Dear Boice,
We have had a long and, at times, difficult courtship over the past couple of months. I know I dallied a bit with that brazen fellow, Mr. Elbow, but I always returned to you. You're my core, sir. The wind beneath my wings.
Now I find that you are also giving me advice, not only on navigating the oft fetid world of writing, but you are something of a counselor as well. Perhaps I am still being taken in by those old ideas, that writers write with all their emotions at the forefront, pouring out of them like they are the kitchen tap onto the page in some blathering mess of joy, or heartache, or monotheism. And, then, of course, they revise when they're feeling dry of the emotions, with a critical eye, else you're stuck with that horrible mess that is Kerouac's entire career.
So, of course, I want to push against you, Robert (mind if I call you Robert? I feel we are on a first name basis now. You may call me Ray-ray) when you say that we should moderate our negative thinking. I understand, in my brain-core, that writing on high emotions is often as productive as watching daytime soaps (did you catch Days of Our Lives? I think Stefano has kidnapped Marlena AGAIN! When will he learn that kidnapping is not a viable form of courtship) and ultimately you are right, as you often end up being right, because I have read the essays from my students with their over-drive passions and it is often terrible. Perhaps that is what makes a writer, both passion and style. Can we harness their emotions into something beautiful on the page? Can I make them think optimistically about a subject they feel negatively for and manage to teach them to make it come off as genuine, as opposed to lookie-here-I-am-just-trying-to-get-this-assignment-done.
But oh, depression and writing do go hand in hand. It's why if I was slightly better at anything else (like waitressing at Hooters) I would jump on such an occupation as soon as I could, as I whimsically imagine it might make me happier in some duller, vague way. But will it? Will it, Bobby? No, you're right. It won't. Sigh.
Keep in touch, darling.
Yours,
Ray-Ray.
I would agree with your speculation that both passion and style are required for good writing. Without passion, nobody cares about the writing, but without style, nobody understands it. Your comment reminded me of a criticism often made about the "Metaphysical" poets of the 17th c. One characteristic of these poets is the "conceit," meaning some idea or set of ideas that's pursued throughout the poem. (For instance, Donne's idea of a pair of lovers being like a compass. Cute.) I feel like I'm lecturing... But the point is, I absolutely believe that passion and cognition can go hand in hand, and in fact passion can accelerate thought instead of impeding it. What if the emotion of Love could actually make a person smart ?? (I feel like people assume that love makes you dumb.) The critic Grierson praised the Metaphysical poets for the "peculiar blend of passion and thought, feeling and ratiocination which is their greatest achievement." Something to aim for...
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