"The first version of The Beautiful Room Is Empty was the first mss. I'd ever submitted to New York editors"
About this Quote
Edmund White's quote about "The Gorgeous Space Is Empty" reveals several layers of insight into both his personal journey as an author and the more comprehensive challenges come across in the publishing world. The statement highlights a milestone in White's profession, highlighting the minute he transitioned from composing privately to seeking validation and publication from expert editors in New York, a significant center for literary publishing.
By referring to this work as the "first mss. [manuscript]", White hints at the vulnerability and optimism inherent in sending one's imaginative efforts for critique and possible publication. A manuscript represents the conclusion of the writer's thoughts, emotions, and experiences. For White, sending it to editors represents a leap into the expert arena, where subjective artistic expression satisfies the realities of commerce and review.
The choice to submit the manuscript in New York is especially telling. New York stands as a beacon in the publishing world, home to some of the most influential publishing homes and literary agents. It recommends that White had high goals for his work, intending to get into a competitive and prestigious market. This decision most likely shows his confidence in the narrative's depth and its prospective resonance with a larger audience.
Moreover, the title "The Beautiful Room Is Empty" itself evokes styles of lack and yearning, suggesting that the manuscript may check out complex, introspective themes. White's work often explores the complexities of identity and sexuality, and this manuscript could be an extension of such themes, even more suggesting why finding the ideal editorial collaboration in New York was important.
In summary, this quote marks a considerable action in Edmund White's literary profession-- with all the anticipation, challenges, and aspirations embedded in that moment. It exposes the courage needed to use one's work to the analysis of the literary establishment and reflects the ambition to reach wider audiences through recognized channels.
About the Author