Why the decline of newspapers is a troubling sign for aspiring writers, especially novelists

[marmar]

The vanishing apprenticeship
Why the decline of newspapers is a troubling sign for aspiring writers, especially novelists.


A man I used to work with authored six books and spent five years as a leader writer at one of the more reputable newspapers in London. He joked that he had spent his life building an incredibly strong resume in two of the lowest-paying and fastest-dying industries. Sadly, he is right. Newspapers are struggling to survive, as is the publishing industry, and both are losing the battle to remain relevant and profitable in a world where terms like information, entertainment, and news, seem imprecise and dated. The slow demise of books and newspapers is part of a profound shift in the way people think and communicate — but it is much more than that. Writing, as an art and a craft, is changing rapidly as a direct result. As newspapers die, so too does an apprentice system for young writers from which sprang many of the great names in modern literature. Will we see good writers still emerge? In an era of hashtags and 140 characters, does it even matter? Yes it matters, and although some good writers will emerge, many undoubtedly will not. It may be hard to mourn what did not happen, but it gives an idea of what we may be in store for.

From Dickens to Hemingway, Twain to Orwell, the list of writers who were journalists is long and impressive. Some (Hemingway) took the journalistic style to heart more than others (Dickens), but each writer benefitted from their time as journalist; like any skill, writing is one that requires practice, dedication, and discipline — three qualities at the heart of good journalism. Hemingway, in his notoriously unpleasant interview with the Paris Review, spoke rather glowingly of journalism (considering some of his other answers):

“On the Star you were forced to learn to write a simple declarative sentence. This is useful to anyone. Newspaper work will not harm a young writer and could help him if he gets out of it in time.”

There are, of course, many great authors without journalistic backgrounds too: Joseph Heller wrote Catch-22 in the hours after he had finished work; Elmore Leonard woke early and wrote before his day job in advertising. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: https://medium.com/@eps/the-vanishing-apprenticeship-23e733468ed2

[appalachiablue]

1. I think about the decline of writing, and thinkers and writers also. Same with how we used to

sew clothes, cook more and even grow some of our own produce in gardens. Seems in the last 30 years we really just buy the stuff in stores, consume mostly, although recent interest in food production, especially organic is positive. In school we were taught sewing and cooking in Home Ec class and also by my mom. Same with knitting, gardening, reading, drawing and painting.
Two aunts inherited talent for singing and playing the piano in the home from their mother, pre-radio and recorded music, and were sent to music conservatory.
From our Dad sons and girls too learned about tools, photography, fishing, hunting and boats- nature big time. Teaching and learning in families still takes place, but it seems more people in the 'burbs and cities rarely cook much, change oil in the car, or handle a lawn mower. Human behavior patterns change obviously. For many reasons our heavy consumerist culture has to change and it's starting to happen fortunately.