The Power Effect (Norman Mailer)

Here are some words from author Norman Mailer that describe the plight of the written word in this high tech-advanced age of the 21st century:  “If you grew up in the 1930’s and 1940’s as I did, you had the feeling that writers were the marrow of the nation, the nutrient.  In the course of my life I’ve seen everything else take over.  The novel now rides in a sidecar. At least in professional sports, the athletes say I’m getting the money because I’m the best in my field.  In literature it’s exactly the opposite.  It’s the mediocrities who make the mega sums.  That was always true to a degree, but it has intensified considerably.  The notion that what you put into a book is going to have a powerful effect is a notion that’s harder and harder to maintain.  Part of the ability to keep writing over the years comes down to living with the expectation of disappointment.  In capitalism you want your business to succeed, and to the degree it does, your energy increases.  With writing, you just want to keep the store going.  You’re not going to do as well this year as last year, probably.  It doesn’t offer as much fun and reward as you thought when you embarked on it.”