Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Not Abandoned

I seem to have abandoned my blog. Partly that is because I spend my “good” morning time working on my column. Last week I agreed to write one every week instead of every other week as I had said at first I would do. So far three of them have been published: one about the high price of art, the second on poetry as being more popular in a local context and the third on the getting together of the francophone and anglophone arts communities. I have had positive feedback on them. Two of the people commenting wanted something out of me, however, so I had to take their compliments with a grain of salt. One wanted me to help her get her novel published, and the other wanted me to read the novel she is writing. I no longer read manuscripts except by those whose work I have read and commented on for years. It is hard work and not too rewarding.

I am enjoying the journalism, though, because it gives me something that I must concentrate on and a deadline that makes me do that: a few minutes when I am not contemplating our troubles. I am probably qualified to write this column. I have been involved with the literary community here for 40 years, and I have written about arts and crafts for 25 years so know both scenes well. I get family members to edit for me. I consult with friends. My next column will be my first controversial one. When I was first asked to write, the editor (since replaced) said I should be controversial, “edgy.” I am not naturally an “edgy” journalist, but in this case I feel passionately about the subject. I wrote my first damning review last fall. I got the proofs two weeks ago and realized again that it was very different from what I usually write. Ordinarily I give back books that I don’t like at all. I would rather explicate books than merely review them. I am getting to be a crotchety old lady.

6 comments:

Zhoen said...

Well, as long as you are writing...

So glad to hear this.

Peter said...

Book reviewing seems to bring out a monster in me, one who breathes fire at unnecessary typos, and sloppy or non-existent editing. I can well understand the "damning review"--it is the ultimate expression of disappointment, and the harshest possible sigh of longing for what might have been.

Mr Murray said...

I was born a 'crotchety old lady.'

S. Kearney said...

I'm sure you will write what is true! Crotchety. I love that word. I love reading your posts here, so please don't forget us! Can we read your column online somewhere? :)

Nancy Ruth said...

No, Shameless, the Telegraph Journal requires you to be a subscriber to read their paper. That seems strange. If you are a subscriber, you don't need to read it online. If you go away and have your paper stopped, they don't let you read it online.

Anonymous said...

This post made me laugh and gave me a goal -- to achieve crotchety old ladyhood.