Ask the Author: Susan Bordo
Answered Questions (9)
Susan Bordo
I have to think about that one for awhile.
Susan Bordo
Don’t be afraid. Don’t expect too much of a first draft. Learn to love editing and changing; don’t get too attached to any sentence, paragraph, or chapter. In my writing classes, I encourage a first draft that unselfconsciously speaks, straight from the heart without worrying too much about form. Then we figure out what the writer is trying to say, really cares about—sometimes that isn’t obvious, in fact, we tend to hide it or shy away from it at first. So I like the next stage to be a group process, in which we explore that together. I consider figuring out what the writer truly cares most about, what they want most to say, to actually be the hardest and most crucial part of writing. Once you figure that out, it’s writing and re-writing and re-writing some more until you get the words to convey what you want.
Susan Bordo
I don’t have a list yet, except for “Rodham.” Any suggestions? I need some!!
Susan Bordo
My most recent published book is a collection of essays that have been written over the years since the 2016 election. They are a historical record of sorts, of some of what’s happened over that period. But the form is unusual in that I include Facebook posts, mini-reflections, interviews, and twitter threads along with full-length essays, some of which originally appeared in “Medium.” My most recent finished book—not yet published—is about television, with which—as with most pop culture—I have a love/hate relationship. I write about growing up with TV (I’m ancient, so we’re talking 50’s and 60’s), as well as broadcasting news today and various shows that I see as cultural watersheds. I wrote the whole thing since we’ve been isolated at home. Not so difficult as it’s a “little” book—part of Bloomsbury’s “object lessons” series—and had a word-limit 0f 30,000 (which of course I went over—but not by much.)
Susan Bordo
It just happens. I hear about something, or an event happens, or someone makes a comment, and something “clicks” and I realize I want to write about it...I HAVE to write about it. Usually it happens when something hasn’t been addressed that I know frustrates or frightens or depresses people, and I feel a kind of “calling” to be a medium of those feelings. That sounds rather haughty, but it isn’t really like that. It’s really a way of saying I write to connect rather than show off my expertise, so I’ve always got feelers out for how to make that happen.
Susan Bordo
I just finished a book on television—like “just” being a few days ago! So I’m taking a little break and mulling it over. I’m also mailing out copies of my latest book, a collection of essays entitled “Imagine Bernie Sanders as a Woman.” It’s the first book I’ve self-published, so I’m trying to get the word out without a press behind me. Challenging!!
Susan Bordo
Right now, it’s particularly great to be a writer because we are in the middle of a pandemic, and sheltering at home isn’t a huge departure from our “normal” lives. As for more generally, it’s hard to answer—when I’m writing I feel more whole, more fully engaged with the world, there’s a “flow” between me and what I’m doing that feels wonderful. And when what I do connects with other people, that’s the BEST—because I do try to write about what I feel others are feeling and thinking.
Susan Bordo
If you are an inexperienced writer, it may be fear rather than a block, and I recommend Ralph Keyes’ “The Courage to Write.” It’s really helpful! For experienced writers, I think that there have to be periods when ideas gestate and the brain/being allows itself to be receptive rather than active. I don’t believe in forcing it. Sometimes it can last a distressingly long time, but eventually some idea bubbles up and breaks through, demanding that you attend to it. You have to allow it and not become too stressed while waiting.
Susan Bordo
Donald Trump is President. Donald Trump is President.
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