“Writing is a serious business and not for any stray bastard that wants to try it.” -- Lancelot Clokey, in Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead, Part III, ch.6 –
I suppose the quote was referring to writing that self-consciously wants to compete with what has been considered 'great writing'..or else writing that expects to attain commercial success?
But what about writing that just wants to allow the soul to breathe?
Yeah, I should have mentioned that the quote itself is coming from a very disreputable character in Rand's The Fountainhead. In other words, Lancelot Clokey was assuming that he is the one that should be doing the writing, and other people should leave it alone. By placing this quote here, I was by no means advocating the sentiment that only certain [really good] writers should write. If such were the case then I myself would have to stop doing all of my own writing. I think that EVERYONE should engage in "writing that just wants to allow the soul to breathe." -- Cip
Yeah..but alas I suspect that Lancelot Chokey's views are fairly common..
Anyway, I wonder who decides what great writing is? Is it a standard of 'quality' (decreed upon by whom?), or is it decided by popularity, which Makes Dan Brown therefore great?
Its complex..I suppose it may depend on what you are trying to achieve and do with your writing. Language as a tool, as Wittgenstein says.
“Writing is a serious business and not for any stray bastard
This quote makes me want to start to write right now: I want therefore I can.
ReplyDeleteAnd then we will see who's the b------!
And then there is the parody version...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jeffcomp.com/faq/parody/
May, I will be looking for your new release, on the shelves of Chapters!
ReplyDeleteI suppose the quote was referring to writing that self-consciously wants to compete with what has been considered 'great writing'..or else writing that expects to attain commercial success?
ReplyDeleteBut what about writing that just wants to allow the soul to breathe?
Yeah, I should have mentioned that the quote itself is coming from a very disreputable character in Rand's The Fountainhead.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, Lancelot Clokey was assuming that he is the one that should be doing the writing, and other people should leave it alone.
By placing this quote here, I was by no means advocating the sentiment that only certain [really good] writers should write. If such were the case then I myself would have to stop doing all of my own writing.
I think that EVERYONE should engage in "writing that just wants to allow the soul to breathe."
-- Cip
Cip, I did not say that I felt like writing...perhaps just half a page.
ReplyDeleteYeah..but alas I suspect that Lancelot Chokey's views are fairly common..
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I wonder who decides what great writing is? Is it a standard of 'quality' (decreed upon by whom?), or is it decided by popularity, which Makes Dan Brown therefore great?
Its complex..I suppose it may depend on what you are trying to achieve and do with your writing. Language as a tool, as Wittgenstein says.