“One
of the disconcerting things about writing for publication is that you're trying
to clear your little parcel of land in a field where Taste is king - and, as we
all know, there's no accounting for Taste.” – Darin Strauss
Born on this date in
1970, Strauss has handled writing's “taste” test just fine, earning a
number of major awards and a Guggenheim Fellowship for “exceptional creative
ability in the arts.”
A native of Long
Island, he studied writing at Tufts University and then headed west, starting
out as “Entertainment” reporter for the Aspen
Times. After struggling on a $50
per article rate, he decided to “head home,” as it were. “I thought, 'I'll come back to New York.’ I
worked for the Aspen Times when I lived
in Aspen. I'll work for the New York
Times when I live in New York.' It didn't work out that way.”
Instead, he became a best-selling
author. His first book, Chang & Eng, won a basketful
of awards, and his second, The Real McCoy, earned him the
Guggenheim. His poignant Half A Life won numerous major awards
and “must read” citations and the National Book Critics Circle
Award. A frequent guest speaker, he
also teaches writing at New York University where he advises his students
to avoid excessive scene setting and “get into the story.”
What will engage your readers? Trust me when I
tell you that few people are eager to read a story whose opening lines sound
like a dissertation on giant bugs.”
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