Is it true that the literary world is mined with hatred, a battlefield rimmed with snipers where jealousies and rivalries are always being played out? asked the NPR interviewer of the distinguished author. Who allowed that it was. There's a lot of envy and enmity, the author said. And he tried to explain: It's like a sinking raft that too many people are trying to get onto. So any push you can deliver makes the raft a little higher for you.If reading really does increase empathy, as we are constantly being told that it does, it appears that writing takes some away.
The NPR interviewer questioned a renowned author about the competitive and hostile nature of the literary world, suggesting it resembles a battlefield filled with jealousy and rivalry. The author agreed, likening the literary scene to a crowded raft where individuals push others off to elevate their own position. This metaphor illustrates the intense competition among writers, where envy and conflict often arise as they struggle for recognition and success.
This dynamic raises an interesting contradiction regarding the impact of reading and writing on empathy. While reading is often praised for fostering empathy, the author suggests that the act of writing may diminish it. This tension highlights a complex relationship between creativity and competition in the literary community, where collaboration might be overshadowed by the desire for individual success.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
