"H" Is For Hard

[cbertsch]

The piece I'm writing is making me enormously anxious. Even though I know it's likely that my subject will find fault with much of it, I still want him to like it. At the same time, though, it won't be worth anything unless I put my own stamp on it. I guess that's what makes this kind of journalism so hard. I keep thinking about how happy Dennis Cooper was to be writing a profile for Spin on Bob Mould, only to end up pissing him off despite the best of intentions. Being a fan isn't enough. In the end, I have to stand up for my own perspective regardless of the consequences. I just wish that I could once and for all renounce the dream of pleasing everyone. That's a shortcut to madness.

Comments

[cbertsch.livejournal.com]

Yes. That's a helpful book, I think. Odd in places, but still helpful. As I think I said in class, it's almost more helpful when it's flawed.

You can't really try to please your reader, though. I mean, the same need to stand up for yourself applies. Who wants to read a pushover? I worry that I'm a pushover. I sound like Woody Allen. . .