Perception

While rehearsing for the Round Bend Press reading at the Blackbird Wine Shop on Oct. 5, I've lately noticed that my eyesight is atrocious and growing worse.

I'm having trouble deciphering the words on the printed page.

Short of obtaining new glasses or having my eyeballs scraped clean, the only solution will be to print out some children's book-size pages and read from those, which is never as sexy as reading from the actual book.

It's just cooler to read from your published book than a manuscript. At least it always was in my feverishly romantic vision of literary endeavors.

Reading from the published book connotes performance and expertise, while reading from a loose-leaf manuscript suggests workshop, the rigorous work of rewriting, the pain of finding a publisher, and the possibility of rejection.

The printed book is a security blanket.

Loose pages are depth charges dropped from a publisher's yacht.


TS