Despite the commercial market, writers exist — God bless ’em — who pen only what intellect, passion, and stubborn conscience demand. Writers with a stubborn conscience are at once the most arrogant and humble of people. Arrogant because they are constrained to adhere to an excellence which is by its very nature elitist; humble because, adhering to excellence, they are often derided or looked upon with suspicion, if not downright hostility. In most cases, writers of literary conscience earn far less than writers of mass-market work. Excellence can be a lonely and impecunious place in which to dwell. But would you choose to dwell elsewhere? Continue reading “On Writing” →