So, I read an amazing article by Zadie Smith, author extraordinaire, in of course, The Believer, in which she talks (this is a transcript of a speech given to Columbia's MFAs) about the art of writing, and the fraudulent nature of giving such a speech and then doing it anyway. So, I will admit, I am a sucker for any kind of anything about the art of writing. Maybe it's the editor in me, but I have always loved those prefaces, speeches, impromptu lectures given by those who can really write. I can not really write. I love, as many of you know, fiction, especially short stories, but really all stories, long, longish, longer than should be allowed (Finnegan's Wake anyon
e?). I love books that force me to stay up all night to read them in one sitting, which I hope all of you know, is the best way to read a book. But still, I can't fucking write something, man, as The Dude would say. Sure, I can write music reviews, which, BTW, is something I fell into more out of desperation to look cool and just write anything more than a real passion of mine. Yes I heart music. Yes I have STRONG opinions about music. OK occasionally I'll write something about music that doesn't make me want to bury my head in the sand, But really? All I've ever wanted to do is write about books and I have never done it. Not. Once. Except on this blog. Which doesn't count. Because 6 people (whom I'm love love love) read it. Because I don't take risks with books like I take with music. Because they matter THAT MUCH. Fuckity fuck fuck. ANYWAY, so that article by ZS (PLEASE scroll back up and click on the link and read the damn thing I've asked you to do this ONCE in the entire life of this blog and I would love for others to read it and feel as daunted as I did) made me feel better and I was wondering why until I realized that I had officially stopped thinking of myself as a writer. Holy shit. NO kidding. I don't write fiction anymore. I just realized that. Despite the fact that I have not written a short story in six years or shown anyone something I've written (fiction) in three, I just realized after reading that article, THAT I DON'T THINK OF MYSELF AS A WRITER, anymore. I am no longer a writer, I am an editor, (at heart), secretly. I don't know that I could ever write, not for real, not like Sara, making sacrifices and spinning sentences as easily as a spider spins webs. Certainly not like ZS, (bitch) who published her first (amazing) novel at 21, nor like any of the hack genre fiction writers whose work comes through the doors of my job everyday. Nora Roberts may indeed be a robotic octopus writer with a human head (affectionately known as Noraroboctopus at work) who turns out more crap novels in a year than I have bowel movements in a month, but at least she puts pen to paper (or tentacle to keyboard as the case may be)and puts her crappy genre fiction bull shit out there. Sigh. ANYWAY, I thought that ZS gave some really good advice, advice I could have used when I was actually writing.
e?). I love books that force me to stay up all night to read them in one sitting, which I hope all of you know, is the best way to read a book. But still, I can't fucking write something, man, as The Dude would say. Sure, I can write music reviews, which, BTW, is something I fell into more out of desperation to look cool and just write anything more than a real passion of mine. Yes I heart music. Yes I have STRONG opinions about music. OK occasionally I'll write something about music that doesn't make me want to bury my head in the sand, But really? All I've ever wanted to do is write about books and I have never done it. Not. Once. Except on this blog. Which doesn't count. Because 6 people (whom I'm love love love) read it. Because I don't take risks with books like I take with music. Because they matter THAT MUCH. Fuckity fuck fuck. ANYWAY, so that article by ZS (PLEASE scroll back up and click on the link and read the damn thing I've asked you to do this ONCE in the entire life of this blog and I would love for others to read it and feel as daunted as I did) made me feel better and I was wondering why until I realized that I had officially stopped thinking of myself as a writer. Holy shit. NO kidding. I don't write fiction anymore. I just realized that. Despite the fact that I have not written a short story in six years or shown anyone something I've written (fiction) in three, I just realized after reading that article, THAT I DON'T THINK OF MYSELF AS A WRITER, anymore. I am no longer a writer, I am an editor, (at heart), secretly. I don't know that I could ever write, not for real, not like Sara, making sacrifices and spinning sentences as easily as a spider spins webs. Certainly not like ZS, (bitch) who published her first (amazing) novel at 21, nor like any of the hack genre fiction writers whose work comes through the doors of my job everyday. Nora Roberts may indeed be a robotic octopus writer with a human head (affectionately known as Noraroboctopus at work) who turns out more crap novels in a year than I have bowel movements in a month, but at least she puts pen to paper (or tentacle to keyboard as the case may be)and puts her crappy genre fiction bull shit out there. Sigh. ANYWAY, I thought that ZS gave some really good advice, advice I could have used when I was actually writing.Ahem, so, I do disagree with her on some counts. I have always loved polemics about the art of writing, there is something clandestine and romantic about these staid and tired arguments. Something Dead Po
et's Society about reading them and vehemently disagreeing, and then agreeing half way. I mean, measuring a poem by its length? Let's all let out our inner yawps. Let us rip out the pages then subtly pick them up after class like that cute tall guy who isn't credited. I do agree that any opinion about the "art of craft" as she says, is best in a discourse about a particular piece of work as opposed to writing, art, etc. in general. But people who can write can also shed light unto those of us who can't, and wish to. No matter ow staid or pedagogical it sounds, I always listen, waiting, hoping for that secret piece of advice that will unlock the potential I feel is inside of me, that cowers in fear of failing, that is afraid to try, pathetically, at all.
et's Society about reading them and vehemently disagreeing, and then agreeing half way. I mean, measuring a poem by its length? Let's all let out our inner yawps. Let us rip out the pages then subtly pick them up after class like that cute tall guy who isn't credited. I do agree that any opinion about the "art of craft" as she says, is best in a discourse about a particular piece of work as opposed to writing, art, etc. in general. But people who can write can also shed light unto those of us who can't, and wish to. No matter ow staid or pedagogical it sounds, I always listen, waiting, hoping for that secret piece of advice that will unlock the potential I feel is inside of me, that cowers in fear of failing, that is afraid to try, pathetically, at all. One thing struck me most of all about this piece; that in order to read your work you have to read as a reader not the writer.
Lord, let me tell you the embarrassment of printing something you could retract. Too often I had the unfortunate situation of writing something incredibly intimate and wishing I could take it back. Most often, and especially I refer to those pieces of writing that referred to an old ex of mine, DG. His ill-fated appearance in my life led basically to an expanded music knowledge on my part and then some embarrassingly personal resentment towards him (as explained in at least 3 Hatchet articles with his full and real name (gulp)) when it came to our relationship. I made a mistake, several time over, in writing about him. I could have used 6 months in a drawer with those articles. I could have used six months in relationship boot camp. I'm glad I have y'all to talk to to make mistakes with with NO ONE getting hurt. I am a selfish, thoughtless, slimy, asshole. I wish I could take those articles back. Actually, I wish I could take back the juvenile sentiments that led to those articles. I have a hard time getting over my heart being broken, even when my heart isn't in it.
ANYWAY, anyway, about things on writing, I always feel there is something clandestine and super secret diet pill-y about advice on writing; as in I am always willing to listen b/c I still want to lose weight, you know?
I think writing about writing is fascinating, mostly b/c I can't force myself to do it and I hope someone can give me the magic key to make it come out. I know this isn't realistic, especially after having read ZS's article.
What is not depressing about reading this article is realizing that my strengths probably do rest in editing. I can honestly say I don't know anyone who reads as much contemporary fiction as I do. I think this is an interesting phenomenon as I know a lot of people who are way smarter and engaged than I am. But still, I do it not to gain anything except a good read. Along the way I've discovered what I like (character driven, realistic settings with dialogue that doesn't make me want to bash my head in) and what I most assuredly don't (magical realism, post-modernism for PM's sake, Douglas Coupland dialogue) and I think that, in turn, makes me not a bad editor. I think the worst editors are the ones who can't decide WTF they like. I always said that Kerouac and Fitzgerald were great writers... of sentences. They couldn't write books though, not really, except for endings and then some.
I don't want to be the kind of writer who can only do one thing well. I don't want to be the kind of writer who can fit into the sentence "The kind of writer...". I want to write about corn fields and beauty and potential lost, only b/c these are the things I know, have known, don't need tutorials on.
Fuckity fuck fuck, I don't even remember what I was writing about.
OK love you all, i think I was going to say something about how all of you should read more contemporary fiction b/c these writers are writing about right now, and it matters to read right now more than any other time. All I'm saying is that if all of our parents had actually read one Flew Over the Cooku's Nest maybe state funded psychiatric facilities wouldn't be in the state the are in. (Thanks B & H!)
One last thing, I'm ecstatic about Obama. Get your votin' shoes on, bitches. You too, Marco.
3 comments:
I'm extremely conflicted on this, manda dear. As much as I hate to quote catchy lines, "It's not who you are deep down that matters, it's what youdo that defines you". This goes both ways, in that if you write again, you're a writer again, you know?
I used to think everything was supposed to be easy and natural if you were actually good at something. That if you had to really work at it, then you weren't cut out for it. Isn't that ridiculous? What makes good writers good is that they make it look easy. Ugh, I'm being wordy and redundant which means I have too much to say to put in such a small space-- it comes out all crinkled, smooshed misshapen. We'll talk.
it''s too hard
when you are half-way good at something it's worse than when you're good at something and not living up to your potential.
When you are half-way good you have this delusion of grandeur. When you are actually good you get broken down by poeple who are better than you. I'm tired of pity.
Thank you for the apology. Just to be clear my only issue was the public nature of it with my name printed, but I don't think you were wrong to feel those things. I deserved some derision for the piss poor way I handled things back then. I apologize to you for that, if it makes any difference. I have been periodically checking your blog ever since I saw those original comments, waiting either for them to be taken down or (better) for some comment like this. I feel good about it now, but you should never feel like you can't contact me directly with anything. I'm a lot smarter and nicer about things. Congratulations on your wedding...I know it will go fantastically. I think Karyn and I are finally going to do the saem next year (after 7 years), but we're still being lazy about it. Take care. Oh and if you want you can follow the doings of my label at firstfewfeet.blogspot.com.
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