Go to The Impossibility Of Knowing
- Add a comment
- Go to How Do You Work Out Which Writers You Believe In?
Azur,
There are so many novels, and I haven't the concentration to finish a whole one unless I'm really hooked on the writer's voice, but your post raises an interesting question about the ambivalence I feel about writing fiction at all. I am curious to see the book "A Million Little Pieces" and see what all the hype is about, because even memoir or history is based on faulty memories and perceptions, history is based on the subjective viewing of the historian and the arrangement and grouping of facts. So, who can say what is "true".
posted by
Blanche.
on January 17, 2006 at 7:44 PM
| link to this | reply
Azur
You're dead-on right here. The hardest part of writing is taking your personality and throwing it out at the reader. More than that, maintaining your personality, your voice, and your style throughout your writing.
Excellent post, Azur.
posted by
Joe_Love
on January 17, 2006 at 7:36 PM
| link to this | reply
Hey?
I have been reading the comments?
I don't really meet that many liars and don't really worry about when others do. Are we meant to?
Jo
posted by
brisbane_artist
on January 16, 2006 at 10:09 PM
| link to this | reply
A (LOL)
It is good you noticed hey? Jo
posted by
brisbane_artist
on January 16, 2006 at 10:07 PM
| link to this | reply
Well, fiction is by definition a lie...
But writers have to be true to life, even with fictional characters, because our actors in a story are, like those in our dreams, ourselves.
I almost always believe people, what they tell me, the mask they wear, etc., give them the benefit of the doubt unless they do something or say something that I know for sure is a lie. After that I pretend to believe, nod and smile, but trust them with nothing. And I ask pointed questions in a gentle tone, so they know, without my coming right out and calling them liars, that I have seen their true stripes. It saves a lot of one's emotional skin, knowing not to invest in the liar's story. Learning to do this is a difficult process: one of those learn-by-doing things. :)
posted by
Pat_B
on January 16, 2006 at 11:16 AM
| link to this | reply
This is a Personal Choice I Think, for We are Influenced Differently
As we have food preferences this I feel is about the same. I generally pick by topic and way of engagement, can be visual or other styles. Nice question.
posted by
Dr_JPT
on January 16, 2006 at 5:30 AM
| link to this | reply
Nice plug for that novel. Lol.
(A)
posted by
A-and-B
on January 16, 2006 at 5:00 AM
| link to this | reply
So that's it?
You have a new name. I was quite confused.
I write fiction that is based on fact around me. I couldn't truly write down what really happened as people would reconise the people and that would be aweful. (I doubt it could ever be ethical too)
I have to make up what I don't truly know too. I do actually go into the watch house to take meals etc but don't really get to see all that goes on and so make it up as I think it happens. But I thought I might get one of the mums who does work at the prison/watchouse to check the way I have written up the story and see what she thinks about authenticity.
So if giving of my all means trying to place myself into the situations I describe I really mediatate and try to do this. To be truthful though the truth escapes me.
Jo
posted by
brisbane_artist
on January 16, 2006 at 2:56 AM
| link to this | reply
Well, my life is an open book. I have no reason to lie or to lead people to believe something which is not. Of course if I were writing in fiction, that would different. I love your new name!!!
posted by
Offy
on January 16, 2006 at 2:41 AM
| link to this | reply
azur?
I've kept up with the little flap about the book
A Million Little Pieces, the excruciating story of a drug addiction. Now, supposedly, the author embellished and even lied about the intensity of things. Oprah, who promoted his book, says this is trivial and doesn't matter. The important thing is that he was a drug addict and wrote a powerful book that helped people. Does this relate to what you are saying? I don't know. I think being able to come across straight arrow sometimes is not enough. You are not necessarily dishonest, but you take some artist's license to make your work more interesting. Don't know if you were aware, but I'm leaving Blogit for now. You were/are one of my favorites during my time here. Have a great and successful year writing and living.
posted by
Hemlocker
on January 15, 2006 at 5:45 PM
| link to this | reply
It's not as easy as it sounds--
this "from the heart" writing. Many of us (especially writers) get pretty caught up in "sounding good" as opposed to saying something real. When that something's based on your own experience of the world...well, I think it's hard to trust in that experience, hard to trust that it's valuable or interesting. I agree, though, that disingenuous writing is a turn-off.
posted by
thirtysomething
on January 15, 2006 at 5:20 PM
| link to this | reply
I bet people think I
make stuff up. I wish I could. Somedays, I'm thinking, "how in the hell did all of this happen?". Writing with heart can be very hard when you are pulling from painful memories. Sometimes, I cry when I write. I usually don't share those blogs with anyone. Take care and I like the cool name
posted by
Flumpystalls3000
on January 15, 2006 at 3:03 PM
| link to this | reply
Holy Cow - where have I been and...
when did the name change take place!? Great post. Awesome name. Less ambivalent ; )
posted by
Transcendental_Child
on January 15, 2006 at 12:22 PM
| link to this | reply
Azur, the whole issue of "truth" in writing
seems to have suddenly exploded on scene (yet again, this current wave seemed to have started at the NYT with the outing of Jason Blair). It actually is always with us, as you as you have so succinctly pointed out.
posted by
Cynthia
on January 15, 2006 at 12:04 PM
| link to this | reply
Azur
(I like the new name BTW) I can put up with a lot in a book as far as editing and the like, as long as it reaches me.
posted by
MerryAnne
on January 15, 2006 at 9:31 AM
| link to this | reply
Some writers come across as genuine and some don't... I don't know
exactly how I work out which I believe in.... it just happens. good post.
posted by
-blackcat
on January 15, 2006 at 9:26 AM
| link to this | reply
And you, too, A
posted by
majroj
on January 15, 2006 at 9:24 AM
| link to this | reply
I don't learn to trust them. I learn to DIS-trust them.
Call me gullible.
Hi, A.
posted by
majroj
on January 15, 2006 at 9:24 AM
| link to this | reply
Azur, good post...
posted by
Ariala
on January 15, 2006 at 7:50 AM
| link to this | reply