Hey Sari, Happy people don't write ugly responses. Not that we're happy all the time. Of course we're not. But we have a tolerance and a curiosity that makes us want to know what life is like for others - to expand our own appreciation of Life, not to pass judgment. Oldster and your writing are gifts. 🌟 ⭐️ 🌟 ⭐️ 🌟
Sari, you have hit yet another home run! It's World Series time, so the metaphor leaps to mind. (Btw, I am EAGER for the Canadian team to win, just to piss off Mad Lord Yam!) The defense of personal essay/memoir is about as eloquent as it could be. And I had to chuckle about the DON'T READ THEM part. Sometimes, when someone in the comments section below an article says "I am so tired of reading her," I think, well, why the hell do you keep doing it, then?
The week before Jerry Garcia died, I'd assigned a longtime reporter/acquaintance of his to do the Playboy interview with him. We were so excited to hear that oral history. And then, the obit. the same thing happened when I assigned a writer to do the Playboy interview with Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss). There's a lesson in there, but I was too young to learn it, in my Playboy days. Now we can look to memoir, and the personal essay, and illustrated confessionals, to tell our tales.
I have created, edited and promoted various personal essay columns at various publications (and helped many emerging writers get their starts in that format) and yet it's always a battle. at Rolling Stone I tried to create a space for personal essay and creative nonfiction (a magazine that once changed the shape of reporting amd how to tell a cool story) and was told we don't need to privilege more navel gazing. the struggle is real!
Funnily, earlier this month I decided it was time to dust off an old essay, revamp it here for Substack because I, too, had read something about memoirs as vanity projects. 🙄
I called it "Beyond the bellybutton: debunking memoir myths & why your story matters" 🙂
Thanks for being awesome, and Happy Halloween from Cambodia! 👻🎃💀
If you called it “creative nonfiction,” some people would be happier. Or maybe something like “true autofiction.” You know, if they had a creative nonfiction track in MFA programs in the early 1970s, some of us would have chosen that instead of fiction or poetry.
Oh, now I read the Dirt piece and feel stupid because they don’t like creative nonfiction. I think that attitude forces good writers like Emily Gould, whom I like very much, to feel that they have to publish a novel to win respect from people like that. But sometimes I read a novel like, say, Tao Lin’s “Leave Society,” and I think it would be better as nonfiction instead of autofiction. Weren’t books like that once called a roman a clef, a novel with a key? I guess you can avoid defamation suits that way.
Yes, plausible deniability. Emily is a friend—and a great writer. I found the dirt piece unfocused and unpersuasive. I’m not sure what it was trying to say…?
I love this quote that was in Diane Keaton's NY Times' obituary:
“Getting older hasn’t made me wiser,” she told People magazine, with a typically self-critical eye, in 2019, insisting cheerfully, “I don’t know anything, and I haven’t learned.”
I'm with you on personal essays and memoirs. For me, especially personal essays. Challenging but I have this illusion that if I write one well enough there will be an impact.
Thank you for defending all of us essay authors, Sari! As a new humor author (The Blunder Years: A Boyhood Memoir; Amazon) my greatest thrill has been pouring through reviews from dozens of readers who said my stories of childhood misadventures and heartwarming experiences sparked their own long-forgotten memories—their awkward first kiss, getting busted for borrowing” the family car on a joy ride with friends, the devastating loss of a close college friend. I’d be happy to share it with you. Go to PhilCaragol.com and email me. Thank you for your Substack, from one Oldster to another!
First, I love how much you love what you love…and I love how passionately and eloquently you declaim that love!
I believe it’s our passion for things that elevate our humanity, clearly and compellingly stated and pursued, that will ultimately save the world if it can be saved.
Also, in the 2 degrees category, my consulting company, Proteus, started working with MTV networks in 1994, as well. If you felt old at 29, just imagine how I felt at 42! Fortunately, I got to work with the “old folks” (Freston, Gerry Laybourne, Judy McGrath, Doug Herzog) who were all around my age, so it was less of a culture shock. 😏
And here’s my brilliant recommendation for people who don’t enjoy personal essays and memoirs: Just don’t read them. Maybe that will leave you less inclined to shit on them. Think of all the time that will save you. Well said, Sari. I greatly enjoy memoirs and personal essays so that's what I mostly read, too. And, there are other types of writings that I do not like...so...I just don't read them...but I don't trash them either.
But sometimes stories can change the world. Community organizers have found that listening to people's stories is an excellent way to start involving people and finding out what the area's problems are. And political organizers have found that going door-to-door for a candidate is more productive if you ask people to tell you what's bothering them, and listening to their stories.
I TOTALLY thought personal essays could change the world. Well, maybe not, but you said it perfectly. They can open hearts!
<3
Hey Sari, Happy people don't write ugly responses. Not that we're happy all the time. Of course we're not. But we have a tolerance and a curiosity that makes us want to know what life is like for others - to expand our own appreciation of Life, not to pass judgment. Oldster and your writing are gifts. 🌟 ⭐️ 🌟 ⭐️ 🌟
Awww, thank you Jean. I believe this is true!
Sari, you have hit yet another home run! It's World Series time, so the metaphor leaps to mind. (Btw, I am EAGER for the Canadian team to win, just to piss off Mad Lord Yam!) The defense of personal essay/memoir is about as eloquent as it could be. And I had to chuckle about the DON'T READ THEM part. Sometimes, when someone in the comments section below an article says "I am so tired of reading her," I think, well, why the hell do you keep doing it, then?
Well said, Sydney! And happy World Series to you. May the best team win. (I have no dog in that fight.)
The week before Jerry Garcia died, I'd assigned a longtime reporter/acquaintance of his to do the Playboy interview with him. We were so excited to hear that oral history. And then, the obit. the same thing happened when I assigned a writer to do the Playboy interview with Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss). There's a lesson in there, but I was too young to learn it, in my Playboy days. Now we can look to memoir, and the personal essay, and illustrated confessionals, to tell our tales.
Oh, wow.
I have created, edited and promoted various personal essay columns at various publications (and helped many emerging writers get their starts in that format) and yet it's always a battle. at Rolling Stone I tried to create a space for personal essay and creative nonfiction (a magazine that once changed the shape of reporting amd how to tell a cool story) and was told we don't need to privilege more navel gazing. the struggle is real!
Wow! Thank you for letting me know about that. JFC.
Funnily, earlier this month I decided it was time to dust off an old essay, revamp it here for Substack because I, too, had read something about memoirs as vanity projects. 🙄
I called it "Beyond the bellybutton: debunking memoir myths & why your story matters" 🙂
Thanks for being awesome, and Happy Halloween from Cambodia! 👻🎃💀
Nice. Thank you! Safe travels.
If you called it “creative nonfiction,” some people would be happier. Or maybe something like “true autofiction.” You know, if they had a creative nonfiction track in MFA programs in the early 1970s, some of us would have chosen that instead of fiction or poetry.
Oh, now I read the Dirt piece and feel stupid because they don’t like creative nonfiction. I think that attitude forces good writers like Emily Gould, whom I like very much, to feel that they have to publish a novel to win respect from people like that. But sometimes I read a novel like, say, Tao Lin’s “Leave Society,” and I think it would be better as nonfiction instead of autofiction. Weren’t books like that once called a roman a clef, a novel with a key? I guess you can avoid defamation suits that way.
novels are the only format to tell "truth"? that was a surprising statement to read in that Dirt scribble
Honestly, I found that piece incoherent!
Yes, plausible deniability. Emily is a friend—and a great writer. I found the dirt piece unfocused and unpersuasive. I’m not sure what it was trying to say…?
“True autofiction” made me lol.
I love this quote that was in Diane Keaton's NY Times' obituary:
“Getting older hasn’t made me wiser,” she told People magazine, with a typically self-critical eye, in 2019, insisting cheerfully, “I don’t know anything, and I haven’t learned.”
Ha! I love it. Thanks for sharing that with me.
I'm with you on personal essays and memoirs. For me, especially personal essays. Challenging but I have this illusion that if I write one well enough there will be an impact.
Loved seeing you and Mom. Glad she's ok.
Thanks, Nancy! PS I don’t think it’s just an illusion!
Precious photo of you and your mom "times two." These visits are going to get more and more precious.
Thank you for defending all of us essay authors, Sari! As a new humor author (The Blunder Years: A Boyhood Memoir; Amazon) my greatest thrill has been pouring through reviews from dozens of readers who said my stories of childhood misadventures and heartwarming experiences sparked their own long-forgotten memories—their awkward first kiss, getting busted for borrowing” the family car on a joy ride with friends, the devastating loss of a close college friend. I’d be happy to share it with you. Go to PhilCaragol.com and email me. Thank you for your Substack, from one Oldster to another!
Thanks, Phil! I’ll drop you a line.
Great! Ok to email a pdf of the manuscript or ebook file? Whatever’s best for you.
I’ll private message you.
First, I love how much you love what you love…and I love how passionately and eloquently you declaim that love!
I believe it’s our passion for things that elevate our humanity, clearly and compellingly stated and pursued, that will ultimately save the world if it can be saved.
Also, in the 2 degrees category, my consulting company, Proteus, started working with MTV networks in 1994, as well. If you felt old at 29, just imagine how I felt at 42! Fortunately, I got to work with the “old folks” (Freston, Gerry Laybourne, Judy McGrath, Doug Herzog) who were all around my age, so it was less of a culture shock. 😏
Small world! And thank you. <3
😘👍🏼
Viva the personnel essay!
<3
What beautiful/?terrible? Sharing and essays. Thank you for commenting on this and other excellent literature.
Glad you enjoyed that, Rhea.
And here’s my brilliant recommendation for people who don’t enjoy personal essays and memoirs: Just don’t read them. Maybe that will leave you less inclined to shit on them. Think of all the time that will save you. Well said, Sari. I greatly enjoy memoirs and personal essays so that's what I mostly read, too. And, there are other types of writings that I do not like...so...I just don't read them...but I don't trash them either.
Bingo.
But sometimes stories can change the world. Community organizers have found that listening to people's stories is an excellent way to start involving people and finding out what the area's problems are. And political organizers have found that going door-to-door for a candidate is more productive if you ask people to tell you what's bothering them, and listening to their stories.
Yes, definitely.