An Artist's Rendition
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I am a fan of the personal essay. Within a personal essay, I learn about people, about passions, about other ways of thinking - all in one entertaining and honest piece. Kim Taylor, of Radio Free Bubba fame, has mastered this “tradition” as Philip Lopate calls the personal essay (xxiii). Taylor shines through the paper, and we are able to see the person which she is as we read through her essays. She is a personal essayist that sees the certain unity to [the] human experience and wants to share it with the rest of us (Lopate xxiii).

Personal in Form

As a form used to present information about research and which is formal in tone, the essay strikes fear in unsuspecting students, yet to think of the essay solely as an impersonal writing is absurd. According to Peter Elbow and Pat Belanoff, referring to Michel de Montaigne - the creator of the essay -in writing about this new from he was developing, Montaigne says that its purposes are deeply personal (239). Then there is more to the essay than what English and Psychology teachers lead students to believe; it is probably best to view essays as Elbow and Belanoff illustrate: a continuum from personal to impersonal (240). Therefore an individual essay stands somewhere in this continuum, between the personal and impersonal.

With two extremes and a hazy middle, it’s probably best to define this fuzzy essay idea. Lopate quotes Holman and Harmon’s A Handbook to Literature to explain the difference; while the impersonal (or formal) essay has a serious tone, is logically organized and stresses a serious purpose, the personal shows a contrast in which the personal element and style of the essay are more important than the topic (xxiii). Lopate, however, sees the personal essay as a subset of the informal and continues to describe this subset as intimate, conversational and autobiographical according to A Handbook of Literature (xxiv). To distinguish the personal essay from what Lopate calls a close cousin, the familiar essay, he emphasizes that the personal essay […] tends to put the writer’s I or idiosyncratic angle more at center stage(xxiv). As such, Lopate adds a distinct definition to the personal essay by forming the continuum around formal and informal rather than personal and impersonal so as to subset and contrast the personal from the informal. While they both contain humor, personality, and graceful style, Lopate argues the difference is the personal essay’s center around the writer.

From the continuum, Kim Taylor’s essays in The Best of Radio Free Bubba correspond more with the informal style, or rather it’s subset, the personal. Taylor’s essays contain the humor, personality and grace seen in informal essays, as well as the idiosyncratic angle Lopate talks about. Some of the more common characteristics of the personal essay seen in Taylor’s writing include the conversational mode, and it’s autobiographical theme.

In writing about oatmeal, Taylor has a dialogue with herself on how to respond when some one says, “You haven’t tried MY oatmeal” (“Oatmeal” 42). She offers many answers to herself, or rather the reader; this inner dialogue, explains Lopate, is how the essayist converses with the reader (xxiv). Lopate argues that this conversational attitude is what serves to establish a quick emotional intimacy with the audience - an important essence in the personal essay (xxv). This conversational established intimacy can be seen in Taylor’s The Flu. However, in this “conversation”, the participants are not only her, rather she includes the reader as she gives advice on how to cope with a flu. Taylor advises the reader that it is in their best interest to visit a pharmacy early in the flu symptoms; because flu victims suffer brain lock, she points out, you’ll have to deal with a flock of people at the cold remedies isle that you might just want to announce: Panty hose on isle three (“The Flu” 36, 37).

This advice comes from personal experience, Taylor confides in you in the first sentence of “The Flu” that she is just recovering from the flu. Even though her essay focuses on how to make the flu a livable experience, she can only do so by having had the flu - Taylor states that because of her recovery, she is now the expert (36). This is the autobiographic part of the personal essay. Never complete, the personal essay reveals little about the biography of the author, only enough to connect with the reader and make their point. As readers, we learn little about Taylor from her essay “Oatmeal,” only that her appreciation of oatmeal is in par to cats liking dogs. Yet, through this little history, Taylor explains and expands - using dialogue with herself - to show the reader a person that dislikes when others try to succumb her to their views.

In the continuum of essays, from the formal to the informal, Taylor’s essays are present within the personal essay. They are intimate, conversational, autobiographical, and graceful. Her essays convey a person with an idea, rather than a well-presented topic with humor and metaphors as sprinkles on a cake. More accurately, Taylor’s writing serves the purpose given by Montaigne - a deeply personal purpose.

Stylistic Ways

If not for style, all papers, essays and such would be bland, machine constructed nonsense. Though there is a style that is intended as such, John R. Trimble reasons that this “lofty, formal style” has sustained itself from a dogma in which only this style is appropriate for serious writing (70). In such writings content is king, yet reading the content becomes a struggle because of a lack of personality in the style. Unless the writing is intended to be machine-like, lofty and formal, Trimble suggests writing in “General English,” which is devoid of formality and is easier to read (73). Susan Britt recognizes the need for common essays to achieve a style, which differs from this dogmatic thinking. In order to complete this goal, writers must imprint a style of their own; one, that as Britt comments, must balance […] substance and style, [balance] what you are saying and the way in which you say it (286). Taylor has successfully imprinted such a style into her works. Her style includes elements such as figurative language, and patterns.

In “Pizza Delivery”, Taylor describes a situation that leaves her with the “New York Waitress Syndrome” (20). Though she was not a waitress in the particular situation, rather a pizza delivery girl, the words “New York Waitress Syndrome” add color to her emotions, more easily explaining her status. This is figurative language. In describing figurative language, Britt asserts, words carry denotative (literal) and connotative (figurative) meanings and that while figurative means not literal, figurative language is used to make literal meanings (304). “New York Waitress Syndrome” works in this same way, though Taylor doesn’t literally mean she’s a New York waitress she does literally mean she would be behaving as such. Taylor also shows figurative language while discussing her Brain Clerks. When they get bored, she cautions, her brain clerks start sending images from Kwondo land (“Brain”, 58).

Taylor sprinkles through her essays colorful figurative language, yet there’s another stylistic element she uses - one that imprints herself as a writer. This element is patterns. Donald McQuade and Robert Atwan write about this element as not always obvious, instead it is only when we begin to detect in our reading a certain kinds of repeated elements […] we become aware that someone is deliberately shaping experience or ideas in a special matter (5). Taylor’s repeated element is one that though appears only once an essay; it is repeated through her essays. It is a signature in her essays, a style defined by Taylor: her witty and short conclusions. After claiming her stand against oatmeal and others pressuring her, for example, her conclusion finishes with What I wouldn’t have given for some nice, hot oatmeal (Oatmeal, 44). She concludes with a little irony; surely with her disgust of oatmeal she wouldn’t be wishing for some now? Or after having explained her addiction to solitaire that leads her to invest on a computer - which she tries to defend by claiming it was really for the kids - Taylor sums up with Well, I’d love to stay and chat, but I haven’t played solitaire in like two minutes (Solitaire, 122). Again, though not ironic - more satirical - she ends on a humorous note, which tries to point out something in all of us. Taylor ends her essays in this humorous, looking back manner that “signs” her essay and style.

In short, Taylor shows her imprinted style in the essays she writes. Not a formal and lofty, rather a more personal style. This personal style she uses - including her figurative language, and witty, sometimes ironic and satirical conclusions - enhance her essays, making them easy to read and as such, enjoyable. Such a style is what Trimble calls a “readable style,” or a style that “invites reading” and is imprinted throughout Taylor’s essays (69).

Essay Personality

A uniqueness of the personal essay is that as we read, we learn as much about the writer as we do about the subject. The essay then becomes a medium to communicate a point and describe a person - the writer.

There are different ways an essay represents this, one of the elements used is honesty. Lopate declares that in a personal essay, honesty is a necessity; the conversational manner sets an intimate relation, or a more precisely, a contract between the reader and the essayist, which the essayist must abide by with his honesty (xxv). Lopate further explains that this honesty is central to the personal essay so often the ‘plot’ of a personal essay […] consists of how far the essayists can drop past his or her psychic defenses toward deeper levels of honesty (xxv). Yet this honesty exposes the artists habits of thoughts and so reveals their personality (Lopate xxvii).

In her essay “Nauga” Taylor talks about a friend who got a gun after her house had been broken into. As readers we learn of Taylor’s personality, she is a caring friend, is prone to the if you can’t beat them, join them mentality, and is uncomfortable with guns. The honesty moves the plot of the essay; being a considerate, Taylor tries to stop her friend from purchasing a gun, suggesting a gun might have been used against her (101). After failing she tries sympathy, asking, wouldn’t you feel worse now if you had shot him? (101). Seeing her friend’s persistence - her friend takes a firearms course and receives a concealed weapons permit -Taylor confides that she can longer do anything and so offers her friend suggestions on a portable protector (102). Yet, through the conversational tone, we can see that Taylor is uncomfortable with her friend having this gun; she describes it as a gift where you walk away holding it at arm’s length wondering what to do with it (102). Through Taylor’s honesty we as readers are able to see her personality.

Another element seen in personal essays, which reveals the writer’s personality is the adept[ness of essayists] at interrogating their ignorance (Lopate xxvii). Lopate illustrates that essayists are intrigued with their limitations, and this curiousity is what enables them to contract and expand the self (xxvii - xxviii). It is like the reverse of a set of Chinese boxes, Lopate points out; an essay starts out with the small package of flaws and limits, and through the essay’s successful articulation and the writer’s self-knowledge a bigger container appears, representing a person who knows his or her flaws and is celebrated because of them (xxviii).

Taylor confesses her flaw in Eastern North Carolina. The small box contains the flaw that she once believed that weather, geography and childhood pain were inextricably mixed (162). However, as she returns to her origin of eastern North Carolina, and sees her flaw, she encounters something new. Letting her honesty reveal the plot, Taylor slowly pokes and prods her small box, encountering new meaning to the land she left as she questions her way of thought. At last, the small box collapses, revealing a bigger entity, one in which Taylor recognizes her flaw and is able to separate her old memories from the land they were made.

Personal essays are just that - personal. They reveal a person, not just a topic or story. There are many ways that an essay reveals the writers personality. Honesty provides for the flow of the essay, and shows different levels of the essayist’s personality by the levels of honesty used. Writers reveal themselves in their writing through an interrogation of self - that looks at their flaws to better themselves. Taylor’s essays achieve this revealing of character through these as well as other elements. Her essays show a living, thinking person.

The Reader and the Essayist

When I read, I read to be entertained or to be informed. Personal essays accomplish both these tasks while introducing a writer. Actually, essays introduce more than a writer; they show a person that thinks, feels, has personality, and is human. As I read Kim Taylor, I can see the kind of person she is - compassionate, caring, funny, sarcastic, and loving. However, as I continue reading and learning more about this great person, the honesty which flows though her writings invites me to become more comfortable with Taylor as a friend, or older sister, rather then a writer.

In “The Flu”, for example, Taylor wants to make sure no one has problems dealing with this nasty virus. Taylor urges as a friend would urge. She includes us, the reader, by putting an arm around our shoulder and telling us all the little things we should be doing. And like a friend who cares the rest, Taylor sacrifices herself by giving us this information. When she later says There was some other stuff I wanted to tell you but I can’t seem to remember… What was I talking about? Taylor shows us that while she maybe the local flu expert that wants to help the rest, she’s still affected and presents a bravado because she is still recovering (38).

I think of Taylor as more of an older sister than a friend because of her humor and light attitude towards life. Kim Taylor resembles my real sister in this way. When Taylor recounts a story, she knows exactly what I will be interested on and knows how to make it enjoyable. She knows when to add some comedy, and when to be serious. As Taylor finds her flaws, she also finds flaws in the reader - that are general to all of us - and makes a witty comment that makes both sides laugh; similar to when she finishes Solitaire with I haven’t played solitaire in like two minutes (122). My sister loves to point out my faults, yet also knows she has some herself; and we always laugh as we encounter these faults.

I enjoy Taylor most of all because of her general positive view on life. Her essays focus on the bright side of things; whether they be a sad remembering of the past in “Eastern North Carolina” or a look into the design of perforated edges in “Blister Packs,” Taylor always sees something good. As she explores her inner self through her essays, she also keeps a great sense of humor; showing herself as one that not only accepts life as a wonderful thing, but lives it with a smile. For some time, my goal has been this very idea. In her essays, Taylor proves this, and so I see her as a mentor as well - showing me the path to a life I wish to live.

Works Cited

Barnhouse, Meg., et al. The Best of Radio Free Bubba. 2nd ed. Ed. John Lane, Betsy Wakefield Teter. Spartanburg, NC: Hub, 1999.

Britt, Susan. “Imprinting a Style.” A Writer’s Rhetoric. San Diego: Harcourt, 1988. 284 - 316.

Elbow, Peter and Pat Belanoff. “The Essay.” A Community of Writers. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1995. 239 - 241.

Lopate, Philip. “Introduction.” The Art of the Personal Essay. Ed. Philip Lopate. New York: Doubleday, 1994. xxxiii - liv.

McQuade, Donald and Robert Atwan. “Introduction for Students.” The Writer’s Presence. 2nd ed. Ed. Donald McQuade and Robert Atwan. Boston: Bedford, 1997. 1 - 8.

Taylor, Kim. “Brain Clerks.” Barnhouse et al. 57 - 59.

—-. “Flu, The.” Barnhouse el al. 36 - 38.

—-. “Nauga.” Barnhouse el al. 101 - 103.

—-. “Oatmeal.” Barnhouse el al. 41 - 44.

—-. “Pizza Delivery.” Barnhouse el al. 18 - 21.

—-. “Solitaire.” Barnhouse el al. 120 - 122.

Trimble, John R. “Tips for Increasing Your Readability.” Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1975. 69 - 82.