Comments on: An Open Letter to James Franco

By: Entry Show Preview: Eric Kocher |

Entry Show Preview: Eric Kocher | — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:02:32 +0000

[...] Oh, and here’s a great blog post he wrote about the actor James Franco entering his graduate program at the University of Houston: “An Open Letter to James Franco.” [...]

By: Rolamante

Rolamante — Wed, 11 May 2011 19:46:00 +0000

Come now. Let’s not behave like teenagers. I feel like I just read a very well-crafted diatribe addressed to a cotton field on the dangers of cotton candy. If writers can’t penetrate and move past the beastly allure of fame, they risk entanglement in the various nets of illusion cast by the world throughout our careers. I imagine Mr. Franco has plenty of his own feelings of inauthenticity and craving for validation to deal with, and I for one am glad I don’t have to hear about them. But by addressing the celebrity here rather than the person, you seem more interested in getting attention for yourself than opening up a productive conversation.

I wouldn’t bother posting this except for the moments above where you lapse into speaking for writers as a group, despite your (correct) claims to the unable to do so. I’d appreciate being left out of your narcissistic anxieties. We all have enough of our own to contend with.

By: A Ingrassia

A Ingrassia — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:03:00 +0000

Hi Eric, I saw this oe facebook, and I wouldn’t have read it if it wasn’t for James Franco in the title. You are a good writer- and I laughed out loud about your comment about decades of diary writing qualifying someone to think they’ll be the next Dickinson… keep up the good work!

By: Franco « amandaauchter

Franco « amandaauchter — Mon, 09 May 2011 20:46:31 +0000

[...] What we are all thinking: read my friend Eric Kocher’s Open Letter to James Franco at THEthe here. [...]

By: Matthew Siegel

Matthew Siegel — Mon, 09 May 2011 19:38:00 +0000

Why won’t you write me any letters? Because I don’t have a private jet? Sheesh. I’ll show you a private jet…

By: Jacqui Sutton

Jacqui Sutton — Mon, 09 May 2011 17:54:00 +0000

Eric: one hell of a post. I’ve heard you read your poetry, but did not know you were a slammin’ essayist too. Very thoughtful comments about image self-creation and the artistic community, no matter the niche. Lots of food for thought…

By: Jacqui Sutton

Jacqui Sutton — Mon, 09 May 2011 17:54:00 +0000

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:53:00 +0000

Really cool, and important, post. I recommend (while I caution against) the Washington Post’s article from this past Sunday about self-publishing. Frightening and exciting at once, especially if “making it” is what you really really want. Your approach is refreshing, though. It’s all about your community, whatever the size. Franco’s “made it” in a lot of ways, including writing. But that isn’t to say that Palo Alto is something worth reading, except for (if anything) your own encouragement. Keep up the good work!