This is wonderful! Robert Walser reminds me of the poet Lorine Niedecker, who spent decades working as a hospital janitor in Wisconsin while writing some of the most important American poetry of the mid-century. She finally got to give up janitorial work at age 60. Her poetry is so beautiful and sui generis, and clearly all her intellectual and creative energy went into her art. We are the richer for it, but her life sounds extraordinarily hard.
I am reminded of a statement by Melissa Febos who has written any number of books, all well-received, but who also works as a professor and insisted, in fact, that she was glad she didn't rely on her writing to be her primary means of making money because it reduced her desperation and made the work better as a result. It made me feel much better about finally taking a full-time job outside of the house after six years of a mix of freelancing and working regular jobs, but from home, which was much more stressful and left me feeling, as Febos described, vaguely desperate all the time.
“Yes, but seen from the outside it’s usually a journey from one defeat to another!” (Walser)
Oh man...I could relate. I've been there. I have had a career of avoiding careers, jumping from one menial task to another every 2-3 years. But when my wife decided to return to teaching (after our kids grew), thus stabilizing our income for the first time, I was able to embrace my double art life - music & wood working. Maybe I am one of the lucky ones?
Don't get discouraged, all! I interpret discouraging day jobs as a sign that your art is far more important than what you do to pay the bills at the moment.
Congratulations! I can't wait to read it and adapt bits of artists way to gain financial sustainability into my life; or at least relate to their painful experiences. Rest well!!
So excited for the new book! Congrats, can't wait! Edit: I just realized I left you a comment about the book back in 2021, that just shows I'm still as excited though.
I did not know about these two. This book sounds right up my street. I’m going to try and get a copy. Also, well done on finishing your book, Mason. Congratulations
Do you know *Greene on Capri*, Shirley Hazzard's account of befriending Graham Greene when both frequented Capri? It's a delightfully episodic book about the life of a great writer, written by another great writer.
Congratulations, Mason! I'm so impressed (and thankful) that you managed to write anything for us today! I must admit, I haven't read Walser--but if you (& Benjamin!) read him, I definitely will.
Aside from a stiff martini, I'm curious: how do you relax/recover after a big writing push? I ask because I've never figured this out!
Congratulations indeed! Loved this review--adding the book to my TBR pile. Interesting that the challenge of living a creative life (to the creative, lol) is so universal yet seemingly singular at the same time.
This is wonderful! Robert Walser reminds me of the poet Lorine Niedecker, who spent decades working as a hospital janitor in Wisconsin while writing some of the most important American poetry of the mid-century. She finally got to give up janitorial work at age 60. Her poetry is so beautiful and sui generis, and clearly all her intellectual and creative energy went into her art. We are the richer for it, but her life sounds extraordinarily hard.
Here is one poem:
Remember my little granite pail?
The handle of it was blue.
Think what's got away in my life—
Was enough to carry me thru.
I am reminded of a statement by Melissa Febos who has written any number of books, all well-received, but who also works as a professor and insisted, in fact, that she was glad she didn't rely on her writing to be her primary means of making money because it reduced her desperation and made the work better as a result. It made me feel much better about finally taking a full-time job outside of the house after six years of a mix of freelancing and working regular jobs, but from home, which was much more stressful and left me feeling, as Febos described, vaguely desperate all the time.
“Yes, but seen from the outside it’s usually a journey from one defeat to another!” (Walser)
Oh man...I could relate. I've been there. I have had a career of avoiding careers, jumping from one menial task to another every 2-3 years. But when my wife decided to return to teaching (after our kids grew), thus stabilizing our income for the first time, I was able to embrace my double art life - music & wood working. Maybe I am one of the lucky ones?
Don't get discouraged, all! I interpret discouraging day jobs as a sign that your art is far more important than what you do to pay the bills at the moment.
Congratulations, Mason! What a huge step.
Congratulations Mason!!! Woot woot!
Congratulations! I can't wait to read it and adapt bits of artists way to gain financial sustainability into my life; or at least relate to their painful experiences. Rest well!!
Congrats on turning in your book draft!!! What a feat! I hope you're letting it sink in and applauding yourself on something so few can do.
So excited for the new book! Congrats, can't wait! Edit: I just realized I left you a comment about the book back in 2021, that just shows I'm still as excited though.
I did not know about these two. This book sounds right up my street. I’m going to try and get a copy. Also, well done on finishing your book, Mason. Congratulations
Do you know *Greene on Capri*, Shirley Hazzard's account of befriending Graham Greene when both frequented Capri? It's a delightfully episodic book about the life of a great writer, written by another great writer.
Rest up 🧡
Enjoyed as always and yay! A new book!
Congratulations, Mason! I'm so impressed (and thankful) that you managed to write anything for us today! I must admit, I haven't read Walser--but if you (& Benjamin!) read him, I definitely will.
Aside from a stiff martini, I'm curious: how do you relax/recover after a big writing push? I ask because I've never figured this out!
Yay Mason! Congrats! I can’t wait to read your new book.
Bravo on your book draft! I have loved Walser’s short stories for years—thank you for boosting his writing and reminding me he also wrote novels!
Congratulations indeed! Loved this review--adding the book to my TBR pile. Interesting that the challenge of living a creative life (to the creative, lol) is so universal yet seemingly singular at the same time.