Los Angeles Literary Scene (or lack of)

[harhar]

On the meta, it's probably because LA doesn't need to have a literary scene due to all of it's "talent" wrapped up in screenwriting and filmmaking. But I think there was a bit of a strawman in the OPs argument to begin with.

Not to mention a lot of people in LA are transplants; some with talent, but none of the longevity within the city to claim it as their own.

Also, the inherent bias and criteria the OP has against a burgeoning literary scene. Slake is legitimate and comes out 4 times a year. There have been other types of publications but they've been shot down by the OP as well.

In short, people that want to be literary gravitate to New York. And I'm sure that (ironically) a lot of people in those New York magazines and journals are transplants from OKC.

[SpaceMonkyPunks]

I'm pretty sure that LA has a huge writing scene...scriptwriting, that is.

Also, dare I say that LA doesn't have any prominent literary magazines because the many people here who work in Film or TV or new media know that print is deader than dead, and we were some of the first to start dancing on that grave.

[winoceros]

I'm not directly involved in the literary scene here because I'm not a writer, but I do attend events regularly. I want to categorically say that there is a really vibrant indie literary scene here. There are countless poetry events happening all over the city on a regular basis. There are book festivals that happen regularly. One was in Pacoima just last weekend. There was a large book festival at USC a few weeks ago. There was a book festival at Grand Park just a few weeks ago. All of these feature LA writers. There are a number venues that regularly feature LA writers such as Beyond Baroque in Venice. There are independent LA publishers such as Writ Large Press.

I don't know much about the publications, but I would be surprised if there aren't any at all. Definitely not on the level of the New Yorker, though. But to say there is no literary scene in LA is plain wrong.

[Cinema Cat]

Was the USC book festival the same one that usually happens at UCLA every year? Yeah, that's a big one. They even get C-SPAN coverage. I've been to that on the UCLA campus on year. And the Barnes & Noble near me, in Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade, has guest authors every other week or so. Ditto Santa Monica's libraries.

[Brookside]

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkyPunks

I'm pretty sure that LA has a huge writing scene...scriptwriting, that is.

Also, dare I say that LA doesn't have any prominent literary magazines because the many people here who work in Film or TV or new media know that print is deader than dead, and we were some of the first to start dancing on that grave.

This. The few print journals that exist have to whxxre it up for advertisers (even the New Yorker). And the pay compared with screenwriting doesn't cut it. Why bother?

To the list of Los Angeles literary luminaries, let me add Rachel Kushner, who has written two astounding novels: "Telex from Cuba" and "The Flamethrowers." The latter was a finalist for the National Book Award last year.

She lives in Echo Park.

[Gurbie]

Originally Posted by Brookside

This. The few print journals that exist have to whxxre it up for advertisers (even the New Yorker). And the pay compared with screenwriting doesn't cut it. Why bother?

To the list of Los Angeles literary luminaries, let me add Rachel Kushner, who has written two astounding novels: "Telex from Cuba" and "The Flamethrowers." The latter was a finalist for the National Book Award last year.

She lives in Hancock Park.

Thanks! I never heard of Kushner- Ill have to check her out... I mean, check out her novels. You know what I mean.