Rent Sometimes a Great Notion: A Tale of Creative Competition and Rivalry

The Stegner Fellowship Class in Fiction at Stanford University in September 1960 was no ordinary gathering of aspiring writers. The room was filled with an impressive array of talent, each individual determined to make their mark on the literary world. Among them stood Ken Kesey, a lumberjack-like figure who would not have been out of place alongside Paul Bunyan and his trusty blue ox.

As Kesey took out his pages and assumed the first position, there was a palpable air of tension in the room. The class had already produced over 60 books, with notable authors like Jim Hall, Gurney Norman, Dave Godfrey, Robin Macdonald, and Christopher Koch already making their mark on the literary scene. Yet, Kesey seemed undaunted by the competition. He was there to make a statement, and his imposing presence commanded attention.

Malcolm Cowley, a seasoned literary warrior, turned off his hearing aid, taken aback by the sheer force of Kesey's ego. The class was primed for battle, with each writer determined to outdo their peers. This was no ordinary gathering; it was an arena where egos would be bruised and reputations made.

Kesey's entrance marked a turning point in the semester. Frank O'Connor taught the class in the spring, but Kesey's presence had already set the tone for the fall term. He was there to assert his dominance, to prove that he was the alpha male among this group of talented writers.

The minute Ken Kesey walked into the room, it was clear that rent sometimes a great notion – and he meant to take center stage. The competition was fierce, but Kesey's confidence was unwavering. He would stop at nothing to make his mark on the literary world, even if it meant ruffling a few feathers along the way.

The Stegner Fellowship Class in Fiction was a hotbed of creative energy, where rivalries and egos collided. It was an environment that fostered growth, pushed writers to their limits, and inspired some of the most iconic works of American literature. Ken Kesey's arrival marked the beginning of a new chapter in this storied history, one that would be filled with tension, competition, and ultimately, literary genius.

Rent sometimes a great notion