I grew up in Idaho, not too far from Ketchum, where Earnest Hemmingway spent his last few years (and where he took his own life). Locals said he was a regular at a couple of the bars there. Of course, I wasn't allowed in those bars (being all of five years old).
Cool, another Idaho native! I was born in Rexburg and did a lot of my growing up in the Driggs/Tetonia area.
Are there still places where the writing illuminati hang out--where a guy could offer to buy a drink or ten in exchange for some sage advice and even a referral to an agent (LOL)?
My guess is...everywhere. Most writers blend into crowds really well, and nobody knows they're writers unless they know the guy personally. And most established writers dislike being approached for tips or referrals. Nobody would refer anybody to his agent unless he could vouch for the quality of the work, and the only tip that counts is "write every day."
I suppose nobody has listed phone numbers or addresses these days, but have any of you made contact with some of your literary heroes?
Yes.
I was raised to say "thank you," so whenever I finish reading an unfamiliar writer's work that I really enjoyed, I always take the time to contact them via web sites or blogs and say thanks. It's always a sincere thanks, too.
Often, these "thanks" notes have led to long strings of conversation. I've had lengthy email exchanges with a certain famous insomniac sci-fi writer who was also up and on Gmail at 3:00 a.m. -- and found funny little things I have in common with several literary writers and one well-known fantasy writer, and up-and-coming genre authors who nobody has heard of...yet. They're all equally amazing to me, if they managed to write something that really grabbed me and made me want to tell them how their work touched me. That's a rare thing.
In my experience, writers are friendly, fun people who love to talk about their passions. Always, these conversations started as a "thanks for writing such a great book/story -- I really enjoyed it" from me. I think everybody appreciates thanks, and loves to know that their work has made a difference in another person's life.
However, I would never presume to ask for tips or referrals. Chatting about fun stuff is one thing, but assuming they'll be willing to help me with my career is too off-putting for me to think about. I can get where they are the same way they did it: Hard work, research, taking risks, and persistence.
Or are there just so many hangers-on that these folks live like hermits, sequestered months on end in their book-lined studies?
Haha -- no. Professional writers are all over the place, leading nice, normal social lives with their friends and families. They're probably sitting at the next booth in the restaurant, perusing the shelves at book stores right next to you, and taking too long to write a check at the grocery store while you wait impatiently.
They aren't different or special or mystical or shining with glory -- they're just hard workers.
I don't think people around here are ever surprised to see her, though, because she's lived here for so long. If anyone ever wanted to chat with her, they should look up her projects and volunteer to work on them, btw.
