Distinguished Fiction Writer
I've always wondered why the only people allowed to teach creative writing are writers.
I think programs would be well advised to hire an occasional editor.
An editor knows how to "work with" a writer; from what I gather, workshops focus on what doesn't work and don't help much in going forward with a script, with identifying what needs to be done. And how that might be accomplished.
So, when I saw that NYU was soliciting applications for a Distinguished Fiction Writer in Residence, I applied.
Unfortunately, I was beaten out by Jonathan Lethem.
Who, in the mid-eighties when he worked at Moe's Books in Berkeley, used to send me stories. I asked him to shorten one, which he did, but I failed to buy it.
Meanwhile, NYU has hired Zadie Smith as Professor of Creative Writing.
I think programs would be well advised to hire an occasional editor.
An editor knows how to "work with" a writer; from what I gather, workshops focus on what doesn't work and don't help much in going forward with a script, with identifying what needs to be done. And how that might be accomplished.
So, when I saw that NYU was soliciting applications for a Distinguished Fiction Writer in Residence, I applied.
Unfortunately, I was beaten out by Jonathan Lethem.
Who, in the mid-eighties when he worked at Moe's Books in Berkeley, used to send me stories. I asked him to shorten one, which he did, but I failed to buy it.
Meanwhile, NYU has hired Zadie Smith as Professor of Creative Writing.
posted by ZYZZYVA at 9:22 AM
1 Comments:
Great idea. However one parses out the complicated collaboration between Lish and Carver, for example, it speaks to the potential of inspired editing. An editor brings an eye to a manuscript that is very different from that of even the best re-writer.
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