Re: writing/publishing
Scottie Bowman (rbowman@indigo.ie)
Sun, 19 Sep 1999 13:22:06 +0100
The ignominy of Sarah Kane's end has certainly been
'communicated' to a the world at large now - medical
confidentiality being evidently a thing of the past in
Tony Blair's brave new National Health Service.
But more generally, is it really true that 'writing' (other
than 'send more money', 'see you tomorrow night')
is essentially communication? I think publication at least
is more about exhibitionism than anything else.
We all want money, most want praise & many wish
to leave an imprint on another's mind. I'm less sure
there's such an urgent desire share intimate bits of oneself
with other than those one loves.
The only people in Australia I wish to communicate
with are Lesley & Camille - for the simple reason that
I now know something about them & they have begun
to assume in my mind the lineaments of real human beings
whose fate concerns me, however marginally. But for
the rest of the Ozzies, Canucks, Yanks, Paddies, or whatever,
I'll be quite content if they buy all my books, point out
my photograph in the papers & assure their friends that
I'm probably the best damned writer now putting English
word to paper.
In my own coarse, solipsistic way, that will be enough.
Scottie B.