writer’s seminar

The following are elements of a writer’s seminar I participated in about the life and writing of classic novelist, F. Scott Fitzgerald. as well as an emulation of his poem “City Dusk“.


— INTERVIEW

What was your childhood like?

I was born on September 24th, 1896 in Minnesota and was raised by my parents, Mary and Edward. My mother made a small fortune being a whole sales grocer and my father was a salesman. Because of my fathers job, we were constantly between Buffalo and Upstate New York for the first few years of my life. We finally settled down back in Minnesota where I was then sent to a Catholic school in New Jersey at the age of 15.

What first inspired you to pursue writing?

It was at the Catholic school that one of my teachers saw my gift for writing and encouraged me to continue. I ended up pursuing it in Princeton.

Were there any major events that shaped you or your writing?

Something that shaped my writing greatly was fighting in World War I and meeting my first love, Zelda there at one of the camps. We had a whirlwind romance and ended up getting married. The marriage fell apart when I turned to drinking and my wife had a mental breakdown. This helped my writing in The Great Gatsby.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I would say my novel, “This Side of Paradise” was my greatest achievement because it brought me great success and acclaim. However, I have heard that since my death, The Great Gatsby has become a crowd favourite. It would have been nice to live for the fame.

What is your greatest regret?

My two greatest regrets are not having seen oversea combat and not being big enough to play football.

And how did your final days come about?

After thinking the war would kill me, then my alcoholism, then my severe depression – in the end, it was a heart attack that killed me in Hollywood, California at the age of 44.

Do you have any words of wisdom in terms of writing or what it means to be a writer?

“You don’t write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say.”


— EMULATION

I have closed my book of fading memories

(The colours left me in the fall)

And my soul was dulled with heartbeats and leaves

And I was sick for vibrancy.

When suddenly is rushed by me, carrying

Thousands of shades, a burning feeling,

And a night of life and humming…

.

I shall know you by your racing pulse

And by your warm, warm palms;

I’ll whisper mindless lovely things

While you sing of our old songs…

.

 

All the smiles of the stars above

Will remind me of yours,

And the beating of hearts underneath the streets

Will remind me of yours,

And there will be more remembering tonight than usual

In the blinking of lights upon my eyes….


claire b.