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Weekly Wrap: We Don’t Like Boxes

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How’s this for warning? A day and a half ago, Bach-Boy finds out he’s been chosen to sing the National Anthem (along with 10 others) at the next Islanders game. (That’s hockey, Aurelio.) Luckily, we’re free Saturday night. Bach-Boy is psyched about being picked, then asks, “Which one’s the national anthem?” Guess we’re winging it.

If you happen to be at the game, look for me in the Pittsburgh Pens jersey and combat boots.

In other news, Wayne Yang has interviewed me over at his Eight Diagrams. This is Part 2 of an interview that began with, you guessed it, Part 1.

*

What a cool week, and I’m referring all the way back to last weekend’s riot that threatened to move from playful sand throwing to some serious whacking with shovels! I know it started off as a conversation (I’m using the term loosely) regarding the still emotionally-charged James Frey controversey, but by the end of it, as the conversation turned toward the true passion (okay, one could say rage) of those who commented, a few things were real clear:

-You don’t like people telling you what you ought to read!

-You don’t like people telling you what you ought to write!

I was reminded of people who fight over music. Think about a passionate opera fan and a passionate blues fan trying to tell each other why their music is better. There’s passion and loud voices all over the place, but it doesn’t change anyone’s taste. You’re just drawn to some things and not others. (I’m more in that opera camp, by the way.)

Now think of this ridiculous scenario for a minute. Say someone calls all opera singers and blues musicians to a meeting and says, “Listen up, guys. We know how to make your music better and we know how to make it sell. First, we want the opera singers to calm down a little. Maybe add more bridges and choruses. And please sing in English! Now, you blues folks, you need to lighten up a little. Sing about chipper things, and try having an orchestra back you up.” Stupid, right? Pretty soon, you’ve taken the personality, the very soul, out of the music. Can you imagine how ridiculous it would be if publishers and MFA professors and others did that to writers? And if we allowed that?

I loved the interview with Candice Night this week because she showed the joy and peace that comes with deciding to write and play the music that’s in her heart rather than trying to conform to any commercial precedent.

What happens if our out-of-the-box art doesn’t sell? It’s tough, but guess what? We keep creating, don’t we? All the rejection and the logic telling us to conform or quit can’t quiet our souls. You know what I mean?

*

Thanks to those of you who responded to my question of the week: Juliet, who self-published after tiring of all the close-call rejections; n.l, who started his own indie press, Noveltown, to give life to non-traditional writers; Aurelio, who calls his box “speculative satire,” both for its content and its public reception; Lauren, who says, “even when they put me in the box, I’m out of the box”; Carolyn, whose novel THE NEXUS is not historical, not paranormal, not romance, and not contemporary; Robin, who published her award-winning erotic comedy, THREE DAYS IN NEW YORK CITY, with an indie press rather than toning it down and reworking it into happy ending romance novel; Betsy, who was told her collections of short stories wouldn’t sell, but they did; Julie, who decided to publish her short story collection digitally with Pulp Bits in hopes of building leverage with traditional publishers; Patry, who has stopped worrying about labels and only concentrates on telling the best story she can tell; EminemsRevenge, who went with print-on-demand LuLu, and wonders if his recognition as a Black man writing like James Joyce will come posthumously; Sarah, who considers her writing well inside the box but aspires to one day be her very own category; Jordan, who’s heard too many times those dreaded words from editors ”“ that they love her book but don’t know how to market it; Marta, who literally keeps her writing in a box; Keith, whose books don’t fit neatly into the mystery genre, but his editor believes they’ll reach mystery readers anyway; and Noria, whose short story collection, described as “too weird” by several publishing houses, was selected as a Seventeen Magazine summer must-read, so who says publishers know what readers want?

Thanks again to all of you and to beautiful Candice of Blackmore’s Night. I’m sorry I didn’t run any photos of Candy playing soccer in her parka and pom-pom hat or Ritchie with his bandana and sexy, bare legs. Maybe another time.

Stop by tomorrow because Lance is here with a very special, award-winning guest!

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13 Comments
  • Lance Reynald
    October 20, 2006

    wow, we really did cover a lot of ground in a week…..

    as always; through ups and downs it was all great fun!

    thanks for building such a great park for us to play in!!

    xo-LR

  • Robin Slick
    October 20, 2006

    Susan, as always, thanks for an extremely fun-filled and interesting week.

    I totally enjoyed your music analogy of opera vs blues — it was dead-on and brilliant. (Really? You’re in the opera camp? Ha ha, not me, but I still love you and if I lived closer, I’d have you loving the blues in no time. Actually, better watch out…I’m liable to start bombarding you with MP3s of my favorites)

    We’re not watching hockey in this house right now (Flyers: 1-10) but oh my god, how exciting! Tell your son John Lennon’s Working Class Hero is our anthem.

    No, really, tell him it’s This Land is Your Land and then explain why that’s currently a crock.

    Ha.

    Have a great weekend.

    xo
    Rob

  • LaurenBaratz-Logsted
    October 20, 2006

    Congratulations to Bach Boy! (Maybe if he’d sung at the Mets game last night they’d have won!)

  • Aurelio
    October 20, 2006

    It’s hockey, huh? You mean The Islanders aren’t those guys who vote someone off if they can’t find the special hidden coconut or don’t “get along”? I’d really much rather picture Bach-boy singing the National Anthem in a snappy Hawaiian shirt and accompanied by Don Ho. Now THAT would be a performance!

    And as far as all the other stuff – corporations have different goals than we creative folks. If they can get us all in the same box then they only have to build one – it’s basic economics. Not much fun though.

    They keep all their goodies inside the box to make us all want to live there, but I’m happy to be one of the wild rats that chewed his way out. It’s a leaner but more rewarding life.

  • Sarah Roundell
    October 20, 2006

    Congratulations to Bach-Boy! And thank you once again Susan for another great week in the park, the fabulous interview with Candice, and a brilliant weekly wrap. Looking forward to Lance’s piece tomorrow.

  • Lori Oliva
    October 20, 2006

    Congrats, Bach-Boy! I’ll be thinking of you Saturday night and humming along.

    Lori

  • Carolyn Burns Bass
    October 20, 2006

    Susan said, What happens if our out-of-the-box art doesn’t sell? It’s tough, but guess what? We keep creating, don’t we?

    Amen, sister.

  • Susan Henderson
    October 20, 2006

    Lance – I kind of like a few ups and downs myself. Makes me put my hands in the air and say Wheee!

    Robin – Now don’t think I said I didn’t like the blues. But if it gets me free MP3’s from you, okay.(And, yeah, wouldn’t that be a great anthem?)

    Lauren – Well, I’ve been hearing B-B practice around the house for two days now, and I’m beginning to think this song may be out of his range. I have to keep bopping Green-Hand on the head for laughing at him.

    Aurelio – Ha! That’s great, you wild rat!

    Sarah – Thanks! And I’m glad you’ll be here to see who Lance is bringing to the park.

    Lori – I’ll be chewing my fingernails and hoping he doesn’t come off the ice crying.

    Carolyn – Ooh, high-fives!

  • n.l. belardes
    October 20, 2006

    I loved the Frey conversation. I have been re-reading parts. And I’m on page 178 of Futureproof…

    Cheap plug: I also write a trash talk hockey blog titled: Bobblehead on Condors.

    Hockey rules. Tell Bach-Boy to slide across the ice and take out the opposing team’s goalie. It’s opening night over here in Bakersfield for our local hockey team… -n.l.

  • Susan Henderson
    October 21, 2006

    Hey n.l., I hope you’re liking Futureproof. It’s absolutely raw and without filters. I loved it!

  • MOM
    October 22, 2006

    Please remind my beloved Bach-Boy that the anthem goes “bah-NER-er yet waves” and NOT (your grandma emphatically told me this) “ba-hah-NER-er.” MOM

  • Susan Henderson
    October 22, 2006

    They sang it the way you like, but typical of Bach-Boy, he felt he didn’t do well enough and was nearly in tears when he came back to his seat. : (

  • […] Brilliance * Our Mothers * Places that Capture Us * Our High School Days * Our Hidden Selves * We Don’t Like Boxes * Our Disguises * Our Obsessions * Pummeling Ourselves * Who Owns Our Truths? * Our Shared Trauma * […]

Susan Henderson