Burroughs releases book and film

Marcella Veneziale Arts Editor

Although a late-blooming author, Augusten Burroughs has been writing his entire life. He is the author of Sellevision, Dry, Running with Scissors, and the recent paperback release Magical Thinking. His books consist of series of anecdotes from his personal experiences strung together. Burroughs describes himself in “Mark the Shrink,” an essay from Magical Thinking, as “the alcoholic, high-school dropout, Anne Sexton fan, advertising copywriter who was raised in a cult by a crazy psychiatrist.” His works are culled from these experiences and many, many more, and the author’s rise to literary fame has been remarkable.

Magical Thinking is Burroughs’ most recent essay collection, and stories from different periods throughout his life provide him with inspiration. The book begins with an anecdote from his earlier childhood, which was spent in western Massachusetts. His picture-perfect town is invaded by publicists from New York looking for children to appear in a Tang drink commercial. He gets the role, although it backfires somewhat, and his mother suggests that he could move to Hollywood, which fuels his childhood escapist fantasies and feelings of being in the wrong place.

Burroughs’ feelings of not belong as a child resurface in the essay “Vanderbilt Genes,” in which his family takes a trip to the Vanderbilt mansion. Burroughs believes that this is his long-lost home, that his parents have kidnapped him from his real family, and that he was always meant to live in the comfort of utter luxury. Clearly, his sense of imagination is manifest at an early age, and continues throughout stories which document his adult life as well. He openly discusses his experiences in the gay dating scene, leaving little detail to the imagination. He is able to connect with the reader, and anyone could relate to his excruciating first date experiences.

Burroughs began his writing career in advertising, and in a recent conversation said that this path had helped him in crafting his books as well. He commented that the discipline of keeping to deadlines was important, especially, “…writing even when [I didn’t] feel like it.” He also comments on working in advertising in Magical Thinking, beginning with his earliest impressions in the first story, to working with others in the advertising field in his adult life.
Burroughs has often been compared to David Sedaris for their similar writing styles and backgrounds. Both write in a comparable stylistic manner, crafting books out of essay compilations based on personal experiences, but Burroughs said that he, “[hasn’t] even met him [Sedaris].” As for past authors who have affected him, he cites Edith Wharton’s novels as a source of pleasure and admiration.

Burroughs also contributes a column to Details magazine, and spoke about the differences between writing novels and journalistically. While he does not prefer one more than the other, he did say that he has, “never used the same ideas for stories and the column” and that magazine writing is rewarding in its own respect, and that he “[gets] to meet fun people” in this career as well. He has also worked in radio, particularly for National Public Radio (NPR), but says that he is “not really involved anymore.”

Burroughs’ most recent foray is into film, and his book Running with Scissors has been adapted for the screen and is set to be released in 2006. He did not have significant control over the adaptation of his novel into the film script, but commented that he, “put [his] trust in really good script writers.” He also stated that “It is in post-production, and I have seen the first 20 minutes,” and considers the film crew’s work to be faithful to his story.
Burroughs’ next book, Possible Side Effects, which continues his anecdotal style, is also scheduled for a 2006 release.