tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927757953433217981.post9202738928531407208..comments2023-05-16T04:09:54.099-07:00Comments on FictionDoldrums: Some statistics about writersBrandon S Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00636847102158789189noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927757953433217981.post-69872813170205061762011-02-04T09:00:23.684-08:002011-02-04T09:00:23.684-08:00Here is a story someone related to me: I heard Don...Here is a story someone related to me: I heard Don DeLillo speak some years back and he essentially said that New York City was the only place for serious novelists to live and work. He sounded rather pompous at the time, but I came to learn over the following decade that most book deals came from networking mostly in and around the NYC publishing industry.<br /><br />In the visual arts it has been described to me as Spheres of Influence. NYC is still the primary Sphere of Influence for publishing and art in the US. It doesn't mean that other places aren't doing good work (even better work) but that when one has a creative success in NYC it becomes a national or international story. One does the same thing in Houston, it is a local story.Brandon S Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00636847102158789189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927757953433217981.post-53840555202718436982011-02-03T07:24:35.208-08:002011-02-03T07:24:35.208-08:001 in 16 citizens of the United States live in the ...1 in 16 citizens of the United States live in the NY-metro area. That could have something to do with the higher percentage. Combine that with the fact that people who live in a progressive urban environment are probably more likely to be attracted to the Arts than those who have less exposure. To take it a step further, I would argue that smaller cities often foster an attitude which "frowns" on the various forms of artistry as a profession. Further still, artists are often more in touch with their emotions (i.e. more sensitive) than the common man; some may move to a larger area like NY in order to have more emotional support from their peers as they hone their art. Just some thoughts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com