“For about four months back in the 90s I kept what was once called a diary, and I enjoyed doing it but what happened was – and I think this is a very common response – is when you start living your life inside your diary you become quite mercenary, and it’s all about ‘will this make a good entry?’
Suddenly your life becomes that Warholian thing where every moment of your life should be something you can sell, you’re always taking pictures, taping everything, and then I think it’s just psychologically strange.”
Fortunately the schism between living a good entry and writing a good entry is wide enough that I’m spared Mr. Copland’s predicament. I am a big fan of Douglas Copland’s earlier books, but I can’t say I’ve ever assessed how much of an impact Microserfs has had on my life.
Chris Lamothe is a software developer flourishing in Banff, Canada.
