"But the snarling artist in me says fuck you all and the responsible adult says I hear you and the little girl cries don’t leave me and the shameless teenager has her finger on the files deleted and the god in me says wait."
I’ve often thought as a writer you hold that line fairly, and gracefully without self importance or self pity and without judgement on the characters concerned. It’s a great skill and is particularly evident in ‘A perfect explanation’ . I look forward to your Substacks everyday and love your writing.
I enjoyed reading your ideas immensely. It reminded me of the epitaph on the tomb of the author Nikos Kazantzakis:
“I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free.”
What also comes to mind is the idea of journalistic freedom and integrity, as espoused by CP Scott, editor of the Manchester Guardian, in a 1921 editorial; ‘Comment is free, but facts are sacred’.
You will know which lines are boundaries to be crossed or respected. The tension between the two is what makes communication so deliciously unpredictable.
Shutting up. Never been my forte and there it is. The day I can’t air my truth or lose people for having an opinion is a sad and sorry day. Yet it happens! We must. Keep. On. Doing. It
What an enormous statement, "there are times in this process when getting something off my chest becomes more important than protecting the privacy of others."
"But the snarling artist in me says fuck you all and the responsible adult says I hear you and the little girl cries don’t leave me and the shameless teenager has her finger on the files deleted and the god in me says wait."
Well, that pretty much encompasses it.
👍🏻
Also - is this about the line of Art? Or where the line where Art intersects with Memoir/Journalism/Documentary?
I’m not sure I know the answer to that. I’m going to think about it.
🤔
It’s the memoir/journalism/documentary line
I’ve often thought as a writer you hold that line fairly, and gracefully without self importance or self pity and without judgement on the characters concerned. It’s a great skill and is particularly evident in ‘A perfect explanation’ . I look forward to your Substacks everyday and love your writing.
Thank you my darling xxx
I enjoyed reading your ideas immensely. It reminded me of the epitaph on the tomb of the author Nikos Kazantzakis:
“I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free.”
What also comes to mind is the idea of journalistic freedom and integrity, as espoused by CP Scott, editor of the Manchester Guardian, in a 1921 editorial; ‘Comment is free, but facts are sacred’.
You will know which lines are boundaries to be crossed or respected. The tension between the two is what makes communication so deliciously unpredictable.
Yes to all of this. And thanks.
Shutting up. Never been my forte and there it is. The day I can’t air my truth or lose people for having an opinion is a sad and sorry day. Yet it happens! We must. Keep. On. Doing. It
Fantastic! You are amazing. You are free and it is glorious.
Thanks so much Steve !
What an enormous statement, "there are times in this process when getting something off my chest becomes more important than protecting the privacy of others."
Yes, and this is a constant conversation in this field of memoir & autobiography. Where is the line? What gets priority? It’s tricky.
I can imagine. I hide behind fiction a lot.
The Cheap Ticket of Gratuitous Beans is the great lost Frank Zappa album
Hahaha funny funny
Gratuitous beans 🫘
😂🙂❤️🫘