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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Graceless Form


Leave it to good old Harper's to state the obvious in a way that comforts.  Got to love.

1 comment:

Chazz said...

When Lewis Lapham steered Harper's he came to our journalism school. He was impressive.

I sent him a query. He must be one of those rare and efficient creatures who clears off his desk each day. I got his answer back--and this was snail mail, mind you--within a week. (Yes, you read that right.)

It wasn't a form letter, either. He was brief but kind and thoughtful. He said no. However, he was so graceful in his rejection that I even felt good about it. I was in the game and here was an editor who was a nice guy. (They are out there, I assure you. I know from personal experience.)

Grace and transcendance. Hmm. Maybe that's what's missing from publishing's general discourse.