Last month, I graduated from the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts with my sparkly new MFA. My fellow grads were kind enough to elect me as their commencement speaker.
Among other things, I said this:
There are benefits to a writing career. Nicholas Taleb, in his book Antifragile, says that in most careers – teacher, banker, janitor – the unexpected is bad news. (He calls this the “turkey problem”: most turkeys are fed and cared for, day after day – it’s very predictable… until Thanksgiving, when those turkeys confront the unexpected.) Most professionals don’t like surprises, because the biggest, most career-changing surprise possible is downsizing, budget cuts – sudden unemployment. And what’s the best surprise they can hope for? A Christmas bonus? A three-percent raise? Teachers, bankers, and janitors crave the status quo.
Writers love surprises. We struggle to escape the status quo, because in our business, that’s called “breaking out.” For us, the unexpected is good news. We don’t get downsized. For us, the biggest, most career-changing surprise possible is sudden best-sellerdom.
Plenty of turkeys are optimists, but wouldn’t be if they could see the future. Plenty of writers are pessimists, but wouldn’t be if they could see the future.
A lot of people seem to have enjoyed the rest of the speech as well. And trust me — the line about lentils was really, really funny.
Novel Dog 
Yes, the line about lentils was very funny. I was just re-reading your speech online. Loved it. Glad I graduated with such a talented and driven person.
Thank you, Felicia! I’m so glad we could graduate together.
Noveldoggers, here is a short story by Felicia Elam.
I really enjoyed your book and the characters in it and especially the fantasy that went with them. I didn’t want the book to end, and was very sad to see Bogg and pup go, I wanted to travel some more with them. In my opinion, which you didn’t asked for, I think you are a better writer than Stephen King, you kept me so engrossed. Thank you for letting me read a really good book written by you, I so enjoyed it. Judy Quirion
I am truly amped that you liked New World. Thank you very much, Judy!
(Say, did you know the sequel’s out? Check book news for the latest.)