Man, this is great. And just when I thought I knew every little detail, Blanche, you always surprise me. Hilarious you got rejected from a writing class. That’ll teach ya!
I was so upset! I was only invited to apply because of my high SAT scores, and until then it had never occurred to me to try to write stories. Years later I told Doris Grumbach about Price's rejection and she said oh, you should tell him about it, you'll both have a good laugh, but I didn't think it was funny, and anyway I never even met him....
Thank you so much for writing and posting this. As a former student of yours, it was really gratifying to get a bigger picture of you as a person and a writer. So grateful.
What a nice way to begin my day. Happy that you are still writing and even more happy that you and Leslie had children. Saying hello from California where I’m very much in the hallway, reading and writing my way through.
Thanks so much, Val. It felt great to write this piece, to come out of the closet about how I see my work. I don't know if literature still matters, but trying to contribute to it meant everything to me, at least until I had children, when my values - and my writing - shifted.
You were always a mesmerizing (aloud) reader and you are mesmerizing still, Blanche. And at eighty? still an inspiration to your former student (me). Thanks!
‘89, same year as Grann although I don’t remember him well from that time. Same year as Tim Ziegler, if you remember him. I was often confused, in love, or artistic at that time (maybe not so different from now). I think I thought writing was a boy’s club but you certainly showed me otherwise. :)
I always loved how, whenever there was a visiting writer at Conn and they opened the floor to questions and we students all sat there too shy and impressed to go first, you would ask them, "Why do you write?" How great to finally hear your answer to that most important question.
Thanks so much, Rachel. I feel a kind of satisfaction about writing it, as if I came out of another closet.
Man, this is great. And just when I thought I knew every little detail, Blanche, you always surprise me. Hilarious you got rejected from a writing class. That’ll teach ya!
I was so upset! I was only invited to apply because of my high SAT scores, and until then it had never occurred to me to try to write stories. Years later I told Doris Grumbach about Price's rejection and she said oh, you should tell him about it, you'll both have a good laugh, but I didn't think it was funny, and anyway I never even met him....
Thank you so much for writing and posting this. As a former student of yours, it was really gratifying to get a bigger picture of you as a person and a writer. So grateful.
Love to you..
Love that you've kept on keeping on.....
Hi Blanche, thanks for writing this! Wonderful to read.
What a nice way to begin my day. Happy that you are still writing and even more happy that you and Leslie had children. Saying hello from California where I’m very much in the hallway, reading and writing my way through.
I know a lot about the hallway!😘
Agree with this comment; it’s so wonderful to hear you narrate this personal but inviting insight
Blanche, how LUCKY are WE all that literature chose you! xo
Thanks so much, Val. It felt great to write this piece, to come out of the closet about how I see my work. I don't know if literature still matters, but trying to contribute to it meant everything to me, at least until I had children, when my values - and my writing - shifted.
Love you. Back in Ct in April. Hope you are thriving.
amazing piece, dear Blanche... wow!
Thank you for this, it is such a powerful reflection on a life and a mission. Sending you much love as you go through those precious papers.
Hope you won't mind if I share this. Your words (as always) mean a great deal to me.
And thank you so much.
Please do!
🤍🩶❤️
Wow thank you for sharing your loves! ♥️
You were always a mesmerizing (aloud) reader and you are mesmerizing still, Blanche. And at eighty? still an inspiration to your former student (me). Thanks!
wow, what year were you? my memory is not high functioning anymore....I hardly know what day it is, most of the time!
‘89, same year as Grann although I don’t remember him well from that time. Same year as Tim Ziegler, if you remember him. I was often confused, in love, or artistic at that time (maybe not so different from now). I think I thought writing was a boy’s club but you certainly showed me otherwise. :)
'89. Wow, I hadn't been teaching at Conn long. Thank you so much, and I had thought writing was a boys' club too. It still is, to a great extent.
“Black Hand Girl” was one of the stories I remember being fascinated by. And storytelling! Thank YOU. :)
I still like Black Hand Girl, but I suspect contemporary young women won’t be able to comprehend what a panty girdle was/is.
And who is Tim Ziegler??
Another of your former students! :)
I always loved how, whenever there was a visiting writer at Conn and they opened the floor to questions and we students all sat there too shy and impressed to go first, you would ask them, "Why do you write?" How great to finally hear your answer to that most important question.
shared this to FB!