Talking “A Change in Perspective"

Welcome to the intro video and an excerpt from the twelfth post of my weekly serial, “Sketches from the Café Confictura.” If you’d like to share a comment, please use the comment option at the end of this excerpt. To follow the mystery of Applewood, and get recipes from Mrs. Creaverton, writing advice from Roscoe Belesprit, and fashion tips from the Fastionista, please visit www.ClarissaJeanne.com for new posts every Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. EST.

“These are the dean’s words,” said Wicks. “It’s a game. It’s all a game, still is. You got yourself scouted by the major leagues, and then instead of going to bat you sat down on home plate and said no. Well, the majors are calling again. You’re getting a second chance. By virtue of this endowment board, you’re getting a second chance. But this time you’ve gotta play. And one of the things you need to understand is how to survive this business.”

“Business?” said Roscoe. “We are still talking about education, right?”

“Yes,” said Wicks point-blank. “We sure as hell are. Rule number one, you don’t tell a good student they’re good. You find fault. Especially with writers. Everyone thinks they’re a writer. You throw ’em in the deep end--”

“I thought we were playing baseball, now we’re swimming?” said Roscoe.

“You throw ’em,” said Wicks. “Some sink. Some figure out how to swim. Those are the ones you lose. But most of them, most of them, will keep doling out their money to anyone who keeps offering a lifejacket.”

Slowly, Roscoe said, “Professor, the level of your cynicism is nauseating.”

“It’s not just mine,” said Wicks. “And it’s not just academia. There’s a whole industry devoted to keeping beginner writers beginners. ‘Buy our new edition featuring this year’s rules. You’d better buy it, you don’t want to get caught using last year’s rules.’ We’re competing with them. Come on, now, it makes sense. If a student doesn’t have the confidence to move on from the classroom, they come back for an MFA, or a second undergrad degree, or an alumni seminar. They buy our guides, attend our workshops. Tell ’em they’re good and teach them practical skills, they don’t need you anymore. Keep moving the goalpost, inject a little self-doubt that you swoop in and cure each time, you’ve got ’em coming back for more, every time.” 

  

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