GSAS Writer's Night with Professor Duncan White 10/27/16

TL;DR

Duncan White discusses his experiences in writing and publishing, including his focus on Cold War literature, the challenges he faced as a writer, and his advice for aspiring writers.

Transcript

then in that case I should do the obligatory thing that one does on rainy evenings which is to thank you all for coming out especially on such a rainy evening so you came out for a good reason and that's to hear Duncan white talk about writing and publishing and different kinds of publishing and just experiences at Oxford and Cambridge and Wellesle... Read More

Key Insights

• ✍️ Writing is a craft that can be improved with practice, teaching, and patience.
• 🤗 Constructive criticism and being open to learning from others are valuable tools for becoming a better writer.
• ❓ Writing for different audiences requires adjusting writing styles and understanding the expectations and interests of the audience.
• ❓ The publishing industry has evolved, with less support for writers and a greater emphasis on deadlines and profitability.
• 🤕 The digital age has democratized publishing but also made it more challenging to make a living from writing.

Questions & Answers

Q: Were there any early experiences with writing that shaped who you are today?

Duncan White reflects on his experiences as an undergraduate writer at Cambridge, where he learned the importance of concise writing and the value of constructive criticism from copy editors.

Q: How did being a sports journalist help improve your writing skills?

Duncan White explains that working as a sports journalist forced him to write under tight deadlines, resulting in improved writing skills and the ability to produce quality work quickly.

Q: What differences do you see between writing for different audiences?

Duncan White discusses the nuances of writing for different audiences, noting that writing about literature requires a different approach than writing for sports journalism. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the audience and adjusting the writing style accordingly.

Q: How did you make the transition from sports journalism to writing trade books?

Duncan White explains that he lost a job and decided to make a change, which led him to pitch a book to agents. After a year of working on the proposal with an agent, he received a book contract and began writing trade books.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Duncan White is an academic writer with a focus on American and European literature of the 20th century, particularly during the Cold War.

• He has written two books, one about Nabokov and another about writers on both sides of the Iron Curtain during the Cold War.

• He believes that writing is a craft that can be improved with practice and teaching, and that reducing excessive language and being patient are essential for better writing.