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From: mmar@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (Mitchell Marks)
Newsgroups: net.misc
Subject: Re: Writing, programming, music and mechanics
Message-ID: <341@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 1-Jul-86 14:13:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: sphinx.341
Posted: Tue Jul  1 14:13:46 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 4-Jul-86 09:23:15 EDT
References: <2671@sdcc6.UUCP> <1445@ihuxn.UUCP> <809@steinmetz.UUCP> <1761@wucec2.UUCP>
Reply-To: mmar@sphinx.UUCP (Mitchell Marks)
Organization: U Chicago
Lines: 15

In article <1761@wucec2.UUCP> ph@wucec2.UUCP (Paul Hahn) writes:
>	    Or, to put it another way: I suppose it is preferable to
>	have good ideas poorly written than bad ideas well written.  But
>	why can't we have good ideas well written?  Is it so difficult?
>						--pH

In an interview, John Barth was once asked for his views on the role of
technique in writing.  He replied that it's much like the role of technique
in lovemaking.  There is something to be said for heartfelt ineptitude, just
as there is for cold-blooded skill.  But what you really want is
passionate virtuosity.
-- 

            -- Mitch Marks @ UChicago 
               ...ihnp4!gargoyle!sphinx!mmar