Bret Lott’s Hail and Farewell

I’ve never met him in person. I know him only by his work, some interviews and a few kind words I’ve received from him about my writing. Bret Lott is stepping down from his position as editor of The Southern Review, one of the finest literary journals anywhere, to return to teaching.  That he wants to return to teaching is no surprise. Mr. Lott says, “nothing compares with working with a student toward that instant of discovery.” One of the joys of teaching is making a difference in other people’s lives. Writers do this at a remove, teachers, first hand. Teachers are part of a living work in progress. And if C.S. Lewis is right, teachers never work with mere mortals.

Writers often lead cobbled together lives, and that may be a good thing. Writing full time or perching full time in the literary world can be restrictive. At least for me, it can lead to an excess of naval gazing. And really, my naval  just isn’t that interesting.The intrusion of daily life that forces us from our keyboards, is the very stuff that gives writers something interesting to say.

The literary world certainly is richer because of Brett Lot; I suspect many students are as well.  Read the excerpt from his new novel, Ancient Highway, in the spring issue of The Southern Review, you’ll see what I mean.