David Fortier
There is a message in there somewhere for us writers—not would be writers: writers—about sticking to our task, connecting with those who can help us improve (not perfect) our craft—whether it is from a family member (his first wife said that she felt it in her bones that Vonnegut was meant to be counted among the best and did what she could to support his efforts, from typing up manuscripts and keeping the books) or from other professionals, even to the point of taking creative writing classes, and while there is no evidence from the Wakefield piece that Vonnegut ever belonged to writers group, joining an active writers group.
I suppose it is a matter of whatever works as long as it appears to be working for us.
On another note, in Vonnegut’s case, having some New England experience in his blood might have only helped. Of course, he was not born here, but he did reside on Cape Cod for many years, and I am thinking that some of that good old New England stick-to-it-iveness got under his skin. But then, that’s only me.
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