Seriously, folks: if you are among the many many people who are now seriously outraged by Neil Gaiman’s comments that you have to go to Clarion if you want to be a “real writer,” on the basis of his supposed “privilege,” then you need to get your sense of humor checked and your ability to identify hyperbole installed.
When Gaiman said that, he bloody well expected you to understand that he was engaging in overstatement, for effect. He bloody well knows, better than most people, that you don’t have to go to Clarion to be a real writer, if for no other reason than because he didn’t go to Clarion, knows many accomplished writers that didn’t go to Clarion, and grew up reading writers who never went to Clarion. Gaiman trusted you to apply your common sense to a little affectionate exaggeration on his part, to understand that he’s just praising an enterprise he respects. You completely failed that test, allowing your dedication to a principle to make you a blind indiscriminate scold.
It is absolutely true that you need a sense of outrage to get through this world, but if it must be on a hair-trigger, then you absolutely need to modulate that hair-trigger so that when it goes off it does not go off for stupid goddamned unexamined reasons. Take a deep breath, think about what making controversy over inane trivialities does to the plausibility of any rational stand you support, and stop being such a tiresome asshole.
Comment By: Rex Reese
January 15th, 2016 at 3:17 pm
This is true in my case. I owe somebody an apology at least once a day, every day.
Comment By: Brent Collins
January 15th, 2016 at 3:17 pm
I’m astounded at this reaction, but then, it’s been a hard week for us freaks & geeks.
Comment By: Andi Malala Shechter
January 15th, 2016 at 3:17 pm
Oh dear.
Comment By: Saje Williams
January 15th, 2016 at 4:18 pm
Writers learn by writing and reading. There’s no educational shortcut to becoming a writer. In my opinion, it’s pretty simple. You either are or you’re not. If you can’t help but write–if ideas force themselves out of you on a regular basis, screaming at you to put them down in some way or another using language, you are a writer.
If you stop writing for any real length of time and feel no urge to continue the practice, you’re not a writer.
People say “I wanted to be a writer, but…” I’m not sure it’s a choice. It wasn’t for me. Once I decided I wanted to write, I couldn’t stop if my life depended on it. Hell, I can’t even stop myself from doing it for free on FB.
I had no idea this was even an issue. I would have snorted, knowing that it’s not the case and anyone with an erg of wit to share is equally aware of it.
Comment By: Alison Spencer
January 15th, 2016 at 5:18 pm
I admit I am one of those wannabe people…I think I can write and then realize I have a few ideas and no talent.
Comment By: Christopher Daley
January 15th, 2016 at 5:18 pm
Outrage nation is the name of my Rage Against The Machine cover band.
Comment By: Anthony Pryor
January 15th, 2016 at 7:17 pm
I’m not especially outraged by Gaiman’s comments — lots of people recommend attending Clarion. I guess what bothers me is that this experience is so out of reach to the average aspiring writer that all the hype and excitement about it really constitutes waving a steak in front of a starving man and telling him “You know, you really should eat this.” I find the advice well meaning but impractical, especially to those of us with jobs and families that we can’t afford to take time or money away from.
Comment By: Camille Lofters
January 15th, 2016 at 9:17 pm
Preach.
Comment By: Michael Harper
January 15th, 2016 at 10:18 pm
Clarion is a good thing, if, and only if, you can afford it. I know more than one established writer who went, so they could hone their skills and become a better writer, but it’s not a gotta. There are a lot of writers, including my kinda-girlfriend, who are published and getting their writing legs, who never went to Clarion. Neil himself said, “If you want to do something, find someone who does what you love, and who you want to be like, and do what they’d do.”
Comment By: Lawerence Hawkins
January 15th, 2016 at 11:20 pm
I’m sure Neil will be fine. Even remarkable writers say stupid things in the wrong medium. I’m far more concerned about poutbabies complaing “The outrage is coming for us” than any actual outrage.
Comment By: Camilla Cracchiolo
January 16th, 2016 at 12:18 am
The things people find to fight over……
Comment By: Elena Gaillard
January 16th, 2016 at 12:18 am
I know several Clarion graduates. One has finally published a wonderful novel. Another has published nothing. Attending a workshop like that is still no guarantee of writing success.
Comment By: Cheryl Holland
January 16th, 2016 at 4:17 am
And this is why I mostly stopped using Twitter.
Comment By: Robert
February 24th, 2016 at 11:39 pm
It is surprising how many people will read the statement “you NEED to do this” as suggesting that the reader needs to do the thing described.
Given the kvelling done over his “make good art” speech (which was delivered to an audience of art school graduates), I realize that Mr. Gaiman is given extraordinary latitude in his public statements. But it is clear to me that he was addressing certain people in his tweet, and not others.
Some of us have internalized the idea that, being creative people, we can call ourselves writers as long as we are actually writing, and artists as long as we are actually drawing. Kindly excuse us if we react badly to the bald assertion that this is not, in fact, the case.
Comment By: Adam-Troy Castro
March 1st, 2016 at 9:35 am
By all means, let’s have a world flensed of all possible hyperbole!