Thanks for highlighting the James Baldwin passage. I'm going to borrow it for an upcoming piece, with hat tip, of course. Selectively quoting Baldwin has been a tool of the modern antiracism movement. All three heads of Woke Cerberus use the opinions of fiction writers rather than evidence-based reality to sustain their doctrine. Even when creative writers scribble nonfiction, it's not the same as peer-reviewed scientific or historiographic papers, but in an era when opinions and emotions supersede fact... you know the rest. Cheers!
Just subscribed to your stack. Looks intriguing. Love your 45 books list! I should do a list like this. I recommended your stack. Mind doing the same with mine? Recs really help :)
I'm thinking about it. We can only recommend five Substacks (or only five can be seen), but yours' is becoming one of my five favorites, so I'll probably do it.
Yes, I've read it twice over the years. And everything else he wrote. Have really put in every effort to fully appreciate him. and I totally respect that you do. But I gotta admit my enduring response to Brothers K. Several hundred pages of psychospiritual darkness for a few pages of light is not a good enough ratio for me -- not a high enough payoff.
“MFA can’t give you experience. Experience is key for a writer and must be real, existential, and out of your control.”
I’m always baffled by the kids who go straight from school into writing programs. All they’re really doing is repackaging the work of previous writers. Soon, AI will do it better. Bring something authentic to the table!
Ditto: I was accepted into the SF State MFA in writing program back in 2013 (I’d gone back to school in my thirties and finally got my BA in creative writing), but at the last second I decided against more school. Most of the literary masters didn’t need it. Why did I?
A great format to share your reflections along with those of others--all of the entries like a bunch of jazz musicians running into each other in a bar and improvising. It's hard for many poets to get past a lot of Bukowksi's attitudes, especially toward women, and sometimes his macho posturing is almost cartoonish, but he was an authentic voice in American poetry. He wrote a lot of weak poems because he wrote so much, but the best of Bukowksi is worth it. Very rarely do people mention how his humor and ability undermine American grand narratives is rare in a literary culture where writers fear being canceled. Also, Bukowski could make fun of himself, which is a necessary if you want to attack others.
I have slept exactly 2 hours. It is 3:31 am and I just finished reading this piece. I find that your writing forces me to pause and absorb. Reread. Absorb some more. Your neurotic mind has a way with words. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for highlighting the James Baldwin passage. I'm going to borrow it for an upcoming piece, with hat tip, of course. Selectively quoting Baldwin has been a tool of the modern antiracism movement. All three heads of Woke Cerberus use the opinions of fiction writers rather than evidence-based reality to sustain their doctrine. Even when creative writers scribble nonfiction, it's not the same as peer-reviewed scientific or historiographic papers, but in an era when opinions and emotions supersede fact... you know the rest. Cheers!
Lovely. Please do borrow it :) You’re absolutely right about Baldwin lines being taken out of context!!
The notes about the French writer you met. A little arrogant? Haha. I'd say more than a little.
Very. Glad you picked up on that ❤️
I really enjoyed your poem!
Thank you so much 🙏
Lots of nuggets this week, Michael. Thank you.
Just subscribed to your stack. Looks intriguing. Love your 45 books list! I should do a list like this. I recommended your stack. Mind doing the same with mine? Recs really help :)
I'm thinking about it. We can only recommend five Substacks (or only five can be seen), but yours' is becoming one of my five favorites, so I'll probably do it.
Awesome!!!! 🙏🙏
Thank you. Yes, your list would be quite interesting. A Dostoevsky novel at the top?
Oh yeah. Brothers K probably.
Yes, I've read it twice over the years. And everything else he wrote. Have really put in every effort to fully appreciate him. and I totally respect that you do. But I gotta admit my enduring response to Brothers K. Several hundred pages of psychospiritual darkness for a few pages of light is not a good enough ratio for me -- not a high enough payoff.
Thank you!!
I keep similar random notes :-) I liked this:
“MFA can’t give you experience. Experience is key for a writer and must be real, existential, and out of your control.”
I’m always baffled by the kids who go straight from school into writing programs. All they’re really doing is repackaging the work of previous writers. Soon, AI will do it better. Bring something authentic to the table!
Ditto: I was accepted into the SF State MFA in writing program back in 2013 (I’d gone back to school in my thirties and finally got my BA in creative writing), but at the last second I decided against more school. Most of the literary masters didn’t need it. Why did I?
Exactly :-)
What a rich cornucopia of contemplation, and an effective format for sharing the wealth.
Thank you!
A great format to share your reflections along with those of others--all of the entries like a bunch of jazz musicians running into each other in a bar and improvising. It's hard for many poets to get past a lot of Bukowksi's attitudes, especially toward women, and sometimes his macho posturing is almost cartoonish, but he was an authentic voice in American poetry. He wrote a lot of weak poems because he wrote so much, but the best of Bukowksi is worth it. Very rarely do people mention how his humor and ability undermine American grand narratives is rare in a literary culture where writers fear being canceled. Also, Bukowski could make fun of himself, which is a necessary if you want to attack others.
I agree wholeheartedly with your sound assessment of Buk. A sort of misogynist asshole literary genius.
Similar notes to self 🥲 writing always helps
Yes!!!! 🙏
I have slept exactly 2 hours. It is 3:31 am and I just finished reading this piece. I find that your writing forces me to pause and absorb. Reread. Absorb some more. Your neurotic mind has a way with words. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading! I was up late writing it :)