Comments on: Writer-Readers Vs. Reader-Readers

By: Ben White

Ben White — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:28:30 +0000

I agree with literally everything you just said Robert.

I do think reader-readers are willing to be challenged so long as they know so going in and know that they’re not wasting their time (which usually means have the thumbs up from some respected third party). There’s so little free time in our culture and so many ways to spend it, people are hesitant to be too intrepid.

By: Robert Swartwood

Robert Swartwood — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:53:10 +0000

Loving it so far, Brian. I have about 80 pages left, and I find myself split between rushing straight through it to the end and taking my time so I can savor it as long as possible. I have to agree with the one blurb on the book: the book is its own universe.

By: Brian Crawford

Brian Crawford — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:54:42 +0000

Speaking of reader-readers, how are you liking Bel Canto? There are very few books where, when I get to the last page and have to put it down, I feel like somebody died. BC was one of them.

By: Harry Markov

Harry Markov — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:17:49 +0000

Thanks. Other people tell me the same, but it’s part of the quest as far as the short story aspect of the post, which I didn’t address at all, I’d have to say that novels have stuck as main reading material for readers-readers, because who doesn’t like to hold a big book and get that brainy aura and because for some time it’s been a trend to read more.

People read novels, usually big names and titles, so that they can state they are in the loop, they are erudite and such. I am not sure where this comes from as an opinion, but my sixth sense is telling me that. Plus, reader-readers would think a short story to be short and unsubstantial compared to a novel. Like saying you read a fairy tale. I hope I am not doing over-generalizations, but the cynyc in me sees the consumer attitude towards novels rather than individuality.

By: Aaron Polson

Aaron Polson — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:03:54 +0000

True (about readers-readers). Reading is reading, after all, and most high school graduates (close to 60% from the last numbers I saw) never pick up another book after school.

Don’t give up on Goat Bell. You’ll make it, some day.

By: Robert Swartwood

Robert Swartwood — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:32:02 +0000

Harry — as a non-English speaker, you certainly express yourself well in English, so I wouldn’t be too worried

Aaron — I’ve given up on the Goat Bell’s Quarterly. They never have anything positive to say in their rejections. Also, I think it’s important not to dismiss reader-readers completely as not wanting to be challenged. They just like to be challenged in different ways.

By: Aaron Polson

Aaron Polson — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:06:47 +0000

After the initial whammy of “what, no one reads the goat’s bell quarterly?”, I felt liberated. The first step involved getting anything published…and now, I’m free to write the best story I can.

I agree that the short form is the realm of the writer-readers. I’ve always enjoyed shorts…writers can afford more poetic turns of phrase, more experimentation (because face it, the audience isn’t going to be that big even if the story is amazing). The writer-readers like to be challenged, and that in itself is invigorating. If one person reads and feels challenged by something I’ve written, the story was successful.

By: Harry Markov

Harry Markov — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:25:23 +0000

I can understand where this post comes from. I have been sharing the frustrations, although I have added some additional to these in regards to being published. Being a writer involves a different kind of misery that should earn a new word to wholly encompass. Through writing we achieve a certain power that liberates us from the mundane. We create worlds, characters, stories and in that regard we are small gods and it’s a great rush to recreate life and fool readers with the illusion. To me this is what pulls us in. We write for ourselves and yet we write for the others, if that makes sense at all. We are fulfilled and purposeful, when we create and yet we can be shot down quite easily, when we are not read or the feedback and readers’ opinions are unfavorable. Fragile ego and all. In this case I think that we as a species have to retain this naive mindset that we will be read in order to enter this cycle of self doubt and frustrations.

I know, it’s off topic, but felt appropriate to mention and Tracy did mention most of what I wanted to mention. When it comes to reader-readers and writer-readers I have a special kind of fear that what I write alien in nature. As a non-English speaker, but writing in English I have developed a phobia that my prose will be unsellable. That adds a new element to the whole writing for one self, but also seeking a certain kind of validation from other people that what we do is good and relevant.

By: Robert Swartwood

Robert Swartwood — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:11:40 +0000

No, of course it’s okay! I like it when people leave in-depth comments. Creates a good dialogue. The longer the better.

By: Tracy Lucas

Tracy Lucas — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:07:37 +0000

Ack… sorry for being a comment space hog!

(Is that bad form?)

I’m used to notebooks, and they’re cheap and refillable…