Richard Peabody, longtime editor and publisher of DC's Gargoyle magazine and Paycock Press, is featured in this week's Washington Post Magazine. Peabody was one of the first editors to publish me, and I remain grateful to him for that honor. I've met him a handful of times and have thanked him in person but still feel a larger debt.
The article touches on a couple of points that deserve further comment. The first is that a large number of critiques remain utterly baffled as to where or how literary arts germinate. Jonathan Yardley, who's been reviewing books for the Post since the days of mechanical typesetting, is one of those cranks who doesn't believe in the efficacy of MFA programs or, for that matter, any kind of writing instruction. That he'd not be able to recognize that DC does, indeed, have a thriving literary community, should not suprise.
The other point comes poignantly at the article's end. Although Peabody's taught and published some of our nation's finest writers, he feels regret for never having written a commercially-successful book. Right now, he's working on a new novel.
"I like to think -- and it may not be a complete delusion -- that there are some people out there waiting to see what I am going to come up with. After all these years. And I hope that's true, and I hope I don't disappoint them," Peabody says.
Good luck, Richard! I'm sure you won't disappoint us!
The article touches on a couple of points that deserve further comment. The first is that a large number of critiques remain utterly baffled as to where or how literary arts germinate. Jonathan Yardley, who's been reviewing books for the Post since the days of mechanical typesetting, is one of those cranks who doesn't believe in the efficacy of MFA programs or, for that matter, any kind of writing instruction. That he'd not be able to recognize that DC does, indeed, have a thriving literary community, should not suprise.
The other point comes poignantly at the article's end. Although Peabody's taught and published some of our nation's finest writers, he feels regret for never having written a commercially-successful book. Right now, he's working on a new novel.
"I like to think -- and it may not be a complete delusion -- that there are some people out there waiting to see what I am going to come up with. After all these years. And I hope that's true, and I hope I don't disappoint them," Peabody says.
Good luck, Richard! I'm sure you won't disappoint us!
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