So how is it my Dick Allen notes from Wright State were in an Indiana University 3-subject divider book? Or that it ended with apparently Nashville [Indiana] observations? Did we visit campus first? Not that I remember! Or was it a gift from someone? Now I must wonder about my first sight of the campus.
A gift from Fay, I suppose. No, I rather assume now. She had, after all, gone off to school at Purdue in another corner of the Hoosier state. Besides, she had a devilish sense of humor and could have given me one of those instead. The two schools were Big Ten rivals, after all.
My notes included advice on five-paragraph examination-essay model and counsel to use the prof’s keywords in it.
Symbolic logic notes, too, which I no longer understand yet still admire.
Every sentence is either true or false.
Of the 1,750 dailies in U.S. in 1967, 75% had circulations of less than 25,000; 30% of readers bought the paper for sports.
Women as accessories: disposable.
When sex doesn’t deliver the goods?
Essayists must write from minority viewpoint.
Self-doubt: YOU WRITE FROM YOUR GUT.
WRITER SHOULD HAVE AN OPINION, RIGHT OR WRONG.
[what a contrast to neutral, objective journalist!]
“You can never write a perfect sentence. The perfect sentence does not exist. If you spent all your time trying to perfect your writing, you’d never publish.”
Bev Strampher: “I’m getting sick and tired of reading about all these neurotic people with weird hang-ups who do nothing but fight and argue.”
What kind of effect to I want? Who is my ideal reader and how will I hit him? (Him? It’s HER! Maybe Nicki was my ideal reader, at least with my Indiana Daily Student newspaper column.)
BECOME AN AUTHORITY … so I have, Quaker!
Build career on chain of interests.
Writers are NOT discovered … it’s politics.
Journalism not conducive to good writing/reading, does not know what to do with art writing; love of words is taken away from readers; most people are not asked to become involved.
Writers are sex-obsessed (sez our prof).
Writer should have an opinion, right or wrong.
Few professors are intellectuals.
Allen: “In 20 years, you will be better than Tom Wolfe. … You’ll be wasting your time in newspaper work.”
Transitions are artificial.
Forbidden subjects are usually the funniest: sex, politics, religion.
INSTANT HISTORY.
My ballpoint-pen ink bleeding through the pages.
[Incinerated]
~*~
From Spiralbound Years with commentary from now.
Jnana's Red Barn 