A minor writer is a writer who sees the literary landscape for what it is: one where, at the end of the day, talent and interest win out, but those winnings are oftentimes fickle and/or delayed.
"It’s being able to accept and exist within a largely invisible proficiency." That is a powerful line in an important piece. I have encouraged other writers to see and understand the scale in which we all work for many years, and I'm glad to see more people urging the same honesty. Thank you, Jeff! (And Jeff: you might like What Is Philosophy? by Deleuze & Guattari. In it, iirc, they expand on their notion of "minor" artists and fields and it's fascinating and affirming stuff.)
I'm still earning out my advance on my second collection (lol an advance on a poetry book) though according to this piece it would reside in the "wildly successful" category. Still, so many of my sales have come from in-person copies I've hand-sold at readings; those are not accounted for anywhere (maybe I should keep better notes) and are thus a part of some kind of shadow success?? Even though it's specifically those sales that feel the MOST connected to me. It really is a weird world (of success metrics). Happily minor in any case.
The BookScan deep dive is the most clarifying and devastating thing I've read about literary ambition in years. 319 copies. The bow-tie pita chip polyamorist with "indie lit fame." The way it strips away every delusion without being cruel about it, just honest. "Existing inside this day after day, published poem after poem... year upon year, decade after decade." That's the whole terrifying beautiful thing about choosing this life, isn't it.
how very distressing! but astute and valuable; reality check always (grudgingly) welcome. and a new follow for zona motel—as well as an eager future reader of the original essay in what will be a purchased copy of the forthcoming book.
"It’s being able to accept and exist within a largely invisible proficiency." That is a powerful line in an important piece. I have encouraged other writers to see and understand the scale in which we all work for many years, and I'm glad to see more people urging the same honesty. Thank you, Jeff! (And Jeff: you might like What Is Philosophy? by Deleuze & Guattari. In it, iirc, they expand on their notion of "minor" artists and fields and it's fascinating and affirming stuff.)
FYI to anyone reading this, there's a whole ass Other Ppl podcast episode about this essay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVV5ecmsh7s
I'm still earning out my advance on my second collection (lol an advance on a poetry book) though according to this piece it would reside in the "wildly successful" category. Still, so many of my sales have come from in-person copies I've hand-sold at readings; those are not accounted for anywhere (maybe I should keep better notes) and are thus a part of some kind of shadow success?? Even though it's specifically those sales that feel the MOST connected to me. It really is a weird world (of success metrics). Happily minor in any case.
Great read! Love this look behind the curtain of the world of minor writers. Well done.
The BookScan deep dive is the most clarifying and devastating thing I've read about literary ambition in years. 319 copies. The bow-tie pita chip polyamorist with "indie lit fame." The way it strips away every delusion without being cruel about it, just honest. "Existing inside this day after day, published poem after poem... year upon year, decade after decade." That's the whole terrifying beautiful thing about choosing this life, isn't it.
how very distressing! but astute and valuable; reality check always (grudgingly) welcome. and a new follow for zona motel—as well as an eager future reader of the original essay in what will be a purchased copy of the forthcoming book.