The agony and the ecstasy
"All of the Mornings of the World" (1991) was about the complicated relationship between Marin Marais, a viol player who lived during the reign of King Louis XIV, and Jean de Sainte-Colombe, his mentor. Grief drove both musicians to seek solace in their craft, even perfecting their skills. The audience would wonder if artists must go to the abyss in able to find their artistic genius. There were scant historical records that would tell the lives of Marais and Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe, but screenwriters Alain Corneau and Pascal Quignard depicted a pretty accurate portrayal of the two musicians. And writers could relate to them.
Robert Cohen and Jay Parini published "The Writers' Reader", where the duo collected the thoughts of 33 writers. If you would be an English major student, then you must be warned against reading the compilation in one reading. You might consider changing courses after you're done with it. Cohen and Parini weren't discouraging aspiring novelists. They won't make college students feel guilty about attending parties between studying and beating deadlines.
Charles Baxter felt like he fell into several intellectual and spiritual and emotional abysses after experiencing several rejections, but some students could find solace in cans of beer. Binge eating would be another option, but it may be better if they consult a doctor (and find out if they are insulin resistant or not). Baxter and company were so generous and honest, prompting some budding writers to wonder if a desk job might be better for their health (and sanity). It won't be different from the life of a professional athlete, where you must learn to love the pain. Could writing be a masochistic endeavor? Perhaps. Could a written work be a rewarding experience? No doubt about it. After all, recognition would be music to a writer's ears. It may be more than enough for many writers.
Perceptive students could relate to "The Writers' Reader", even identify with the writers that Cohen and Parini interviewed in their compilation. These would be their ten signs:
- Sleepless nights after receiving their marked essay. They never thought it would be that low
- A moment of self-pity, with roommates who would try their best to lend a sympathetic ear
- Long walks, which could make them think of other things. Otherwise, it may be the cold air that will distract them
- Binge drinking with new friends. It can also be mid-week boozing
- Surfing the Internet for hours, which could lead to an accumulation of useless information. (Not one fact will be good enough to support your argument on your essay.) It might make you wonder if you could be good enough for "Jeopardy"
- Oversleeping
- Playing your favorite songs (from iTunes) over and over again (until you're ready to deal with your next assignment)
- YouTube (or Netflix)
- A brief moment of self-doubt, if not beating yourself hard. It's all in your head. You're thinking of consulting with your tutor (and ask him/her if you're good enough for this program)
- Attending a party
Don't feel bad. This will be the beginning of a memorable journey.
