On my dresser I have a frayed and soft-cornered book called “McSorley’s Wonderful Saloon” by Joseph Mitchell. It was given to me by one of my favorite professors from SPU, Dr. Luke Reinsma.
As I went through college and got deeper into my Lit and Writing major, it became very apparent to me that I was not interested in writing fiction. I also did not want to write about myself. I wanted to write about other people. I wanted to write about musicians, artists, bums, mentally-ill wanderers, old men with curious habits and quick wits.
So, Luke and I would meet for coffee on certain afternoons and talk about profile writing. Luke gave me Joseph Mitchell’s book as the supreme example of how to write about another person. How to tell their story. How to place that person in a definite place and how to bring the reader along with straight facts and strong, simple sentences. I loved those stories and those simple sentences. I wanted to write my own. Luke helped me find a voice, a rhythm, a style of my own, all while trying to emulate Mitchell.
I recently published my favorite profile piece written so far. I have been working on this essay, in one way or another and with one mentor or another, for four or five years. The character of Henry is so complex and so deep, I never wanted to finalize it. But, after a number of internal events over the years and a number of spare hours at my warped wooden desk, it came time to publish “Show Chickens.”
I have no problem sharing my pride for this essay. I like reading it. I like my simple sentences. I like what I say and I like what I don’t say.
Please, enjoy. You can find it HERE.
