Having read a most (all?) of Vonnegut's novels, I'm not convinced he put into practice his last piece of writing advice. Either that, or I wouldn't have been the right person to replace what the cockroaches ate.
I still have a letter from Vonnegut, framed and hanging in my living room. He sent it when I successfully defended keeping “Breakfast of Champions” in our high school library. A lifetime ago—when I was a teacher.
Having read a most (all?) of Vonnegut's novels, I'm not convinced he put into practice his last piece of writing advice. Either that, or I wouldn't have been the right person to replace what the cockroaches ate.
ReplyDeleteJim, I was just thinking the same thing. And as a writer, I agree with all but that last bit of advice too.
ReplyDeleteVonnegut was a fascinating man. Great advice, all but the last...wonder if he had his tongue firmly in his cheek when he wrote that one.
ReplyDeleteNo cockroaches and nothing except slivers of backstory for me.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling Vonnegut saw the ending of his stories so clearly that it never occurred to him that the reader might not.
ReplyDeleteI still have a letter from Vonnegut, framed and hanging in my living room. He sent it when I successfully defended keeping “Breakfast of Champions” in our high school library. A lifetime ago—when I was a teacher.
ReplyDeleteGreat points... though I think the cockroaches usually eat most authors' works before they get to his last point.
ReplyDelete