I had a whole post planned -- and then I read an article. Post out the window. Then I was going to suggest going out to buy the current edition of Poets & Writers . I was going to cut and paste and give proper attribution.
But you know what they say -- woman plans and the Internet laughs.
Because of the power of the Internet, I can just say that if you're a writer and you want to be a published author, read this interview with Janet Silver:
My favorite part of the article is this:
"...you're only allowed one dream per novel. Because it's too easy."
I never thought about that before. I don't know if my novel has a dream in it -- but I know it has a mirror in it and Silver mentions that too. Shit.
In my opinion, there is no writer's bible. No hard and fast rules that no one breaks. But I love it when the inside scoop is out for all to see, to give us something to think about. That allows us a peek inside the brain of one other person. We can decide if what works for them would work for us. They're giving us a chance because, I do believe, they want us to succeed.
So wake up -- and get writing. Fulfill your dream! Just don't write about it when you're looking in the mirror.
2 comments:
I love books that sort of break the rules in this way. It's so boring when you study books in the same way, equating certain events like dreams and mirrors as ways to gain more insight into the character. I think symbolism can be so much more broad than people realize.
I think one of the best examples of this is The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moshin Hamid. Not only does it take narration to a place I never thought it could go, the reader feels uprooted, uncomfortable, and almost betrayed at the end - but in a strangely exhilarating way.
Rules? What rules? Rules are useful and even necessary (at times) but when it comes to writing, I am attracted to the writer who is willing to caress, bend or even break a few. It's all about extending pass the box and being creative...finding a new way to present the same old thing.
Post a Comment