So, today I struggled with coming up with meaning behind my novel. I mean, why am I writing it and why would anyone want to read it? I really have to thank my boyfriend, Chris, for his unending support. We talked for a long time about whether my novel should be more philosophical or more adventure-like - that is, following hours upon hours of trying to wrap my brain around a concept of religion/spirituality/science that took me deeper and deeper into more and more questions about existence in general, which in the long run doesn't even relate to what I am writing. Chris merely told me I already knew what I was going to write, and, of course, he was correct. Somehow I ended up coming back full-circle to practically the same spot where I had started. Although it feels a little like I didn't accomplish anything in my writing today, I really have. These thought provoking questions are really helping me to solidify my story.
Yesterday, I read Terry Brooks' Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life. I was thoroughly engrossed and inspired by this book, written by a well known fantasy author. His writing style was honest and open, while maintaining a hard edge of truth in relation to what it truly means to be a writer. The life of a writer should not be glorified - writing is hard work and although it seems like success is just around the corner, most of the triumphs are merely by luck and/or perseverance. He wrote: "Everyone asks a writer where he gets his ideas...The truth is that coming up with ideas is easy; it's making up the stories that grow out of them that's hard. Just sitting down and thinking about writing doesn't always work. It would be nice if it did, but the creative process is more complicated than simply deciding to create and then doing it" (p 90-91). On the other hand, Brooks sees writing as a gift that should not be squandered. I would suggest this book to anyone writing speculative fiction or general fiction as well.
Reading Brooks' book made me want to re-write everything I have written so far (the prologue through chapter 3), but after talking it over with Chris this seems like a big mistake. If I go back to the beginning and start over I will have lost all of the progress I have made up to this point. I may go back and edit a few things (mainly since I have changed a few of the plot lines and character arcs), but there won't be an overhaul until I have drafted the entire book (hopefully) and go through for final edits.
Funny enough, one of my favorite passages from the book is about the awkwardness of explaining what you write to people when you are involved in this genre: "Actually, my family and friends like me well enough, but they think I am weird. Or at least peculiar. I can't blame them. I should have grown up long ago, and yet here I am, writing about elves and magic" (p 5).
By the way, I purchased Terry Brooks' first published book, The Sword of Shannara, to read this quarter. I vaguely remember that this series was my first jump into the fantasy genre - I wish I could remember the books better, but maybe it's better I don't...
2 days ago
It's funny that you mention that quote that speaks to the awkwardness of explaining what genre you write for. My degree is in theatre and original works. The original works part was mostly creating and writing my own theatre pieces. Well I noticed I just always seemed to write childrens theatre and cartoon type stuff, and that is also what I enjoyed acting in. Honestly it is just what I enjoy but whenever I would tell people they would always look at me like I was nuts. But I like how he just owns that this is what he writes and it is what he does. That's cool.
ReplyDeleteIt's always a hard conversation to have when you write in a genre that isn't considered 'literary' in most minds. I think writing is writing. Some genres appeal to me more than others, but in the end, writing (no matter the form) is long, tough, frustrating work and should be respected.
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