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Grant Faulkner's avatar

My friend, Pamela Painter, the great writer and teacher, just sent me these wonderful quotes in response to this piece:

From Richard Hugo’s Triggering Town:

"A creative writing class may be one of the last places you can go where your life still matters."

“If you are not risking sentimentality you are not close to your inner self. “ William Kittredge

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Polly Hansen's avatar

Melody Beattie wrote nothing but sentimentality it seems and look how many fans she has and how many books she sold. Literary CFN and fiction can be rather snobbish, I believe, but perhaps it all comes down to taste. In lit mags, I like a bit of heart-felt sentimentality.

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Jamie Sims Coakley's avatar

Perhaps “they” decided sentimentality in writing was no good because it is a woman’s?

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Grant Faulkner's avatar

I think that's definitely a factor.

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Nin's avatar

I'm finding myself so drawn to your writing, the heart in your words, the things you choose to share. I can't wait to watch and listen to Andrea Gibson. Geez, it all makes me so crazed to be a good writer. Thank you.

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Grant Faulkner's avatar

Thanks so much, Nin! Listening to Andrea read/perform is a special treat!

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Leonora Ross's avatar

Thank you for this. Somehow I needed a reminder. And those words by Andrea Gibson. OML! So beautifully crafted. So simple and honest. So profound. I'm stewing in their deliciously gooey sentimentality.

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Grant Faulkner's avatar

Love this: "deliciously gooey sentimentality."

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