Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Boxers, Briefs and Books
That's the headline introducing a Sunday column in the New York Times penned by novelist and former Oxford resident John Grisham. Read it and opine here. What are your impressions (type your own reaction in no less than three sentences)? What can budding student journalists take away from his words? Your response here is due by the start of class Friday, 10 Sept.
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It was very interesting seeing this side of John Grisham! Although somewhat disheartening, his LONG journey to writing shows that everyone has to start somewhere. Grisham reaffirms that journalism can be a hit or miss field, that one may have to stick with his or her day job while trying to make it as a writer. I believe young journalists have to be equally optimistic and realistic about their career decisions, balancing perseverance and the harsh truths of the world of print (especially in comparison with broadcast). I assume most won't have to deal with fences or asphalt, but we all have to remain open-minded going into this business!
ReplyDeleteThis op-ed piece is captivating in typical John Grisham fashion. From his alliterative title "Boxers, Briefs, and Books" to his repetition of the phrase "I shall never mention it again in writing," Grisham commands the attention of his audience from the get go. His short anecdotes about the jobs that led him to his successful career are not only humorous and entertaining, but they show the hard work it took to get him there. I especially thought it was interesting how his stories from the Mississippi legislature inspired him and how the idea for "A Time to Kill" was born. I also think it is significant that he was compelled to just start writing on a legal pad...and how this book, which is one of my favorite movies of all time, was not successful at first. This just goes to show that hard work can get you anywhere, and that the best way to become a writer is to just start writing (whether it is on a legal pad, an iPad, or the back of a cocktail napkin)!
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