A Lady's Guide to Selling Out Literary Elements

Contemporary

Modern-day Minneapolis.

It is narrated in first-person from Casey Pendergast’s point of view.

Lively, upbeat, funny, and self-critical.

Protagonist: Casey Pendergast; Antagonist: Corporate interests.

The story focuses on a young writer navigating the corporate world of advertising while remaining true to herself. Through the rat race and the successes in the field, several costs come with the new territory.

The climax is reached after Casey wakes up to find an online shaming campaign against her by the masses.

Casey references the cancel culture which foreshadows the social media campaign to cancel her.

“One thing I’ve always loved about work is that it doesn’t let you dwell” This is an understatement considering that work-life defines Casey’s entire life.

“I’d embarked on a stream-of-consciousness think piece about the previous night’s episode of Survivor. I told her that, if I were on the show, I’d start by wearing my tribe bandanna as a bikini top so everyone would underestimate me.” The novel occasionally references television shows. Survivor is alluded to in this case.

“Susan’s boss and the owner of the studio, Dudley—a bald little toadstool of a man—was talking to the toddler’s father, one of those corporate guys who stands with his legs far apart and talks so loud his face and thick neck are always red. The guy was wearing a white turtleneck and a Norwegian sweater.”

The contradiction in Casey’s life is living a bourgeoisie lifestyle while trying to maintain her bohemian ideals..

The narrative draws a parallel between writers who choose to sell out and seek higher pay and those who stick to the craft. Casey and her best friend represent these opposites in the literary community.

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“A siren began its sad twirling.”