I am reading The Vivisector, by Patrick White. I wonder if this book would ever have been published in today’s environment? What with Show not Tell, punchy starts, sex, violence and Celebrity – darling, don’t ya think Patrick would have remained in the slush pile for ever?
His language is wonderful though, poetry in observation. He makes me look at the world differently, think about humanity, ponder the differences between poetry and prose. I come alive in his characters and through them see my own life a little clearer. Isn’t that what (fictional) writing is all about?
On this same theme I received a rejection from an agent. “…this is less a criticism of your work than a comment on the dire state of publishing at present, where it is becoming increasingly difficult to place fiction with a decreasing number of good editors.”
That may well be true, it still hurts though.