Book-Diva

Well, the Holidays are Over and The Itch is Back

   The big news of the year.  I'm back to posting on Book-Diva.net.  I did not intentionally take the last few weeks off.  Rather, life just seemed to filter out any time to blog or even to think during the holidays.  I rarely had the time to become motivated outside of trying to keep the house picked up as my family digested the amount of Christmas gifts.

Finally, at about 11 pm tonight, I began to wonder and to think.  I had the opportunity to feel the itch to write and enough anxiety to actually power up the computer to do it.

The old adage, "Writing is a process," makes me wonder if other authors feel that level of anxiet that I do.  If you are an author, do you ever struggle with the time constraints that life imposes?  Do you ever feel lost in their everyday identity? What are the distractions that deter you?

I'd be happy to continue the discussion.

It's Really Not About You, But It Really Is

Reading has always been a pattern of consumption for me.  The faster I could consume it, the smarter I would be.  There was always so much to read and consume in high school and later in college, only to be reiterated in some term paper later on. 

Recently, I heard someone say that no student should read the great works of literature before they are in college.  Before that, no one would have enough of a perspective to truly appreciate the true value of literature.  This is what happened to me.

As any well-read student, I read Shakespeare, Camus, and even a little Upton Sinclair.  Just enough of everything to round out my academic record and literary resume.  I could discuss the effects of the iambic pentameter of Shakespeare’s literature and the “cloudless climes and starry skies” of Lord Byron’s famous verses.  However, many of these pieces did not appeal to me personally, nor did they inspire me to write. 

I always thought good writing came from creating a story out of nothing.  Personal references were too predictable and too personal.  If I became a published author, too many people would try to analyze me and why I wrote what I did because of the life I had had. I’m an intensely private person about my feelings and desires.  To have other people appreciate my writing would give me a connection but in a protected way.  I would not have to interact with them face to face if I did not wish to.

It’s ironic, then, that the first book that really inspired in me to be a writer was That Night by Alice McDermott.  During my first semester in college, I had the opportunity to read this for the very first time.  Like me, the author, Alice McDermott, had grown up in the suburbs of Long Island, built after the World War II.  In this book, the main characters struggled with the plot, a pregnant teenage girl, who struggles against the current of the ideal suburban life.

It’s not a long book.  Not much to consume in terms of pages or words.  Rather, I liked the construction and the sound of McDermott’s words in this novel.  It had the pitch and rhythm of language that I experienced growing up on Long Island myself.  Just like the characters in this novel, I too have struggled with many of the same themes.  How to reconcile my uniqueness with the strong blandness of suburban society.  How I feared ostracism despite my desire to be a part of a world that demands a certain amount of behavior conformity.

Since reading this novel, I have read two other novels by Alice McDermott, and I have delighted in the same things again and again.  Long Island continues to be the backdrop for her work, but it is only where she begins the story, not where she ends it.  The knowledge of where she came from does not inhibit or define her boundaries.  They add authenticity to the story she created.

This book and this author reminded me that to be a good writer often means using what is a part of you, what you know.  It’s not writing your lifestory.  It’s about creating a legitimate and authentic story that draws the reader into a different world that’s real to you, the author.  That is why, I decided, I would become an author some day.

 

When Your Writing Is Attacked — How to Cope With Soul-Crushing Rejection

I recently came across a good essay on how to handle rejection of your writing from Diane O'Connell. Diane O’Connell is an independent editor with 25 years of experience in the New York publishing world. She specializes in working with first-time authors at her website: http://www.docls.com

"At the beginning of my online writing seminars, the students each introduce themselves. On more than one occasion, a student will reveal that he or she is coming to the class after having experienced a devastating rejection. By that I mean, not the standard rejection you get when you send your work out to get published, but the more personal kind that rips apart your writing with no constructive feedback, the kind of rejection that feels as though you are being personally attacked, and leaves you wondering if you were crazy to ever think you could write.

One of my students had entered her manuscript in a contest. As she said, “two of the judges had really helpful critiques, but the 3rd really ripped me to shreds. I've been having a hard time writing and revising since, wondering if I even have any talent, if I'm just wasting my time, etc, etc.” My heart goes out this writer. I know exactly how she feels, because I’ve been there.

In my case, the nasty rejection came from a teacher I had revered. I was utterly and completely devastated. I stopped writing. I became completely blocked. The worst part of it all was that I allowed another person to take away from me something that gave me joy. It was only after reading Julia Cameron’s wonderful book, The Artist’s Way, that I healed myself and began writing again.

Here are some ways you can cope with this kind of soul-crushing rejection:

Step away from the emotion. The natural response to getting a nasty rejection is to want to jump out a window, burn the manuscript, cry into a pillow. It’s okay to feel that way, and crying can be cathartic. But before you do anything more drastic, allow your emotions to calm down.

Keep it in perspective. If you look at the quote from the writer above, you’ll see that she got helpful critiques from two judges, but it was the nasty critique that had the greatest impact on her. Don’t shut out the positive or helpful responses or put too much credence in the negative ones.

Ask yourself what else might be going on. Sometimes people are jealous and attack you. Others are looking to make a mark and go about it in the wrong way. Some may have suffered devastating criticism in the past and are really getting back at the person who hurt them. Still others are looking to stroke their own egos by bringing someone else down. And some just want to be Simon Cowell.

Read between the invective to see if the critique has any validity. Easier said than done, I know. But sometimes people get really ticked off over a particular thing and allow their feelings to run away with them. For instance, let’s say your spelling and grammar are not up to par. Well, it could be that your characters are well drawn, your story compelling, your dialog sparkling, but the reader goes ballistic over writing mechanics. So, maybe that’s something you need to work on.

Get back on the horse. Don’t stop writing – not even for a day. Write because you love to write, because you have to write, because writing brings you joy. Don’t ever allow anyone to take that away from you. "

Who's Your Audience?

This is a question I've been pondering on quite a bit as a writer.  After all, someone is going to read my work, right?  Isn't that the goal of being a writer....to write something so compelling that your readers are invoked to react?  Yet, before you can have a reaction, don't you have to have an audience?

For some writers, it just seems like they write and suddenly they have readers.  Others seem to labor for years and years before they either die in obscurity or are discovered as a long-lost literary genius. For me, whether or not a writer is recognized by readers is whether they hit upon the right audience.  Are they reaching that audience? How big is that audience?  What is that audience interested in?

Some writers just seem to be driven by their stories and characters.  To them, it is a product of passion and art, something that fulfills something within.  If others happen to react to it, that's a bonus.  I guess I can pretend to be one of these writers, one of the passionate I-don't-care-who-reads-my-work-it's-art types.  There's a part of me that does identify with this sentiment.  But, there is a part of me that does care who may read my work (if it's ever finished and published) and who may care enough to have an honest reaction.  

I'll even admit that I'm insecure and self-conscious enough to think that people I grew up with may read my work and laugh at it.  After all, I was the self-appointed nerd in town.  I can imagine how delicious it would be for many of my classmates and hometown neighbors to gossip about that.  Unfortunately, I still have family in my hometown who would be aware of any such gossip.  Also, Facebook would definitely be another outlet for any witty comments. 

The discussion around my insecurities could go on forever.  That anyone I know could read my work, perhaps, is my greatest impediment to finishing the novel I've started.  Most of all, what would my mother's reaction?  Truly, if I was to write anything interesting or compelling, it would need to have some shock value.  That would definitely qualify as a "mom-shocker." Considering she's now living with my family and I, it's not as easy to hide from her reactions.

I guess my true audience is me.  What would I find compelling? What would I find interesting in a story or a character? 

November - National Novel Writing Month

Apparently, one website, http://www.nanowrimo.org/, is dubbing November National Novel Writing Month. It might be interesting for all us aspiring authors to take on the challenge.

First Page of my Book...Tell Me What You Think

"The silver stone was cold to the touch.  The unalterable letters inscribed in the marble, a silverly mix of colors, stated his name, the date of his birth and the date of his death.  Almost fifty years he had lived.  Here he remained, under a tree that was close to death when he was buried in February.  Now, the tree bloomed, a symbol of the force that he was in life.

In sharp contrast to the stark coolness of the headstone, I could feel his anger.  Why have you been gone so long?  What has taken you away form your amily?  What have I done wrong?  even now, dead, his spirit intruded on my thoughts and my life.  Everything I sought to tell him; my triumphs, my jokes and my failures, gave away to a swelling of grief."

I'd love any feedback that you may have.

Continued Ruminations on Suburban Angst

For some reason, this subject isn't quite done for me after the last post.  I feel like I've only touched the proverbial iceberg on this one.  The version of suburbia I grew up on Long Island in still was not fully vanilla white.  Many of us, even the stockbrockers' children, were usually one or two generations from the immigration boat.  Most of the houses were built out shortly after WWII to accommodate the growing needs of war veterans and their families hoping to capitalize on the American Dream bought with American blood overseas. 

I, myself, am a 1/4 Italian, 1/8 German, 1/8 French Canadian, and some mixture of Irish and English.  My great-grandfather's name can be found in the Ellis Island records. 

Growing up, we still enjoyed the feast days (days that usually involved local carnival rides and games to celebrate different saint days), the different ethnic dishes, and the parades of celebration for the winners of World Cup Soccer Games.  The flag flown depended upon which country was winning.  Usually, it was the Italian or the Irish flag.  Even the bagels with the lox were from those of Jewish heritage, and people would wait in line for hours for the Angel Wings, Italian pastries covered with powdered sugar, during Christmas time.  There was also the Greek families who ran the diners, which served a full menu, even breakfast, 24x7.  All of these things were a part of my suburban world. 

The most unique thing about my suburban world was that there was diversity, and it was normal to be different in some way.  But, it was the same as other suburbs in that the succeeding generations sought to downplay their differences and to become doctors and stockbrockers maybe instead of the firemen and teachers they were in the previous generations.  Maybe that is part of the traditional immigrant story, but it is the part that I'm the most nostalgic about.

I have long ago accepted that I cannot re-create the childhood that I had.  In fact, I would probably try to change some of it, knowing what I know now.  I just miss that sense of identity and wonder that I had back then that anything was possible for me.  As a mom today, I hope that anything is possible for my children rather than me or my husband.  I guess I'm selfish to want to have a glimmer of possibility and hope for something new for myself.

This itch for creativity and passion is chafing up against what the neighbors' might think or how I might seem to others.  To have an opinion that offends others is not ok in this pc world, and the vanilla suburban values that are out there, now, seem to reinforce this.  It's not that I'm expecting to discuss the US response to Iran's latest nuclear policy at the bus stop, but I would like to know that there are other people in the neighborhood who desire intelligent conversation outside of traditional social structures.

I would love any responses from anyone on this topic.  No idea is a bad one.

Answers to: Do I need to be an alcoholic to be a good writer?

I'm part of several online groups for writers, and I poll them for time to time when I am struggling with how to tackle my latest writing challenge.  Many of the responses I received were witty, many were sincere, and many just were profound.  I thought I would share some of the responses to this question:

"Being a writer is at bottom, in its purest form, being a story-teller. Our true heritage is in the early days of man, as we sat around a campfire and told tales of the day’s adventures … and misadventures. We are those story-tellers. What we need most is that campfire. "

"Not an alchoholic, but you do have to drink coffee. Lots of coffee."

"I have done some of my best writing on a bottle of red ;) In saying that, my writing doesn't come from the bottom of a bottle of cabernet merlot - my writing comes from within me :) "

"I think a lot of writers do write from pain and use writing as a way to "exorcise their demons". But I think we don't all take to drink or drugs because we come from a different compulsion. We want to share something. It doesn't seem to be enough for us to know or understand. We have to expose it to others for it to have real meaning for us."

"well you need to be drunk and high but liquor is not the answer you need to drink yourself. Pour your heart out in a glass (maybe)... just take a sip of yourself your true self actually, get high... in your spirits and write.... we feel down many at times and it may cause the writer's block (or whatever) so take a sip or two whenever you want to but slowly.. hold .. smell your words... and when you feel the freshness in them again... write.
we sip we write and we sip again...
and enjoy! :] "

"". . . moody, difficult, glum, or a little mad." Right. Add a few stiff drinks to that and you should really get a lot of work done. Oh, those romantic fantasies. All the studies, interviews, research have long since shown that folks get the writing done in SPITE of those psychological problems. And that is heroic.

There might well be some neurological link for some writers that connects with creativity, but the substance abuse/depression myth has become a pretty tired cliche.

Booze, drugs, sex and rock and roll may be a lot of fun - - go for it; just don't fool yourself that it will all make you a better writer. Of course it could give you some good material. . "

"As writers, we have many voices inside us, people with stories demanding release. This sets us apart. Some writers, in dealing with this, turn to drinking or other outlets, but that's not what makes a good writer. In fact, it has crushed many a good writer. Good writing (and rewriting) do demand a conduit to the subconcious, but there are many better ways of getting there than drinking. "

"I heard that Tina Brown segment, and to a degree, I think she's right.

What writing requires, especially fiction or narrative history, is a lowering of inhibitions, letting go of the inner critic that says "this is wrong" or "I feel squeamish writing about this character or situation" That's where all the good stuff is: passion, ambition, seething rage, or whatever it is your characters require. Inhibited writers don't write very interesting stuff because it isn't very deep.

Now, alcohol helps with lowering one's inhibitions, but what Tina doesn't know (Tennesse Williams and William Saroyan didn't either) is that you don't have to abuse your liver to get the same effect"

"Writers do tend to be a cantankerous lot, and alcoholics are contankerous too, but I don't think that just because A=B and B=C that A necessarily equals C in this case. All people are inherently messed up, it's what you do with that in your life that really counts. Writing can be a form of therapy, you can work out your demons (or sic them on your characters) and spend a little time in a different world. Having tried it both ways, I can definitively report that my writing doesn't benefit from over consumption of alcohol. Be kind to your liver and your editor and avoid chemical dependency."

" have to confess that I feel a certain wistfulness for the days when writers sat in cafes drinking and lived debauched lives. I come from a culture where there's more drinking anyway and many of our finest Irish writers were fond of a drink. It doesn't seem to have prevented them from creating masterpieces.

As some of the previous posts said, it has to do with letting go of inhibitions. Some great writers are colourful characters and drink tends to contribute to that colour. And I think some of that colour is missing. I just can't help but feel that the ability to enjoy a drink (not too many) is a sign of a person who is willing to let go a little and engage with the world. I don't think you need to be an alcoholic to be a good writer, but letting a little bonhomie into your life will give your writing a more rounded quality. "


 

 

8-17-2009 Weekly Report

I can say that I have managed some more journaling on one of the main characters.  I'm working on her in bits and pieces, but I'm finding her a little more difficult.  I had originally hoped to use the narrator character as the basis for my own personal experiences, but this other character, also central to the plot, is also taking on other of my characteristics and feelings.  I just hope that I can keep the two separate.

The more I write, the more I realize that I'm changing the details of the real people I'm basing characters on.  At first, I was just using the actual facts of a particular person's life as I experienced them, but I'm beginning to add and substract additional facts and feelings.  I hope no one takes offense if I actually do publish this at some point.

What have been your experiences with this?

Thoughts of Surburban Angst

Angst in the suburbs.  This is a topic that has I've been dwelling on for awhile.  For many years, I tried to escape it and live somewhere else.  I thought maybe starting over in a different city, still a suburb, would eliminate that level of angst that seems to be omnipresent.

I'm a creature of the suburbs.  I live and thrive there.  Where I see trailer parks, barns, or skyscrapers I long for straight clean swept streets and neatly fenced yards.  Simple and complimentary color-patterns on the outside of houses always brings me some sense of peace. 

A certain amount of tension and angst has always been there.  How to make sure that your life in the suburbs appears to be a success?  How do you make sure that you get along with everyone while also trying to make sure that you still stand out?  For no one wants to be considered the bottom of the heap or a show-off.  How do you still have distinction in your social circles without being impolite to those considered not worthy of notice? 

Some of the kindest people I have every known or loved has been from the suburbs.  But, even then to them, the truth was some kind of four letter word.  I rarely go back to the town I grew up in mainly for the simple reason I had a certain reputation and definition there growing up.  It wasn't negative, but nor was it fully reflective of the person I wanted to be or could be.  It was already predetermined what that personal categorization would be.

Many have advised "Hell with that.  Just be yourself." But, that is exactly what many people say but do not do, in truth.  I know many people who'd rather not know anything personal about their neighbors who live just 20 feet left of their very own house.  What is private should remain private.   The trick is to strike a balance between maintaining privacy and friendliness with the neighbors.  Just don't be considered the weird one on the block UNLESS you can prove your uniqueness adds to the neighborhood.

I've come to realize that my environment for writing lays in this suburban environment.  It's why I love writers like Alice McDermott who wrote That Night and Charming Billy.  Her writing speaks to the contradictions in the world of suburbia and how all of the rules and kindness still cannot mask the foibles or passions of human nature.  It simply lays out a framework for the contradictions to be juxtaposed against.