What do writers think?

Last week I said that I would query several Linkedin writers’ groups I belong to on the question of why Irish writing is universally appealing.  I thought I posed the question to several groups but received responses from only one group, the Writer’s Network.  I learned a great deal and as usual was both surprised and disappointed by the responses.

Initially, I posed the question:  What is it about Irish writing that gives it such universal appeal?   There was a deluge of negative responses and response completely off topic.  The very first response from G.F., “Nothing.”  Another response from BLD,”Americans have always admired European accents.”  First, I wasn’t aware that Americans had the corner on defining universal appeal and more importantly – accents?  The question was about writing not a theatrical performance?  The next response someone shared that they liked Scandinavian writers – ok – but please don’t waste time on my post sharing your opinion that’s off topic.  What was worse another person L.A. shared her love of Scandinavian literature and then the two of them hijacked the entire discussion responding to each other on their love of Scandinavian literature.  There were then three more comments on accents and two on English literature.  Wow!  I couldn’t believe it.  People need to read what they write before posting, I think it would reduce the number of posts by at least 50%.

At that point, I had to interject and I posted:  I only ask the question because I’m participating in an author panel at the Irish Book and Music Celebration in Chicago on Oct. 3-5.  Do you know that Irish writers have won 4 Nobel prizes for Literature from a county of 10 million people?   

The question couched in background material plus a bit of bragging about Irish writer’s accomplishments re-directed the discussion.  Let me share a few:

AVK:  There’s something about the way Irish writer’s use words that invites you in – even the really       gritty, dark stories have a sort of ethereal beauty that few other cultures have mastered.

RMH:  Biting wit and humor leaves you laughing or weeping and want to hear more.  Irish writers get to the heart of what is happening.

PM: English is heavily influenced by the syntax and phrasing of Gaelic.  My mother us to say things like, ‘That one has a tongue that could cut a hedge’ and in describing a short person, ‘A little come under me arm’ or a clumsy person, ‘He fell over a straw and a hen pecked him.’  It is this unique and colorful use of language that I think makes Irish writers in particular so entertaining and readable.

AW:  The Irish storytellers always aim for the emotional through-line.

DC:  Quoted an Irish adage.  ‘You must speak straight so that your words may go as sunlight into our hearts.’

J.K.  It’s almost as if their prose has the soul of poetry infusing it somehow.

SC:  The appeal of Irish writing is its heart and humanity

AWB:  In a nutshell, the Irish set us free from trivial pursuits that often plague and keep us from the better life.

RMH:  I am sure the descriptive prose of many Irish writers, serious or light hearted, stirs one’s imagination and brings to life the story. 

From these comments I’m beginning to draw a picture of the elements of Irish writing that appeal to readers.  I deeply appreciate the comments of most of those who responded.  However, I’m disappointed by those who feel the need to be negative and snarly or ignore the topic all together.  Frankly, I learned more from these comments than I did from all the research on Google.  There’s a lesson there.

Next week I will share with you my thoughts on why Irish literature is appealing.  Just a note, because Irish writing is appealing doesn’t exclude any other writing from other cultures or countries.  There’s no idea that Irish writing is BEST, just that it is APPEALING.