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Why do writers write? Because it isn't there.
I didn't know who Thomas Berger was until I read up about him.
He wrote Little Big Man. How many of you remember, or saw, the movie with Dustin Hoffman? That was way back in 1970... an age ago.
Berger died last year at 89. I don't remember reading or hearing anything about his passing. But then, maybe that's how he would have wanted it, as he was a recluse and satirist.
I think his response to the age old question of why writers write, is spot on.
Go forth then and write what isn't there. Don't let yourself be bound to genre, or style, or what (heaven's forbid!) is currently popular. Certainly James Joyce wasn't thinking about ease of reading when he wrote Ulysses. As he said, he "put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant," which would earn the novel "immortality".
So there. Go ahead and be enigmatic if you want. Write what isn't there.
I do remember that movie. And love that quote.
ReplyDeleteI remember the movie, but did not know about the book (too many people say this).
ReplyDeleteHe sounds like he was a wise man and writer.
I can write what isn't there but doubt it will be immortal.
ReplyDeleteWhat great and profound advice. I love the idea of keeping 'everyone' guessing about what I might mean with my stories. I always hope they will be entertaining, but if they also induce others to really think and discuss my ideas/plots/story lines all the better.
ReplyDeleteAs yes, immortality. that would be nice for my me, but for me personally, not so much.
We are creating something out of nothing.
ReplyDeleteWe can write it however we want. It's the ultimate act of creativity.
ReplyDeleteBish, now that's a great line! And I remember the movie Little Big Man with Dustin Hoffman from many years agi.
ReplyDeleteStephen Tremp
IWSG Co-host
And there is so much that isn't written yet. Just ask the monkeys in the room with the typewriters.
ReplyDeleteWhich brings up another good point. If you have enough monkeys and give them enough time that eventually they will type out the complete works of Charles Dickens. It stands to reason they will also publish a few that are almost person. For example just one word wrong.
It was the best of times it was the snerf of times.