Episode 92 – Interview with Bruce Holland Rogers

A pencil, a ball point pen, and a quill sitting in lounge chairs drinking coffee; Title: Writers Drinking Coffee

Bruce helps advance the question of what the term “literary” means. Is it a commercial label? Is it a publishing market category for how to put similar books together in a bookstore? Class distinction or participation is one way to look, but so is technical accomplishment. In any case, learning to write seems a noble (and spiritual) way to squander your time as well as a social network, and Bruce has been amazing over a long and fruitful career as both a writer and educator.

“All myths are true, and writers block is a myth.”

Bruce Holland Rogers

“I only write when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes at nine every morning.”

William Faulkner

“You don’t need to write things to be a writer – but it sure helps your credibility.”

Things Dave remembers Bruce saying

“I may write for two weeks ‘the cat sat on the mat, that is that, not a rat,’ you know. And it might be just the most boring and awful stuff. But I try. When I’m writing, I write. And then it’s as if the muse is convinced that I’m serious and says, ‘Okay. Okay. I’ll come.’”

Maya Angelou

Mentions from Episode 92:

90% of everything is crap

 Theodore Sturgeon

1 thought on “Episode 92 – Interview with Bruce Holland Rogers

  1. ddb says:

    I would love to see a bookstore with signs like “Books you can feel smug about reading”, “Books the Silent Generation read growing up”, “Books Boomer parents are uncomfortable with”, “Books a Zennial identifies with”.

    I don’t expect to see it, but I would LOVE to see it 😀

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