The Chronicle: Colloquy: Responses

Writing fiction and the fiction writer is a different task (and a wonderful buddy) from reading period literature (period). The reader and writer are pals, certainly, but opposing ones. Readers are theorists, and writers a structuralists. Writers are dripping in craft, their belts are heavy with tools, and their minds are twined with the threads of dreams. Writers are not up for interpretation so much as readers are game or "ready" to interpret their work. Writers desire to make their fiction (or poetry) accessible or they may wish their readers a kind of an escape.

There are two kinds of English majors, both as undergraduate and graduate students. There are those who write damn good fiction and those who read it (not for entertainment). Readers make superb lecturers, whereas writers make invaluable mentors to young writers who are forced to justify their place in the literary cannon.

: -- Gina Betcher, MFA candidate (posted 3/13, 2:50 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)

previous response

next response

JOIN THE DEBATE

STEP 1: Your contact information (required)

Your name:

Your title & institution:

Your phone:

Your e-mail address:

STEP 2: Your comments

STEP 3: Submit!

Be sure to include your name and affiliation. Legitimate requests for anonymity will be honored.

The Chronicle maintains Colloquy as an open forum where readers can comment on issues. Submissions may be condensed or edited for clarity, but editing is kept to a minimum. We correct errors in spelling, punctuation, etc. In addition, we remove statements that have the potential to be libelous or to slander someone. In cases in which people make claims that could be libelous, we will remove the names of institutions and departments. But in those cases, we will not alter the ideas contained in the submissions.

Please read our privacy policy or our Colloquy help page if you have questions.

Check this box only if you would like this submission to be considered for publication as a letter to the editor in the printed Chronicle.