“What is an essay? An essay is a work of literary art which has a minimum of one anecdote and one ‘universal idea.’ If it has no anecdote, it is at best doctrine and at worst shouting in the motel bar. If it has no universal idea, and its anecdote is autobiographical, it is at best autobiog-raphy, at worst shouting in the motel bar. If it has no idea and its anecdote is not autobiographical but is true of someone else, it is at best biography or history, and at worst gossip. In any case, it is an essay as soon as it has both idea and true anecdote. And it is 3000% easier to write than a short story.”
– Carol Bly
