I’m Having a Hard Time Saying No: How Can I Be More of a Literary Asshole?

That’s right, everyone’s partying at Am I the Literary Asshole?, an advice column that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but DOES take a wedge of lime with its vodka-cran. I’m your host, Kristen Arnett, and I guess now it’s officially “fall,” though I don’t think anyone told that to the temperature outside. But sure, throw on that snuggly knit sweater and dig out your most stylish jacket!

Just make sure to wear them inside, where there’s air conditioning. Don’t want anyone sweating to death on my watch. Since we’re out here pretending that something festively seasonal is occurring, why not try those weird Cutwaters that are supposedly flavored like pumpkin spice white russians?

I can’t imagine they’ll taste any good, but at 13% ABV per can after the first one we probably won’t care about the flavor anymore. 1) Am I wrong for being so frustrated at how reader-focused writer advice has gotten? Lately, it feels that most writing advice is “don’t do x because readers don’t like it” or “readers are tired of x” or “readers love x.” I find this really depressing. First of all, it flattens readers into a monolith.

Second, it flattens the relationship between writers and readers to producer/consumer. Third, I’m convinced whenever a large number of people dislike a book, it’s more likely to be a marketing fiasco or a skill issue rather than “readers don’t like x.” Whenever I try to bring this up with people, they say “well, that’s fine if you want to be a starving artist, but some of us want to make a living as a writer.” I do want to make a living as a writer and I’m not saying that reader experience doesn’t matter. I’m just sick of reader experience being centered to the exclusion of all else.

I don’t think you’re wrong to feel frustrated. It’s strange to think about writing from the viewpoint of how something might be consumed by others versus writing from a starting point of genuine curiosity. Whenever we sit down to begin something—whether it’s an essay, a short story, a poem, a novel, or even a script—we must consider the fact that first and foremost we are creating art for ourselves.

Making things that we want to see out in the world. It’s a private conversation between you and the page. Projects find who they’re meant to find.