By Molly Field
No matter, we will press ahead and see how this post turns out, right? Steady on your horses, friends, there's unknown territory ahead.
I am having an issue (God, that vacuum is reeeeeally loud, I think it's got a Lego loaf or my kid's Millennium Falcon in its rotors) with perspective and point of view in the book that I have decided to go back to writing. This decision is almost a 180˚ (I'd like to think of it more as a 168.5˚) turn from my previous stance of believing that all my written works must be authentic, real and not fiction. Well, if politicians can lie (the vacuum is right behind me now, the floor is humming and this is hard to write) so can I; I can lie too.
My former boss, and current friend, Liam Callanan, wrote a book, All Saints, from the point of view as a former teacher (I almost wrote 'former female nun,' now that would've cranked up some editors' eyebrows now wouldn't it've? How many more times can I say 'now' in the same sentence? And 'it've'?? Who talks like that?!) at a beachfront Catholic school. It was a brilliant book and I absolutely loved it. And Liam's a man; always has been. He was never a former female or a nun, so I've got room here, to y'know, do what I want.
The problem is: the first, oh, 75,000 words all of this book I'm going to get back to very soon (and I'm not saying 'real soon' as if I mean 'oh, y'know after I win the lottery and build my parents a ficus tree terrarium made of sapphires...' 'cause I've already said that) are all written in 3rd person narrative, interrupted at times with 1st person thoughts and observations from the protagonist. I swear I've seen this whole 1st person interruptus done before... where was it? ... Oh, yes, I don't recall never. So, maybe because I've not taken a writing class since college (that was last year, I'm 23 - FIRST LIE! hooyeah, this feels good!) it's not the best technique? But this is the 21st century, baby... it's all good. Recreational use of pot is legal in two states now.
I've got this.
Not really.
What I do 'got' is 195 pages of perhaps the wrong perspective. I say 'wrong' because I'm finally OK with writing this book as a mostly fictionalized memoir (is 'fictionalized memoir' even a genre? Did I just create a new genre? Well... this is the age of do whatever you want) and if I really want to be authentic, I could just crank it out as a book from me about me by me for both of me. What to do... what to do...? I have plans...
I plan to get back to the book within a few days to get a jump on the new year. I'm waiting until 12/12/12 ends so that my efforts won't be a complete waste of time if the Mayans are right about that end of the world thing. Oh, you can joke all you want... but isn't just one teensy bit of you curious if they're right?
I think they're wrong: I have Egg Nog that is good until 12/12/12 (but look at the time stamp... that's hedging it awfully close, don't you think?) next to whole milk which just y'know, GOES for it and doesn't expire until the 17th. That whole milk has cojones; it knows who it is.
This is what the end of the year world year thing does to me. I'm not big on the hype of New Year's resolutions, so I think I'm beating myself to the punch and causing as much angst about the whole thing before I even get started. I need to be like that whole milk: just go for it.
Readers: what do you think about in terms of reading a book from its point of view? Do you like to hear from "me" or from "him" or "she" or ... "thems"? (Jusssst checking to see if you're still with me.)
A couple friends have vocally stated they prefer 1st person and I see their point: they feel it's more relatable, more intimate and they get sucked in (like a vacuum). But then there's this part of me that says, 'No, write as a detached observer'; but then I'm nervous that the whole thing I've got going on with my character's thoughts and observations is like a giant vacuum in the room: distracting, loud, fantastical, awesome and hot...
I'm re-reading Life of Pi right now and I find the whole experience -- from the author's notes in the beginning to the entire structure of the book -- to be slightly off-putting in that it's so in-your-face fiction. All of it: I'm caught in that familiar, yet ancient place from "The Wizard of Oz" - where Dorothy wakes up and the child in me believes what she did: that she went on a yellow brick road with a talking lion and living tin man and scare crow to see a floating head, aw c'mon... who am I kidding?; and the adult in me believes what the adults did: that she was smokin' crack. It was Judy Garland...
But when it first came out, I loved Life of Pi. So the problem is me. I need to stop being such a realist. I love fiction. I think my problem... is guilt. More of that next time. Maybe.
You know my struggles with pseudo fiction. My books will eventually get written somehow, from someone's point of view, whether true as day or with the names and places changed to protect the so-called innocent. Mostly I worry about protecting me....and it sits. We will both figure this out together, be famous and rich someday. Squirrel.
ReplyDeletewe will do this; we will publish our books. what do you think of POV? 1st? 3rd? does it make a difference for you? it's hard to do 3rd as i have and sneak into her mind... but it's experimental. did you read "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"? there's a whole trend of experimental literature / genres... i think as peoples' minds have become more open and less rigid, people become so with everything... it's good. parameters are good too -- too "out there" loses people. thanks for commenting!
DeleteI loved reading Life of Pi, and loved the spiritual message in the book and movie. Don't know if you've seen it yet? But at the end, the fantastic story filled with outrageous characters and experiences doesn't sound believable, and he says, "so it goes with religion." I have the same feeling about believing the bible because none of it makes any sense and reads like a tall tale. But people love to take a leap of faith to believe it.
ReplyDeleteI loved all of LoP; it was WONDERFUL. as a writer though, i'm seeing it totally differently now and i'm trying not to lose that wonderful leap of faith -- and i think that's what you nailed, Sus, when you said, "people love to take a leap of faith to believe it." it's sort of romantic: the nerd gets the girl, the underdogs take state champion, the addict becomes a genius magnate... some of the bible: that earth is only 5k years old, is all tall tale to me. but the idea of God, to me, that someone is creating all of this creates a wonderful place for me to look up to, to want to impress and to want to do the right thing. being an opiate of the masses or some construct to keep the people obedient, i dunno... i see that angle, but i also see a loving God, who makes me want to be good for. xoxo thanks for commenting! i think you've got a great post with that last sentence!
DeleteReading? Reading fiction? Books? Ah I remember reading... I used to do that before I had kids! Now I read blog posts, which is good. I'd believe the milk-the milk knows. Ask it if I will find a job soon. ;-)
ReplyDeletei love to read too; the blogging doesn't pay, so i needed to find something to do that would pay, so that's why i'm a new pampered chef consultant. it's crazy fun and i set my own schedule.... as for your job: the milk says you will find a job, but you will have to wait until after the 17th. thanks for commenting! xo
ReplyDeleteI love blogging too, but it doesn't pay the bills. I, too, have started my memoir (a whopping 10 pages written, single spaced). :) I think you are farther along than you giving yourself credit for (does that make sense?)...be true to your heart. I know it sounds cliche. Too bad you couldn't share a few bits/pieces of what you've written and get your readers comments on where to go-voting or something? (does that make sense)? Give us teasers. Wonderful post, as always.
ReplyDeleteBlogging about writing may not pay bills, but it does help us develop as writers I think. When I first started I looked into what made money and it was niche blogs, constant posting, blah blah blah.
DeleteFortunately, I didn't give it up and met a lot of great people (like Molly).
Hey Kristal! I would love to read your memoir and I think you're right: I am far along with it; and frankly the idea of it being 3rd person does not seem quite so odd although it would be fun to write one in 1st person, but maybe I'll save that for the fiction! (Wow, that would be ironic wouldn't it?) I think there's nothing cliché about being true to the heart; which means I really have to think about this before I go forward. What I've got is strong, I have no doubt... I suppose I just need to find someone to like it! I have shared bits of it; I'll do it again. I ended up taking it down because someone told me that publishers frown on people giving excerpts online when they would rather make people pay for it... but this industry is changing almost every day, so who knows and why not? I'll do that... share an excerpt. Thank you for the encouragement. Truly. :)
ReplyDeleteAre you creating a new genre? Perhaps you are. You are forging ahead into a new world. Creating the genre you belong in. This is what leaders do, right? Explorers? Artists? Creative personalities? You are heading into new territory with enthusiasm and grace. Keep at it. Avoid the naysayers. You are going to be amazing!
ReplyDeletethanks, Lillian! I sorta see it that way too. who says oranges are always orange and books are always square. it's a new world. lots of trees in this forest: ash, maple, oak, cherry... heck to the yeah. thanks for your encouragement. i means a lot you know... xxoxoxoxo
ReplyDeleteI say be like the milk AND JUST GO FOR IT. Own it. Just remember the little people when you're all rich and new-genre-creating famous.
ReplyDeleteI am going for it. Today is 12/13 I'm all about Yoda: "do or do not; there is no try." for remembering the little folks, that, I will try, NBM, I will try... ;) thank you for swinging by! :)
DeleteIn my experience, writing the story you want will get you to the story you need. And, I can't be wrong on this. I'm on draft #7 of a script and I'm finally headed in the right direction! (Or I may be completely wrong on this.)
ReplyDeleteYou might check out some fake memoirs (actual fake memoirs, not James Frey [hey-o]) and see what POV they run with. I find that helps me a lot when I'm trying to decide how to write something.
If nothing else, be the whole milk! Run for it!
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