For a very long time I had believed (I have believed?) that there was some intrinsic value to language used well. An idea expressed clearly and well seemed more believable or persuasive or true or than one half-formed or blurted out incoherently. But this assumption of mine is only an assumption. It hasn’t been subject to cross-examination or logical analysis. I realize now that I’ve not tested it. (more…)
Over the last two weeks or so I’ve been busy with arranging some publicity efforts for an literary anthology I’m involved with. Something about publicizing writing seems to cause a near-allergic reaction in people who feel themselves to be artistes of one sort or another.
Yes, the business of drawing attention to something can often lack dignity. But without the attention, what hope does the art have of being appreciated? If a performance artist throws pig blood and Lego blocks in the forest and no one sees, is it art?
Maybe the question should be, “Is it art that communicates anything?”
[retrieved and republished 20 August 2009]
I’ve read rather a lot of short fiction lately. Three collections from individual authors and three anthologies from small presses in the UK. Given that I’m going to appear in one of those collections from a small press later this year, I ought to admit some self-interest in this field.
That aside, I’m a bit surprised at how variable the level of quality in anthologies can be. Is it that the sheer amount of effort required to go through umpteen stacks of submitted stories and then to chose those that most accurately represent, uh… well, sometimes I have no idea why some stories are selected for some anthologies. The notions of what marks one thing as being high quality and others as not good enough are more complex than I want to consider messing with here.
But just because a story is short doesn’t mean it can’t be good. If a meal doesn’t include soup, salad, three courses, dessert and coffee does that mean it’s okay to serve food that is old, flavorless or just leaves a bad taste in your mouth? What I’m trying to say is this: please do the short things well, too. Check the spelling and the grammar, make sure quotation marks are used consistently, and make an honest effort to take out the clichés.
Having said that, I suppose I should tighten up my own efforts too. Back to work, then.