What your tale proves is that the sizzle is not inferior in merit to the steak but an integral part. Was there ever a novelist who thanked his alma mater for the time and means to complete his novel? Congratulations - you have elevated the sizzle not to parity with the steak but dispensed with the steak altogether - as Debord, I suspect, would have approved. Process is as creative as product - and as their invention of flanerie suggests, the French are its masters.
Thanks good sir. You've taught me well on the Parisian streets about selling the sizzle. Some King died at some point in front of this building a long time ago ... but do you know the story of how the King lost his shoes?
"Process is as creative as product" is a lesson I'm only just starting to learn deeply. Thanks for helping me see the light.
I agree about the steak 🥩 vs sizzle. I’m more interested in well-drawn, 3-D, fascinating, relatable characters than a ‘sizzling’ plot. (That said I did love American Dirt, which seemed mostly plot but did have strong characters.) I would love to have heard that Marxist discussion a la Fight Club, haha. Thank God for teachers like you! It’s a global travesty how little teachers are generally paid, though I’m sure it’s better in some countries/cities etc. Fun post. I enjoy listening to your experiences as an ex-pat in Paris. Funny clashing image of desire to see Hem’s old place contrasted with contemporary protesting. Every time I’ve traveled to Europe--especially France, Italy, Spain--I’m fascinated by the constant protests and how effective they can sometimes be. Very different from the USA.
I agree re: characters versus sizzling plot, particularly because I find that when I meet an interesting character in my fiction, they naturally lead me to interesting stories. It seems to be symbiotic for me, but always beginning with the character. I'm sure plenty of people go about it the other way, perhaps moreso in genre fiction, but I'm already speculating as a speculative fiction kind of guy, so I digress.
Loved this, Samuel! I taught at a university for decades for the love of the students and the faculty. I hope I made a difference in their lives. You obviously are making a difference for your students. When will society pay our teachers a salary commensurate to their worth???
They you Cheryl! What did you teach? If you taught for decades then there's NO QUESTION you made a difference! As for teachers being paid correctly, if teachers in the humanities were paid the same as economics or "business" professors, we'd be cruising!
I taught Composition, English Literature, and American Literature where I fell in love with Hemingway and the Lost Generation (their writing and their bohemian lifestyle). I wrote my doctoral dissertation on Hemingway’s Humanitarian Individualism in For Whom the Bell Tolls and kind of followed him around the world, including Paris and Cuba where I met his yacht captain Gregorio Fuentes.
Wouldn’t you know it, I’ve just received emails from the teachers’ union: there’s going to be a faculty strike on Tuesday, the very day I teach! Do I strike? Do I teach? Which path of resistance shall I take?
Damn I feel you... I moved to Paris many years ago with the dream of writing novels in garrets. And I did! But of course nobody would represent or buy them (despite all the nice things they said about them)... So, unsure how to proceed, I became a "lecteur d'anglais" (teaching assistant) at... [drumroll]... Université de Paris III - Sorbonne Nouvelle! I ended up signing up for a Master's, took the Agrégation exams (I'm sure you know what it is, but it's too weird to explain briefly), did a PhD! Got funding and a teaching contract! Went on to be an ATER (temporary teaching and research contract)! For four years! Did I end up becoming a lecturer? Did I fuck. There were no jobs. There never had been, they just string you along forever. Now, many years later, I've been a vacataire all over, I've moved to the South West, I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do with my life... And I did finally independently publish one novel. And sold a few hundred! But I can't afford to spend much time on it, and now I'm throwing myself into the gaping sulphurous maw of the Education Nationale to be a lycée teacher. Again. I hate myself for it, but my kids gotta eat. Anyway. I remember Censier very well. Glad to hear the much-vaunted new premises are just as shit...
(btw found your work through your very enjoyable Republic of Letters post... If you're still in Paris I know some literary miscreants you should get in touch with...)
Hot damn I’m sorry to hear that. I have a friend in a similar position—one of the most intelligent and literary people I know, just got his PhD, and Lo and behold, there is absolutely no work, with the exception of lycée teaching. Which never pays enough for the challenge that it is … you’re doing the work of the gods. Hopefully you at least get paid vacation. After all is said and done, you’re still far better off than working in academia across the Atlantic, I reckon.
YES!!!!!
Johannes
Back to the grand grind!
What your tale proves is that the sizzle is not inferior in merit to the steak but an integral part. Was there ever a novelist who thanked his alma mater for the time and means to complete his novel? Congratulations - you have elevated the sizzle not to parity with the steak but dispensed with the steak altogether - as Debord, I suspect, would have approved. Process is as creative as product - and as their invention of flanerie suggests, the French are its masters.
Thanks good sir. You've taught me well on the Parisian streets about selling the sizzle. Some King died at some point in front of this building a long time ago ... but do you know the story of how the King lost his shoes?
"Process is as creative as product" is a lesson I'm only just starting to learn deeply. Thanks for helping me see the light.
The end. 👏🏼 this one sizzled beautifully the whole way through. Those students are lucky to have you.
I agree about the steak 🥩 vs sizzle. I’m more interested in well-drawn, 3-D, fascinating, relatable characters than a ‘sizzling’ plot. (That said I did love American Dirt, which seemed mostly plot but did have strong characters.) I would love to have heard that Marxist discussion a la Fight Club, haha. Thank God for teachers like you! It’s a global travesty how little teachers are generally paid, though I’m sure it’s better in some countries/cities etc. Fun post. I enjoy listening to your experiences as an ex-pat in Paris. Funny clashing image of desire to see Hem’s old place contrasted with contemporary protesting. Every time I’ve traveled to Europe--especially France, Italy, Spain--I’m fascinated by the constant protests and how effective they can sometimes be. Very different from the USA.
I agree re: characters versus sizzling plot, particularly because I find that when I meet an interesting character in my fiction, they naturally lead me to interesting stories. It seems to be symbiotic for me, but always beginning with the character. I'm sure plenty of people go about it the other way, perhaps moreso in genre fiction, but I'm already speculating as a speculative fiction kind of guy, so I digress.
Kudos, professor, on this one! From a former professor. I will be in the city to grade those midterm exams for you!
Hi, Kate! Good to read your comment on here! See you in less than a month.
Grading is only allowed over glasses of red wine.
Loved this, Samuel! I taught at a university for decades for the love of the students and the faculty. I hope I made a difference in their lives. You obviously are making a difference for your students. When will society pay our teachers a salary commensurate to their worth???
They you Cheryl! What did you teach? If you taught for decades then there's NO QUESTION you made a difference! As for teachers being paid correctly, if teachers in the humanities were paid the same as economics or "business" professors, we'd be cruising!
I taught Composition, English Literature, and American Literature where I fell in love with Hemingway and the Lost Generation (their writing and their bohemian lifestyle). I wrote my doctoral dissertation on Hemingway’s Humanitarian Individualism in For Whom the Bell Tolls and kind of followed him around the world, including Paris and Cuba where I met his yacht captain Gregorio Fuentes.
Love it! Great Samuel! ❤️
I loved this. The best thing I’ve read all week.
Thanks Julie. Looking forward to seeing you at the Paris Writers' Salon!
No comment...
I can neither confirm nor deny that you have skin in the steak and sizzle game.
Wouldn’t you know it, I’ve just received emails from the teachers’ union: there’s going to be a faculty strike on Tuesday, the very day I teach! Do I strike? Do I teach? Which path of resistance shall I take?
Damn I feel you... I moved to Paris many years ago with the dream of writing novels in garrets. And I did! But of course nobody would represent or buy them (despite all the nice things they said about them)... So, unsure how to proceed, I became a "lecteur d'anglais" (teaching assistant) at... [drumroll]... Université de Paris III - Sorbonne Nouvelle! I ended up signing up for a Master's, took the Agrégation exams (I'm sure you know what it is, but it's too weird to explain briefly), did a PhD! Got funding and a teaching contract! Went on to be an ATER (temporary teaching and research contract)! For four years! Did I end up becoming a lecturer? Did I fuck. There were no jobs. There never had been, they just string you along forever. Now, many years later, I've been a vacataire all over, I've moved to the South West, I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do with my life... And I did finally independently publish one novel. And sold a few hundred! But I can't afford to spend much time on it, and now I'm throwing myself into the gaping sulphurous maw of the Education Nationale to be a lycée teacher. Again. I hate myself for it, but my kids gotta eat. Anyway. I remember Censier very well. Glad to hear the much-vaunted new premises are just as shit...
(btw found your work through your very enjoyable Republic of Letters post... If you're still in Paris I know some literary miscreants you should get in touch with...)
oh I love to meet miscreants. I suspect we are all one degree of separation. Shoot me a Substack message or slopezba@gmail.com
Hot damn I’m sorry to hear that. I have a friend in a similar position—one of the most intelligent and literary people I know, just got his PhD, and Lo and behold, there is absolutely no work, with the exception of lycée teaching. Which never pays enough for the challenge that it is … you’re doing the work of the gods. Hopefully you at least get paid vacation. After all is said and done, you’re still far better off than working in academia across the Atlantic, I reckon.