Re: intelligence of the author vs. intelligence of the characters

People who get MFA's and aren't great writers should be shot for the
slackers they really are, right? In fact, if I read Scottie
correctly, if you write and you aren't great, you're a jerk. (For
those who don't know, Scottie claimed to have written several novels
and certainly readers of his screens have learned to enjoy his words
and see his style as a writer.)

I think writing can be a way of life and to suggest that the meaning
of that life is determined by the greatness of what is written
touches on the concern about underwear expressed by Cecilia. I see
things differently. Writers for me aren't their words. Sure what you
write is important, but it isn't everything. I've come to think
writing is meditation and knowing in some of the best ways that life
and language allow. I believe everyone has at least one great poem or
story in them and working to find it is a worthy pursuit. If not
found, the work with words will still sharpen most lives. The process
of writing without the ego of achievement is what really matters most
to me, though I don't deny wanting to publish words that are better
and better, will

PS: Yes, I received my MFA in l976 from the U of Montana. I studied
with Richard Hugo. I would defend the degree in general as a way to
find time to write and work with other writers. The fact that people
use coffee houses or other circumstances to find the same thing is
groovy too.

-- 
	Will Hochman
Associate Professor of English
Southern Connecticut State University
501 Crescent St, New Haven, CT 06515
203 392 5024
http://www.southernct.edu/~hochman/willz.html
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