On Stage
Dear Linda:
I read your post this morning, We’ve Got Some Real Mean People Here by Linda Caroll
Two thoughts: When you focus on the small end of the binoculars, it only narrows your vision and it won’t remove the asshole at the other end. I happen to believe — on better days — being on stage takes a certain staunchness to block out the cretins who always seem to sit in the front row, so your real audience can enjoy the show.
An editor writing for BookBaby — who I never met except by email yet greatly admired — held a suspicion that all men are untrustworthy, despite my trying to convince her otherwise. Though times when we stretched toward the plane where we were both caught in the fascination of strong writing, it seemed effortless.
I’ve written of her several times since she died — which is crushing to remember. What isn’t was her fierce determination to grasp everything there is about writing —her passion remains out ahead of me.
Dawn put me on track to rip apart a finished (so I believed) 700+ page novel to find a better one, and I own her. Dawn Fields, PHD.
In a different context, to quote King, “I may not get there with you,” but still hope to one day.
Happy winter solstice, et al. — keep writing, and thank you.
Bill
PS — The photo is classic; I’ve used it several times, with kudos to Jason Rosewell. That’s me — or it easily could be. Love that earnest expression.
