December 2024 Auction Ends Thursday, December 12th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/12/2024
Sheldon Mayer's handwritten journal from 1957, shortly after the debut of Mayer's most famous creation ''Sugar and Spike'' a year earlier. Journal comprises 79 pages filled out by Mayer (75 handwritten and 4 with hand-edited typed pages stapled on), mostly with Mayer's thoughts on writing, as he generates new story ideas and works through his writer's block. Personal memories are also revealed, including analysis of his dreams.
Mayer seems to be struggling with writer's block in this journal, no doubt feeling the weight of the success of ''Sugar and Spike'', with the pressure that he had to top it. He writes in part, ''Why can't I get a strangle hold on an idea and play with it into 4 or 6 or 9 pages any more? Actually, I suppose what has really happened when I do that is, the idea has got a strangle hold on me. - And these days I'm too careful...'' He continues, ''Nothing but disconnected paragraphs - That's all I can manage to get down lately - And I can't hep reading 'em over again as I write 'em...there is a terribly strong feeling of frustration here.''
As the journal progresses however, Mayer loosens up, writing long excerpts for stories such as a young boy buying a horse that had killed its previous owners, and a compelling passage about a large gathering at a country house, where people are being murdered above guests' heads, unbeknownst to them as they laugh and enjoy their weekend. Another story idea involves a man in the 1860s accumulating a fortune from ill-gotten means and then coming back to life in the present day. Mayer also expresses that he'd like to write a novel or a play, and ponders what qualities make for a good writer, believing that distancing oneself from ''rules'' is key. He writes at length how Mark Twain did that successfully. Overall the content clearly shows Mayer wanting to pursue a career in writing and struggling to some extent with it.
In other content, Mayer reflects on many personal memories growing up in New York, shares his guilt that he should playing with his son instead of writing, and even interprets a dream he had about a neighbor stealing his pool liner, and feeling like he had no power to get it back. He attributes this dream to the way his mom would complain of her problems and being wronged, but never doing anything to improve the situation.
With much more interesting and personal, thoughtful content from one of the great comic minds of the 20th century. Spiral-bound journal measures 6'' x 9'', dated 9 June 1957 to 3 August 1957 on the front cover. Sheldon Mayer's stamp also appears on the front cover. Pages are completed in both pen and pencil; light toning, overall in very good plus condition. From the Sheldon Mayer estate.
Sheldon Mayer Handwritten Journal From 1957, Full of Story Ideas, Thoughts About Writing, Personal Memories and Stream of Consciousness Journaling -- Over 70 Handwritten Pages
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