READER’S FORUM

June 10, 2024 at 03:38 pm Reply
Emmett Foster Dix
Mr. Korman,

Greetings! I hope all is well with you. My name is Emmett. I am a senior in high school and am currently doing an assignment for school that requires me to answer a few questions. While it may appear as if I am simply being lackadaisical by not doing my own research to find the answer to the questions, my intentions were more geared towards getting the most authentic and up-to-date answers possible—straight from my chosen author himself! You are neither obliged to answer any questions nor are you expected to. With this being said, I would be extremely appreciative if you could please help me out. Here are the questions below:
- $\"unchecked\"$
  How does the author’s background and life experience influence their writing?
- $\"unchecked\"$
  Were there any significant moments (historical or personal) that influenced the author’s life?
- $\"unchecked\"$
  What about this author’s background qualifies him or her to write about [INSERT TOPIC HERE]?
- $\"unchecked\"$
  Who are the author’s literary influences?
As previously stated, you do not have to answer any of my questions and even if you did it would have to be before 11am on Wednesday so I honestly would be shocked if you did!

Have a great rest of your week.

Respectfully,

Emmett Foster Dix
June 10, 2024 at 04:32 pm Reply

Emmett Foster Dix

object(stdClass)#893 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "25456" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2024-06-10 16:32:01" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2024-06-10 16:32:01" ["post_content"]=> string(58) "
I meant to say Thursday, not Wednesday. I apologize
" ["post_title"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(10) "reply-8630" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2024-06-10 16:32:01" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2024-06-10 16:32:01" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "25455" ["guid"]=> string(49) "https://gordonkorman.com/uncategorized/reply-8630" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }

I meant to say Thursday, not Wednesday. I apologize
June 10, 2024 at 04:45 pm Reply

object(stdClass)#892 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "25457" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2024-06-10 16:45:18" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2024-06-10 16:45:18" ["post_content"]=> string(1071) "
Hi, Emmett,

I'll try.

1) Background and life experience is everything. It determines what you find funny, or even if you do find anything funny. It determines your response to every situation that may come up. In essence, it determines who you are, and that absolutely affects what you write.

2) Not really, bcause they would have had to take place before the writing started, and that's when I was 10 or 11 and woefully short on life experience.

3) What qualifies me to write about (sports, school, kids)? Not a thing, except having lived the part.

4) My literary influences are a) Kurt Vonnegut and b) Joseph Heller. If my work ever even approached half of THE SIRENS OF TITAN, or CATCH 22, I would die content!

There. I answered (sort of) all of them. You have my permission to be shocked.

Regards, -----Gordon Korman-----
" ["post_title"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(10) "reply-8631" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2024-06-10 16:45:18" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2024-06-10 16:45:18" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "25455" ["guid"]=> string(49) "https://gordonkorman.com/uncategorized/reply-8631" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }

Hi, Emmett,

I'll try.

1) Background and life experience is everything. It determines what you find funny, or even if you do find anything funny. It determines your response to every situation that may come up. In essence, it determines who you are, and that absolutely affects what you write.

2) Not really, bcause they would have had to take place before the writing started, and that's when I was 10 or 11 and woefully short on life experience.

3) What qualifies me to write about (sports, school, kids)? Not a thing, except having lived the part.

4) My literary influences are a) Kurt Vonnegut and b) Joseph Heller. If my work ever even approached half of THE SIRENS OF TITAN, or CATCH 22, I would die content!

There. I answered (sort of) all of them. You have my permission to be shocked.

Regards, -----Gordon Korman-----
June 11, 2024 at 02:49 pm Reply

Emmett Foster Dix

object(stdClass)#891 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "25478" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2024-06-11 14:49:59" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2024-06-11 14:49:59" ["post_content"]=> string(92) "
Thank you very much, I am beyond grateful.

-Emmett
" ["post_title"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(10) "reply-8646" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2024-06-11 14:49:59" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2024-06-11 14:49:59" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "25455" ["guid"]=> string(49) "https://gordonkorman.com/uncategorized/reply-8646" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }

Thank you very much, I am beyond grateful.

-Emmett