The Cone of Silence
It's no surprise that I write in chaos. I'd "like" a Cone of Silence around my writing space, but with four kids and a lot of pets, it's not too silent around here. In fact, the only silent pets are Lydia the python and Blossom the fish. And the kids are far from silent unless it's the middle of the night. So I've learned to create in noise.
But in a metaphorical sense, I create in a Cone of Silence. I write four books a year, and am usually playing around with proposals, ideas, etc. I can't bring all my books to my critique group because we only meet every two weeks. I usually bring my mainstream fiction books, like Invisible Girl.
So I tend to create in a Cone of Silence, in that I have no idea how readers will react. Then the book comes out, and I find out--"I laughed out loud," "You made me cry," "I was so mad at the character of Tom," "I loved the character of Tom," "Will you write a sequel," etc.
It's strange. You create in isolation, turn the book in, get some feedback from your editor . . . wait six or eight months more, and THEN you find out if you moved people. And, like acting or painting, what you're trying to achieve in storytelling is a connection. You want someone else to FEEL something. Yes, you want them to BUY it (subliminal message: buy the book, buy the book)--but that's not all. You want readers to BUY it and then to FEEL something--even if it's just feel entertained. Feel happy. Feel amused.
But first, long before you get to the feeling part, you have to create in the Cone of Silence. You have to feel something yourself. It's a strange process, isn't it?
But in a metaphorical sense, I create in a Cone of Silence. I write four books a year, and am usually playing around with proposals, ideas, etc. I can't bring all my books to my critique group because we only meet every two weeks. I usually bring my mainstream fiction books, like Invisible Girl.
So I tend to create in a Cone of Silence, in that I have no idea how readers will react. Then the book comes out, and I find out--"I laughed out loud," "You made me cry," "I was so mad at the character of Tom," "I loved the character of Tom," "Will you write a sequel," etc.
It's strange. You create in isolation, turn the book in, get some feedback from your editor . . . wait six or eight months more, and THEN you find out if you moved people. And, like acting or painting, what you're trying to achieve in storytelling is a connection. You want someone else to FEEL something. Yes, you want them to BUY it (subliminal message: buy the book, buy the book)--but that's not all. You want readers to BUY it and then to FEEL something--even if it's just feel entertained. Feel happy. Feel amused.
But first, long before you get to the feeling part, you have to create in the Cone of Silence. You have to feel something yourself. It's a strange process, isn't it?
posted by Erica Orloff at 8:28 AM
8 Comments:
morning Erica, ah silence. What is that? Cats-dogs-kids-a business phone that rings constantly. For me I guess the 'feeling' is the cone of silence. If I'm relating well and 'feeling' what I am writing, it acts as an insulator against the surrounding noise. Its all still there but it becomes background. And don't think I haven't had my share of mommy guilt over that! While I appear to be listening-- and am on some level--I'm verbally giving permission to have five fifteen yr olds commandeer my family room while mentally I am moving text from chapter three to chapter eight to avoid the dreaded information dump!
So, yeah, while I can't wait for the day when I have 'moved' a reader (who isn't related to me or a friend ;0) at least I am feeling it. If I don't, I can't do it. Added to that is the bizarre fact that I have become so accustomed to the chaos, on the rare occaision its quiet around here, I frequently can't focus on writing at all and curl up with a book instead.
Elaine
Elaine:
Brilliant! That is EXACTLY it . . . yes . . . you get in the "zone" and create in that "space."
Oh, and I relate. Sometimes real silence just means I screw around on the computer, not actually WRITING!
E
You have to feel something yourself.
That's obviously the key, isn't it? I've had just enough reader feedback to know that the parts that resonated with me when I wrote it are the parts that resonate with the reader, too.
So it's not so silent. You (collective, not necessarily you, Erica LOL) just have to trust yourself.
Hi Erica. Everybody's different, of course, and if some of you guys can work in that type of chaos then more power to you.
I cannot.
I insist on having a private space and being left alone while I'm writing, as I would with any other job.
I know it's hard, especially when you work from home, because many people don't consider it actual work. Would the kids come banging through your office if you were an MD, a lawyer, an architect, etc? I doubt it. I have to isolate myself from the rest of the world when I'm writing, and if they don't understand then that's their problem.
I admire those of you who can do all those thing simultaneously but, seriously, I think I would have to hire a nanny or something to ever get any work done.
Hi Natalie:
Good point. If I find myself really agonizing over something terrible I am about to make happen to my characters, or something really emotional . . . then I guess I am doing my job--it's an audience of one, at first.
E
Jude:
A lot of it is lifestyle choice. I agree. There have been times I have been really, really p***ed off that my partner seems utterly incapable of occupying four children for an hour or two without them swarming me . . . especially since for years I have been the total breadwinner. And I agree, no one would go tromping through an architect's office or M.D.'s office. On the other hand, most people who work from home find themselves fenced in a little bit by finances, so it's a compromise. Also, a lot of people who write for a living who are women--and I only speak of the ones I know personally--made at least PART of that choice because they don't want to go to an office away from their kids. I had my kids (just me personally) to raise them myself and to be with them pretty much 24/7 because that's what I want. I make writing novels work because I want the perk of not missing first steps and first words and all of the rest of it. My four--well, except for the little guy--seem to "get" the most intense of deadlines. I.e., it's all fun and games until the last week before a manuscript gets turned in and then just watch out because Mom is in Psycho-Zone. Then they understand there's a lull until the next big deadline.
E
I think it's marvelous that you're able to pull it off, Erica. The fact that you can publish four books a year while being a full time stay-at-home mom simply amazes me.
Hi Jude:
Thanks. Like I said, what I do wouldn't work for most. I know years ago, I would never have been able to write this way. But necessity, as they say, is the mother of invention.
E
Post a Comment
<< Home