Stephen Smith

Stephen Smith asked Ben Marcus:

Ben, is there an ongoing metaphor between meteorology and psycholinguistics running through Notable American Women, The Age of Wire and String, and to a lesser extent, The Flame Alphabet and certain selections of Leaving The Sea? If not, sorry I asked. If so, what was the most traumatic weather related event of your childhood? You don't have to say if you don't want to.

Ben Marcus I got into weather in kind of a backwards way, during a youthful fascination with boredom. I wrote a whole bad novel in school called Secret Weather. It hurts to even remember it. For some reason, with little skill and no experience, I thought I should try to make writing even harder for myself, and this involved taking on the notoriously boring topic of weather. Of course weather is not boring at all — it is just boring to talk about. Anyway, it got into my language, and then it just became part of some sort of engine that sometimes turns on.

More Answered Questions

Steven Felicelli

Steven Felicelli asked Ben Marcus:

there are many ways in which the thing I am trying in vain to say may be tried in vain to be said - Beckett Language acts as an acid over its message. If you no longer care about an idea or a feeling, then put it into language. - Marcus You also describe it as 'a more sophisticated way to cry'. Do you think this understanding of the self-defeating telos of language is a necessary evil?

Robin

Robin asked Ben Marcus:

Hello Ben, Not many writers can knock me off my feet with a short sentence; you're one of the few that can. Do you have an opinion on whether self-publishing is a viable route for the "experimental" writer? Or on smart strategies for a writer situated a long, long way from academia (MFA's, writing courses etc)? At times it can seem like a cloistered (and well-defended) world...

Gary Will

Gary Will asked Ben Marcus:

Ben, So amazing you're answering questions! Thank you. How do you have the time? Seriously how do you fit in writing? What does a writing day look like? What does an average day look like, writing or not? Do you have tips for organization/productive practice?

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