Graphomania and Writing

Posted by Ed

I've always been intrigued by the idea of graphomania. You come across the concept with some frequency when you look at Soviet history and literature; when you belong to an email list for discussion among history grad students, you meet your share of graphomaniacs with a compulsion to subject others to all their thoughts and opinions (in the form of lengthy essays on politics and society). Even the compulsion to blog can be seen as a form of graphomania, and I'll freely admit that I suffer from that ailment.

In Sunday's Newsday, Scott McLemee reviews a new book on the biology behind hypergraphia and writing. It's fascinating stuff. I'd have liked some more details in the review, but perhaps I'll just have to go read the book...

On an unrelated note, there's hope for journalism yet: it seems that The Onion's post-9/11 coverage was considered for a Pulitzer Prize. (via Maud Newton)