To everyone who contributed to this campaign in the past few days -- gofundme.com/braveoldworld -- thank you. It takes a few more words than I can fit on Twitter to say how grateful I am, so I did it here: facebook.com/claire.berlins…
When people say, "Oh, I like your work," you figure, "That's nice. That's polite." When they back it up by sending money, you know they mean it. No one sends money to a writer they deep down aren't that interested in.
Like everyone sane, I'm demoralized. I have no idea whether anything I write makes a damned bit of difference--we're looking at historic currents that are so much bigger than me that I can easily talk myself into thinking, "Writing a book about this is as narcissistic as it gets:
"Do you seriously, Claire, think what you're doing will change any of this? Do you realize how much bigger these forces are than you?"
But when I see that yes, some readers out there *do* actually think, "Well, who knows? Maybe she could help ...
But when I see that yes, some readers out there *do* actually think, "Well, who knows? Maybe she could help ...
"I mean, she can't do it all by herself, but at least she's making a useful contribution." ... It lifts my spirits so much I can hardly express it. Seeing that was like listening to Churchill's voice. (That's what I do when I'm disgusted with my own despair. And it's foolproof.
Feeling dispirited? Think what *he* was facing: winstonchurchill.org/resources/spee…) Audio here: winstonchurchill.org/resources/spee…. Anyway, my point is: Thank you, everyone. You and Winston did the trick.
"For my own part, looking out upon the future, I do not view the process with any misgivings. I could not stop it if I wished; no one can stop it.
"Like the Mississippi, it just keeps rolling along. Let it roll. Let it roll on full flood, inexorable, irresistible, benignant, to broader lands and better days."
