'Payment is in the process'

 

“No writer need feel sorry forhimself if he writes and enjoys it, even if he doesn't get paid.” – IrwinShaw

Born in New York City on this date in 1913, Shaw grew up in Brooklyn where hestudied writing at Brooklyn College, wrote his first successful stage play atage 21, and went on to become one of America’s most popularwriters.  Over his long successful career he wrote 10 novels, 10works for the stage, 15 screenplays, and a dozen short storycollections.  He was twice honored with the prestigious O. HenryAward for his short story writing.  He also did a number ofnonfiction works and had several of his stories made into successful movies,led by The Young Lions and Rich Man, Poor Man.

 

The Young Lions,which starred Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift, was based on Shaw’s ownexperiences serving as an Army Warrant Officer in Europe duringWWII.    Blacklisted after standing up to the infamousMcCarthy Commission in the mid-1950s, he returned to Europe and lived out his lifethere, dying in Switzerland in 1984.  

 

While Shaw often praised the work ofhis editors, he also said that “A good editor understands what you're talkingand writing about and doesn't meddle too much.”

“I haven't stuck to any formula,” he said. “Most great writers stick to the same style, but I wanted to be morevarious in what I did.”