REALITY OF A PRISON WRITER 8——Emmanuel Theus-Roberts
Few Things a prisoner does outside of whatever labors are assigned are considered useful or productive. Even some of the obligatory work is deemed “busy work”.
You can imagine how much lesser a prisoners writing is regarded. My experience has been having my scribbling deemed busywork is deemed a “compliment”. Compliment as in at least I’m busy versus the majority who watch TV crime-dramas and vegetate. Though the hours I spend cemented at my cell’s desk, hunched forward, writing 1/8-inch-tall letters with a four inch pen cartridge encased in a clear, bendy plastic tube, are definitely not a mindless occupation.
Generally, prison writers’ engagement in the craft and professional pursuit of writing is little more than a triviality as far as corrections employees are concerned. Most who learn I’m a published writer express a category of confusion mixed with disbelief and curiosity. Almost all are curious if I’m serious. Prisoners do tend to say the craziest things after all.
Once they see that I am an actual “writer”, an appraising look appears accompanied by a tone of re-evaluation: Can’t be as insignificant as most believe if some actually busy editor took time not only to read but also to publish it.
Over the last five years I’ve had nth number of these “show-and-tell” encounters. While I doubt I’ll ever tire of shattering misconceptions about prison writing being busywork; I only hope those I’ve enlightened will help their colleagues have a similar renaissance in perspective.
After all is said and done, the value of literature is in its words not the condition of its author.
Prison Writers Support Organization 