

the line that most resonated referred to attempting to “live very, very cheaply and promise yourself never to be jealous of your neighbors,” which is a policy that i aspire to but of which i generally fall short.

there’s a great quote in Of Human Bondage, which says, “I pity with all my heart the artist, whether he writes or paints, who is entirely dependent for subsistence upon his art.” It seems that to be entirely able to write at one’s best, one would do well to have a source of income independent from creative endeavor. either that, or be willing to go hungry on occasion.

thank you for what you’ve written. well said, sir, well said.

By: judith coughlin

judith coughlin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:55:54 +0000

Holy crapamoly. Your had me. You lost me. You got me back. What a ride! Great article.

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:52:24 +0000

Thanks for stating the obvious but oft-forgotten fact that most people working on a first (or second, or third) book tend to do something else for money, and that this does not signify that there’s something wrong with the world.

Also, my friends and I had an absolute blast at the big fat party. Throw another one soon.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:47:42 +0000

Perfect, Stephen. It’s what many of us need to hear from time to time.

By: Tom Verkozen

Tom Verkozen — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:34:51 +0000

Steve,
Your rant on literature as opposed to vampire novels and other kid lit phenom struck a chord [However, I'm thrilled at the myriad new readers who went to bookstores in search of Harry P's magic]…

I don’t care [twice in the same paragraph] [I do love what Rumpus adds to the landscape]. I don’t believe [twice in that same same paragraph] [I'm clear for myself that money energy is not evil and that artists may thrive].

I confuse you with a nod to F. Scott Fitzgerald [who wrote for money][who gave us marvelous art] [in the same breath] I thank you for your contribution to our wacky world. May you make ‘enough’ money to afford breakfast in bed.

Tomas Verkozen

By: Jonny Ross

Jonny Ross — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:39:38 +0000

I like what your saying mostly. The first part at least. The thing about “writers of literary books” being uneffected by the downward curve of publishing seems elitist. Also, I’m not sure what is meant by the sentence “You have to be young first, all the way until the end.” It seems to be saying we’re young until we’re old — but “until the end”? We’re young until we’re dead? And as for Kerouac keeping his looks even after all the benny and boozing — have you see pictures of Kerouac circa 1964, sweating endlessly and pale and bloated like a beluga whale? A very sad sight indeed, and the complete opposite of the romantic image of the self-destructive writer that the article puts forth.

By: Stephen Elliott

Stephen Elliott — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:47:02 +0000

Thanks!

By: Gideon

Gideon — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:29:18 +0000

This was great, Steve.

By: Tonia

Tonia — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:55:41 +0000

Great essay!

By: Chellis

Chellis — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:53:37 +0000

Wow, Steve, you don’t know how much I needed to read this essay this morning. You’re one of the rare exceptions in this literary community that stays positive despite the market, and I would categorize you as that guy who lives very, very cheaply and tries not to get jealous of his neighbors. Although, I don’t know how you do it. If I lived next to you, I would be that jealous neighbor, although maybe I wouldn’t, because we’d hang out more and you’d be a positive influence in my life. Nonetheless, nice observations at BEA. New York was on my mind this weekend.