{"id":10313,"date":"2025-04-02T21:11:25","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T21:11:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/?page_id=10313"},"modified":"2025-04-02T21:11:26","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T21:11:26","slug":"unveiling-history-and-craft-a-conversation-with-david-perry-on-writing-identity-and-the-publishing-world","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/home-2\/the-words-march-2025\/unveiling-history-and-craft-a-conversation-with-david-perry-on-writing-identity-and-the-publishing-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Unveiling History and Craft: A Conversation with David Perry on Writing, Identity, and the Publishing World"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Peyton Williamson \u201927<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"David<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On a chilly March afternoon, Professor Coral Lumbley sat down with David M. Perry, a distinguished journalist, author, and medieval historian, to discuss the intersections of history, writing, and the complexities of the publishing world in another of the English department\u2019s fabulous Literary Salons. Perry\u2019s work spans an array of topics, from the history of medieval times to the modern-day struggles of masculinity, disability, and identity. His journey into the world of writing, as well as his perspectives on the craft itself, provided some valuable insights for many of the budding writers and scholars in the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perry began by sharing a bit about his academic background, noting that he earned his Ph.D. in Medieval History from the University of Minnesota in 2006, and his first job out of graduate school brought him to none other than our beloved Macalester College, where he worked in Old Main itself. His career trajectory later took him to a job in Chicago, where he spent the next decade teaching. Yet despite his academic success, Perry described his entry into public writing as somewhat unexpected. He recalled his very first piece, published in the Star Tribune<\/em>, and described how writing essays became his way of channeling his frustration with the world: \u201cI get pissed off about things and then write essays.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, Perry expanded his writing, delving into topics such as the Pope\u2019s retirement in 2013 for CNN<\/em> and exploring the connections between history, parenting, and identity. His writing often reflects his personal experiences\u2014particularly as a father raising a son with Down syndrome who later came out as transgender as well. Perry explained that his writing process involves turning his thoughts and emotions into essays, which allow him to process complex feelings. \u201cWriting is about thinking,\u201d he said, underscoring that the act of writing transforms his ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, Perry spoke about one of his most significant contributions to the literary world: his book The Bright Ages<\/em>, which aims to challenge the long-standing notion that the medieval period was simply a time of darkness and ignorance. Perry emphasized the importance of making history accessible to everyone, not just those who willingly enroll in medieval history courses. His books are intended to reach a broader audience, breaking down academic barriers and introducing readers to historical insights that resonate with the present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite his success, Perry was candid about the realities of the publishing world, noting that the industry is often more about sales than the quality of the writing itself. \u201cThe success of a book is out of your control,\u201d he said. He noted the phenomenon of the \u201cvanishing midlist author population\u201d in nonfiction publishing, and how difficult it is for books to make an impact unless they sell well. Yet, despite these challenges, he still believes in the importance of writing with purpose. \u201cIf you\u2019re interested in the industry, you have to read about it\u2014essays, books, and talking to authors too,\u201d he claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking to the future, Perry also shared some information about his next big book project, Men: The History of a Bad Idea<\/em>, which explores the history of patriarchy and its lasting consequences on society. As a historian, he says he turns to the past to find answers to personal crises, such as the challenges of parenting a child with special needs. He describes reading books on the history of Down syndrome as a way of understanding his own experiences. This approach to writing is deeply intertwined with his belief that the act of writing is inherently transformative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the key takeaways Perry emphasized was his belief in the importance of collaboration. He highlighted the value of co-authoring and shared insights into his collaborative process with fellow writer Matthew Gabriele (his Bright Ages<\/em> co-author). \u201cIt\u2019s a question of trust,\u201d Perry explained. \u201cHumanities needs to be more intentional about creating opportunities for co-authorship, especially among graduate students and emerging scholars.\u201d He described how he and Matt rewrite each other\u2019s sentences, often \u201cworking over each other\u2019s drafts\u201d in a fluid way. This approach to collaboration, according to him, is what leads to the creation of a truly cohesive and engaging work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afterwards, Perry answered some questions from students and also provided valuable advice on how to navigate the challenges of writing in various forms. He stressed the importance of being a \u201ccareful observer of life,\u201d taking detailed notes, and using those observations to craft meaningful narratives. \u201cThe best version of me,\u201d he said of the editorial process, \u201cis when my drafts are taken and turned into something better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the conversation drew to a close, he offered a final reminder that the act of writing should always be seen as a process of growth\u2014both personal and professional. Hearing about his commitment to the craft and his willingness to help others in their writing journeys was inspiring. Overall, it was a fantastic night!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Peyton Williamson \u201927 On a chilly March afternoon, Professor Coral Lumbley sat down with David M. Perry, a distinguished journalist, author, and medieval historian, to discuss the intersections of history, writing, and the complexities of the publishing world in another of the English department\u2019s fabulous Literary Salons. Perry\u2019s work spans an array of topics, […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1025,"featured_media":0,"parent":10315,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10313","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10313","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1025"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10313"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10313\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10347,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10313\/revisions\/10347"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}