Hemingway and Kerouac
Posted by Mark Shaw on January 27, 2009
As Jack Kerouac approached the publishing of his writings toward becoming a literary legend, he was a reader of many Ernest Hemingway books. Like Hemingway, Kerouac was influenced by others who provided sage advice as to the writing process. For Kerouac, one such man was Neil Cassady who once told Kerouac:
“I have always held that when one writes, one should forget all rules, literary styles, and other such pretensions as large words, lordly clauses and other phrases as such . . . Rather, I think one should write, as nearly as possible, as if he were the first person on earth and humbly and sincerely putting on paper that which he saw and experienced and loved and lost.”
While the aspiring writer must pay attention to writing rules-of-the-road, letting the words flow as Cassady describes means you are writing from the heart, from the soul with a clear message as to what you believe in. And remember, Hemingwaywantabes, every good story is a love story, whether it love gained or lost. Tell a good love story, and you have surely land a publisher for your book.
sandysays1 said
Great advice and I agree, but from what I’ve been able to see, the system as it currently exists legislates against this sage comment. Unfortunately, “emulation” not “communication” is king in today’s pubs. Hope I’m wrong, but….
Mark Shaw said
Good point, but distinctive, unique voices still rule.
Regardless, any examples you might give re “emulation” overshadowing “communication?”