When my undergraduate acceptance letter from the State University at Buffalo arrived many years ago, it included an invitation to their summer orientation program. After arriving on campus along with group of other freshmen, I was handed an orientation package.
The package included a copy of a paperback novel called The Floating Opera. The staff member who gave it to us explained that the author, John Barth, was a distinguished member of the school’s faculty and he earnestly instructed us to read the novel before returning for classes in September.
I began reading immediately, and found Barth’s Opera one of the most enjoyable books I’d ever read. More importantly, Barth’s writing opened a door for me that has never closed. I’d always been a reader and I’d been told I had writing talent, but somehow reading Barth’s work, it was like a tumbler fell into place.
I’m writing this primarily because John Simmons Barth passed away last month at the age of 93, and I feel the need to honor him. But also because Barth helped lead me into professional writing—and because I believe writing is one of the best avenues to success. At least it has been for me.
I originally chose Buffalo because it offered a dual major program in chemical engineering and English lit, which were both interests of mine. However, by Thanksgiving of that year I’d been in classes with too many strait-laced, pocket-protector-sporting, crewcut aspiring engineers to see engineering as a good fit for me. I knew that wasn’t who I was.
Even more than that, I was increasingly convinced that literature spoke to my soul.
After excelling as a freshman English major, I signed up for creative writing with John Barth the following year.
What an experience! Barth was a tall, gangly, prematurely balding man. I’d seen him trudging around the snow-covered Buffalo campus the prior winter wearing a serious expression and rubber galoshes with the fastening clips undone. The idea of sitting in a classroom with a man who I’d learned was a giant of American postmodernism was too thrilling for words.
John Barth did not disappoint. He spoke with a Southern twang, had a lop-sided grin, and told an apparently endless series of entertaining stories about life, about writing, whatever came into his mind. He made every class engaging and, at the end of the semester, he hand-scrawled on my final paper that my writing had shown “considerable ability.” I’ve kept that paper with me ever since.
I credit him with giving me the confidence to use writing throughout my career, whether it was the years I spent in public relations, my work as a marketer, consultant, and agency exec, or the consulting and copywriting work I continue to do. But, knowing how very hard it is to get published, I’m most gratified that I’ve joined the ranks of published authors with my new book, Brand Positioning With Power, from Business Expert Press. I hope John Barth would be proud.