So I asked for Feedback in my post So Tell Me This, and I got it. Only a good friend has guts to say it so straight. And I have great need of good friends. Here’s what he had to say:
You want feedback, pal? Well, brace yourself. I’m sure you’re looking for more than just “great job dude.”
When I first saw “Ramblings of a Gen-X Dumbass” I was confused and after a month I’m still not sure what the concept behind it is. On the main page we see “Writing That Spits Gravel” but on the blog we get this “dumbass” stuff. It’s a bit abrupt, wouldn’t you say? What’s really the goal of portraying yourself as a “Gen X Dumbass?” To me a dumbass has limited value. How many stories of “dumbass” behavior can you write before it becomes repetitive? Beyond a few shallow laughs, what good is a dumbass? Does America really need another “dumbass?” I could understand if you wrote stories about a “dumbass” character but not making yourself out to be the dumbass. The guy who managed days worth of live shots on the Chamber roof was no dumbass.
As far as the content goes, stories of college age shenanigans aren’t my cup of tea. Out of everything I’ve read from you the two that I liked most are the Hendrix story and the Pumpkin King story. “Inheritance” sounds like it could be super cool. Those are far more interesting and imaginative than any “dumbass” college age stuff could ever be. I don’t see anything imaginative about drunken sexploits (unless it involves alien women). I’m also surprised you haven’t written about what it’s like to live in China. I’m not trying to beat up on ya man, but I’d rather see what the view is like out your window than see another story about E.
So to sum up: as a reader I want to read more creative writing and slice of Chinese life writing and a lot less “dumbass” stories.
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I emailed back, saying thanks for the honest review.
As far as the Gen-X Dumbass moniker, I’ve been wondering about that. I don’t know if it fits or if it works. I don’t know if I even like it. I’m looking to build a wider audience. And looking around I saw that stupid stories are popular. I’m thinking here of Tucker Max, and to a lesser extent PhilaLawyer–though he doesn’t present himself as stupid.
So I’m probably going to change up the schtick. But the “spitting gravel” doesn’t really fit either. It fit the first novel but not anything since. So I’m flopping around like a fish, looking for a way into the net audience.
And I was going for self deprecating humor. But in the end, I don’t even buy it myself. I’m a sucky salesmen, see, I can’t even sell myself on the idea. I’m just looking to broaden my reach. Stupid seemed like the lowest common denominator.
I appreciate the suggestion to write about life in China. I usually have a hard time writing about what’s right in front of me. I write better in reflection. So writing about D.C. now is on my mind, which is where the Alien novel takes place. And I don’t want the blog to become a rant about how fucked up this place is and question how they’re ever going to be the world leaders they poised to be within the next 30 years. It’s fucking frightening.
I can write some slice of life stuff, which I’ll do. Also, I’m thinking a lot about allegories. Problem is that kind of writing takes a lot of time, and I’m becoming impatient. It’s a horrible flaw. Flopping around without direction is a huge waste of time and energy.
But you’re right, the dumbass stories are limited in their scope and value.
Thanks, JT