Daniel Wood

When an author inserts himself into his story--tips boulders over the edges of cliffs, makes stuff happen that would not otherwise have--a [accent] la so-called New Journalism--I have a problem with it. I was sorry my once-instructor had died, so I sent for this anthology. But I cannot help feel annoyed as I read his exploits, even though I think he was pretty courageous as well. Jumping on a horse to go into the backwoods--dangerous business, for a first-time horse-rider! Taking a float in an airship that actually crashes! But guts do not justify bullshit, and I don't like his style of writing. When I took his course 30 years ago, I did find him off-putting, dashing our ideas and style because it was not his. I didn't respond well to his teaching. It's a bag of tricks that, if adhered to, might have helped me get published, but I think it's more his style than someone else's, and I didn't want it.… (altro)