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Award Winning author, journalist and humorist, Burton H. Wolfe is Interviewed
By Bookpleasures (about the author)
Become a Fan -- Page 4 of 5 page(s)
Terminology is being used in such a horrendously inaccurate manner that it amounts to nothing less than a form of brainwashing of the kind that George Orwell (Eric Blair) predicted in his definition of "newspeak" in 1984: words used in such a standard and commanding manner that they can have no meaning other than that which is provided by Big Brother and its cooperating media.
For example, the media universally refers to genocidal maniacs using themselves as weapons to kill and maim en masse as "suicide bombers." That leaves them in the realm of martyrs for their cause. But "suicide" is an act of taking one's own life, not an act of using oneself as a weapon to kill everyone who does not believe in an imam's version of Islam.
There is another depressing way in which journalism in the U.S. today has deteriorated, become insipid: we have lost character writers such as Bierce, Mencken, Art Hoppe, Charles McCabe, Artemus Ward, Finely Peter Dunne (Mr. Dooley), Don Marquis (Archy and Mehitabel), or (however cornball) Will Rogers. There are no longer any flamboyant character writers in the newspapers, no longer any writers with guts. The only place you can find them is on the internet. I have a long essay about this on my web log, Wolfebites, http://burtonhwolfe.blogspot.com.
Norm:
What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while putting together your dictionary? How did you overcome these challenges?
Burton:
The major challenges were to keep going in the face of rejection and to keep from allowing myself to slip from satire into tirades against all the cant and hypocrisy which exist. Belief in the value of my book made me determined to find a way to get it into print. My sense of humor, my ability to laugh at the foibles which can otherwise be depressing, rerouted me away from definitions that would emerge as tirades, kept me on the satire road. I was laughing all the way at what I wrote, and thus enjoying myself.
Norm:
What's your advice to achieve success as a writer?
Burton:
Apply your butt to a seat in front of a typewriter or computer, or stand up with either machine mounted on a bookcase ala Ernest Hemingway who did that because of back problems, or lie down on a sofa and scribble on lined legal pads ala Truman Capote - but whichever method you choose, make sure you get to it part of each day or night, do not procrastinate, do not make excuses for not writing.
Even if you run into what is euphemistically called "writer's block," get into the writing position you have chosen and do nothing else for two or three hours, until you will write something out of sheer boredom from doing nothing at all. Either believe in the worth of your work or choose some other vocation or avocation.
Believing in it, send it out and keeping submitting it no matter how many rejections you get - unless you decide to self-publish. And forget about the supposed stigma against self-publishing. Some of the most renowned writers in the history of American literature began by self-publishing, and not just individuals identified as writers. Statesmen did so. Benjamin Franklin's essays were self-published. And promote yourself, brag about yourself, pester anyone and everyone you can think of to pay attention to you. Follow the dictum of the longtime head of the coalminers' union, John L. Lewis: "He who tooteth not his own horn, it shall not be tooted."
Norm:
In the last few years or so have you seen any changes in the way publishers publish and/or distribute books? Are there any emerging trends developing?
Burton:
Become a Fan -- Page 4 of 5 page(s)
For example, the media universally refers to genocidal maniacs using themselves as weapons to kill and maim en masse as "suicide bombers." That leaves them in the realm of martyrs for their cause. But "suicide" is an act of taking one's own life, not an act of using oneself as a weapon to kill everyone who does not believe in an imam's version of Islam.
There is another depressing way in which journalism in the U.S. today has deteriorated, become insipid: we have lost character writers such as Bierce, Mencken, Art Hoppe, Charles McCabe, Artemus Ward, Finely Peter Dunne (Mr. Dooley), Don Marquis (Archy and Mehitabel), or (however cornball) Will Rogers. There are no longer any flamboyant character writers in the newspapers, no longer any writers with guts. The only place you can find them is on the internet. I have a long essay about this on my web log, Wolfebites, http://burtonhwolfe.blogspot.com.
Norm:
What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while putting together your dictionary? How did you overcome these challenges?
Burton:
The major challenges were to keep going in the face of rejection and to keep from allowing myself to slip from satire into tirades against all the cant and hypocrisy which exist. Belief in the value of my book made me determined to find a way to get it into print. My sense of humor, my ability to laugh at the foibles which can otherwise be depressing, rerouted me away from definitions that would emerge as tirades, kept me on the satire road. I was laughing all the way at what I wrote, and thus enjoying myself.
Norm:
What's your advice to achieve success as a writer?
Burton:
Apply your butt to a seat in front of a typewriter or computer, or stand up with either machine mounted on a bookcase ala Ernest Hemingway who did that because of back problems, or lie down on a sofa and scribble on lined legal pads ala Truman Capote - but whichever method you choose, make sure you get to it part of each day or night, do not procrastinate, do not make excuses for not writing.
Even if you run into what is euphemistically called "writer's block," get into the writing position you have chosen and do nothing else for two or three hours, until you will write something out of sheer boredom from doing nothing at all. Either believe in the worth of your work or choose some other vocation or avocation.
Believing in it, send it out and keeping submitting it no matter how many rejections you get - unless you decide to self-publish. And forget about the supposed stigma against self-publishing. Some of the most renowned writers in the history of American literature began by self-publishing, and not just individuals identified as writers. Statesmen did so. Benjamin Franklin's essays were self-published. And promote yourself, brag about yourself, pester anyone and everyone you can think of to pay attention to you. Follow the dictum of the longtime head of the coalminers' union, John L. Lewis: "He who tooteth not his own horn, it shall not be tooted."
Norm:
In the last few years or so have you seen any changes in the way publishers publish and/or distribute books? Are there any emerging trends developing?
Burton:
http://www.bookpleasures.com
Norm Goldman is the Editor of the book reviewing and author interviewing site, bookpleasures.com. He is also the Editor of the travel site, sketchandtravel.com, where his artist wife, Lily and Norm meld words with art focusing on romantic (more...)
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