What Falls Apart, What Takes Its Place

I came upon this quote in the January issue of The Believer, in an interview with the writer Ann Enright. Because I'm in the midst of writing a novel, and it so beautifully articulated a truth that I have to keep learning on a daily basis, I typed the passage up this morning, and I'm planning to have it framed and hanging by my computer tonight.

Ms. Enright was asked about her process as she works her way into a new book. Her answer is of interest to screenwriters, too, and for that matter, to any writer trying to craft a piece of work:

"What you have to do is not leave the house. You have to not get up and get some exercise and do some yoga and clear your head. It’s the opposite of that. You start writing, and it falls apart very quickly. And then you have to start again.

In the beginning, you have a plan for a book that everyone will love in various ways. And then you start writing and you realize you have a different kind of book on your hands. And so the easy, the conventional novel, the idea of that novel, falls apart, and you must start writing the thing itself. If you resist and you continue to pursue the easy idea, you get a fake novel, written according to a preordained pattern. The world is full of them.

You have to be less controlling. It’s like getting a herd of sheep across a field. If you try to control them too much, they resist. It’s the same with a book. If you try to control it too much, the book is dead. You have to let it fall apart quite early on and let it start doing its own thing. And that takes nerve, not to panic that the book you were going to write is not the book you will have at the end of the day."

Comments

[E.C. Henry]

O Billy, do tell, WHAT kind of novel are you writting. Dude, you can't drop a bombshell like that so nonchalantly--and not exptect YOUR FANS to notice. So tell us, grand champion of all dudes, what kind of novel are you writing?

Right now, I'm editting (what I hope to be someday as my opus) an epic fantasy novel, and I'm having a blast rewriting it. Love re-discovering and adding new things to a story I stopped working on in the early 2000s.

So what I'm getting at is the fact, I'm there with ya, fellow novelist... Makes me smile saying that.

As for the advice, I concur. Every story needs to fall apart, then come back together with new life. You find that in the early draft process. Post-first draft a new, and hopefully better story from the old. And on that note, I will wish you sir, good writing. WHATEVER your next novel is, I can't wait to read it. You're such a seasoned pro, Billy, with such a rich history of experiences to draw upon, and the beauty of all is, your best writing of all-time should be, RIGHT NOW! No pressure of course...

- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA

[Bradford Richardson]

Billy, THANK YOU. I absolutely needed to hear Ann's words.

[mernitman]

EC: Happy to hear you're enjoying the rewrite on your fantasy novel - rewriting really is the fun apart, I believe. My novel is a departure - it's a black comedic psychological thriller (!). And yes, my best writing should be right now, thanks so much for the pressure ;-> May take me awhile to finish this thing, though...

Bradford: Glad it got to you at the right time.

[Judith Duncan]

hey Billy,
Wow, synchronicity has whacked me across the head. I just checked in to have a break from my novel in progress(it's been on the shelf while fundraising)I was looking though my opening chapters and I thought,
'oh,there are so many directions I could go here,it's in pieces.?'
And I read this post.
Cheers,
Judith