Late work : a literary autobiography of love, loss, and what I was reading : essays

Curious, ruminative, and wry, this literary autobiography tours what Rachel Kushner called "the strange remove that is the life of the writer." Frank's essays cover a vast spectrum—from handling dismissive advice, facing the dilemma of thwarted ambition, and copying the generosity that inspires us, to the miraculous catharsis of letter-writing and some of the books that pull us through. Useful for writers at any stage of development, Late Work offers a seasoned artist's thinking through the exploration of issues, paradoxes, and crises of faith. Like a lively conversation with a close, outspoken friend, each piece tells its experience from the trenches. | Curious, ruminative, and wry, this literary autobiography tours what Rachel Kushner called "the strange remove that is the life of the writer." Frank's essays cover a vast spectrum—from handling dismissive advice, facing the dilemma of thwarted ambition, and copying the generosity that inspires us, to the miraculous catharsis of letter-writing and some of the books that pull us through. Useful for writers at any stage of development, Late Work offers a seasoned artist's thinking through the exploration of issues, paradoxes, and crises of faith. Like a lively conversation with a close, outspoken friend, each piece tells its experience from the trenches. "One of our most effusive authors, Southwest born (Phoenix, Arizona) Joan Frank's newest collection of essays explore her long career writing, reading, and publishing. Late Work focuses on reflecting on a long writing life and the realities of writing as an older author who knows she has more time behind her than she has ahead. The result is a collection of fifteen essays that explore the issues endemic to literary writers. While she approaches these issues from the perspective of someone who's been at the business for a long time, beginning and middle-stage writers will find a lot of advice in these essays as she reflects on lessons she's learned over the years and tackles questions she now faces as an older writer, such as: What constitutes real risk for a Late Work writer--what may be left to truly fear? How might a seasoned writer cope with incipient doubt? What's the through-line for a late-career writer in her darkest hour? How might she come to terms with the "sum of [her oeuvre's] promise and fact?" The essays are poignant, funny, complex, and knowledgeable throughout. Frank is a consummate professional and promoter of her work and the press. This book will be an excellent addition to our creative/literary nonfiction list as well as our writing list"-- Provided by publisher