Hello everyone! Here to say thank you for all the kind words. I am very lucky I get to work with George, and be part of the Story Club community. It's the best gig. ☺️
Wow. Samantha is quite incredible. I couldn't believe that you were able to turn out so many of these wonderful pieces so quickly. I do hope I can find a good reason to contact her for something I eventually do.
I have a question: Is there any chance that you'd consider letting us see any one of your pieces both before and after it was edited? We'd all learn so much. As a musician I'd find it as interesting as looking at Beethoven's notebooks. The before and after comparisons are fascinating. Actually, it would be more accurate to describe them as thrilling.
I also have a final comment. You are very possibly my favorite living writer. I read everything of your that I can find and learn something from all of it while, at the same time, being endlessly amazed. Your comments about the Russian short stories are so enlightening. And Lincoln in the Bardo is probably the most original, beautiful, soul-touching book I've ever read. Damn. You are phenomenal.
A lovely tribute, George. And I'm certain, well-deserved. I'm curious how you found Samantha, though I understand if that is going too far behind the curtain. A note to Samantha: i love the photo of you. Your positive vibe is so clear! Thanks for fixing George for us--we were all growing a bit tired of his perfection and it's nice to know even he needs a boost now and again. You are obviously a booster extraordinaire!
I note the jokey "mistakes" in the end of George's essay and in some comments, but what blows me away, throughout, is the ear, the eye of the editor. I recently had an essay in Dorothy Parker's Ashes, and the editor there was fabulous. It was a personal piece, and I did a lot of cutting for speed and voice and at the end got nervous - no one would understand it. Did it need something? What, a frame? So I wrote in a first and last paragraph - and the DPA editor made two changes - took out those two chicken paragraphs! It is the meat, not the sauce that a great editor helps with. Did I read here on Story Club that Isaac Babel was fabulous at it? Friends would give him a piece of work and zip zip, he'd go through it and what came out was the piece - but now as good as it could get. Thanks, again, George. This was lovely and encouraging.
I've often wondered how you do it, George. Write new work, travel to promote your work, spend time with your family, yet somehow managing to show up here faithfully twice a week, with heartfelt and generous posts that inspire everyone in Story Club. "Does the man ever sleep?" I thought. "Does he ever eat? Does he ever just hang out and relax?" It's good to know you have Samantha, and that the two of you have such an amazing symbiosis. Still, I'm blown away by how much you give here. And how much you truly care. Thank you! And thanks, Samantha, for having George's back!
What a lovely, generous, charming piece. With a bit of solid info about an editor's crucial role, which for this new writer is helpful. Congratulations, Samantha, on many jobs well done. Seems your last name is apropos of everything :)
Wonderful!! Hip hip hooray to Samantha! And thank you Samantha, these posts are so clean. George, I also loved this post because in academic writing I am often the Samantha. Feels great to have roles like Samantha’s actively recognized so as not to forget the amount of collaboration and eyes needed for successful writing--social media posts and all!
Thanks Samantha for keeping George honest :) I can't imagine what it would have been like to edit a post singing your praises, but like all the other ones it was great.
As I'm currently in the death throes of editing my first novel--which I'm about ready to burn--along with myself---somehow this post made me feel sooooooo much better! Thank you!
Hello everyone! Here to say thank you for all the kind words. I am very lucky I get to work with George, and be part of the Story Club community. It's the best gig. ☺️
I adore Samantha! She was a student of mine, and I was elated to discover your connection. You deserve the best, George Saunders.
Eye've wunderred meni timz how yu akomplesh so m george.
Off corse , you and Samantha are Bothe the beste and ment to bee.
Wow. Samantha is quite incredible. I couldn't believe that you were able to turn out so many of these wonderful pieces so quickly. I do hope I can find a good reason to contact her for something I eventually do.
I have a question: Is there any chance that you'd consider letting us see any one of your pieces both before and after it was edited? We'd all learn so much. As a musician I'd find it as interesting as looking at Beethoven's notebooks. The before and after comparisons are fascinating. Actually, it would be more accurate to describe them as thrilling.
I also have a final comment. You are very possibly my favorite living writer. I read everything of your that I can find and learn something from all of it while, at the same time, being endlessly amazed. Your comments about the Russian short stories are so enlightening. And Lincoln in the Bardo is probably the most original, beautiful, soul-touching book I've ever read. Damn. You are phenomenal.
A lovely tribute, George. And I'm certain, well-deserved. I'm curious how you found Samantha, though I understand if that is going too far behind the curtain. A note to Samantha: i love the photo of you. Your positive vibe is so clear! Thanks for fixing George for us--we were all growing a bit tired of his perfection and it's nice to know even he needs a boost now and again. You are obviously a booster extraordinaire!
Have you considered changing Story Club to Storey Club?
I note the jokey "mistakes" in the end of George's essay and in some comments, but what blows me away, throughout, is the ear, the eye of the editor. I recently had an essay in Dorothy Parker's Ashes, and the editor there was fabulous. It was a personal piece, and I did a lot of cutting for speed and voice and at the end got nervous - no one would understand it. Did it need something? What, a frame? So I wrote in a first and last paragraph - and the DPA editor made two changes - took out those two chicken paragraphs! It is the meat, not the sauce that a great editor helps with. Did I read here on Story Club that Isaac Babel was fabulous at it? Friends would give him a piece of work and zip zip, he'd go through it and what came out was the piece - but now as good as it could get. Thanks, again, George. This was lovely and encouraging.
I finally know the secret to a perfect working relationship. Don’t ever meet up. !
I've often wondered how you do it, George. Write new work, travel to promote your work, spend time with your family, yet somehow managing to show up here faithfully twice a week, with heartfelt and generous posts that inspire everyone in Story Club. "Does the man ever sleep?" I thought. "Does he ever eat? Does he ever just hang out and relax?" It's good to know you have Samantha, and that the two of you have such an amazing symbiosis. Still, I'm blown away by how much you give here. And how much you truly care. Thank you! And thanks, Samantha, for having George's back!
What a lovely, generous, charming piece. With a bit of solid info about an editor's crucial role, which for this new writer is helpful. Congratulations, Samantha, on many jobs well done. Seems your last name is apropos of everything :)
I'm glad we get to know about Samantha.
Thanks Samantha for all you do for us
Wonderful!! Hip hip hooray to Samantha! And thank you Samantha, these posts are so clean. George, I also loved this post because in academic writing I am often the Samantha. Feels great to have roles like Samantha’s actively recognized so as not to forget the amount of collaboration and eyes needed for successful writing--social media posts and all!
Thanks Samantha for keeping George honest :) I can't imagine what it would have been like to edit a post singing your praises, but like all the other ones it was great.
As I'm currently in the death throes of editing my first novel--which I'm about ready to burn--along with myself---somehow this post made me feel sooooooo much better! Thank you!
Hi George,
I love how you describe Samantha’s editing, especially in the following ways:
“The essence of the idea gets honored and foregrounded”
“Guiding me toward my own higher intention”
“A form of seeing the best in someone, seeing a streak of something good within them of which they aren’t yet fully aware”
“Urge me toward a slightly better (more lucid, clear) version of myself”
This is wonderful! It’s a great model for us. Don’t we all want (and need) to be seen and read this way?
And I’m also glad to find out about Samantha’s work at The Trace. Thank you!