Tayari's Blog: Thoughts on the 2nd Novel

Posted by TayariJones on February 9, 2005 01:52 PM
Filed under Writing

In April, I will publish The Untelling, my second novel. Most writers will agree that the second novel is always harder to write than the first one. This is true. In a way.

The glory of the first novel—for most people—is that it is a piece written without the input of publishers, agents, or any other market-driven forces. During the three years I spent working on Leaving Atlanta, I had an idea to write a triple-voiced coming of age narrative based on my experiences growing up in Atlanta during the child murders. The middle section of the novel is written entirely in the second person using a sort of elevated diction. Not exactly the expected fare in a story with an eleven year old protagonist. But the beauty of the first novel is that I didn’t know that publishers were often afraid to commit to something new and untested. I had no idea that my first agent would kick me to the curb for refusing the try and sell the novel as a YA project. Who knew that twenty-two publishers would be weirded out by the middle section- the one with the big words freaky POV? Not me.

Maybe I would have been strong and written the novel the way I wanted to, despite understanding that many of my decisions were lessening the chances of me being able to publish the darn thing. But I think of myself as I was then—27 years old, just enrolled in an MFA that everyone thought was a bad idea. I don’t know if I would have worked so hard on a project had I known it was such a long shot. And I am glad that I don’t know.

I contracted my second novel, The Untelling, to Warner Books on the basis of about 100 pages. I wrote the remaining two hundred with the knowledge that this novel was already bought and paid for. Also, I knew that it wasn’t finished until the editor said it was. Staying true to my vision during the two years I worked on this novel has been one of the most difficult endeavors of my whole life. Despite the fact that I try and portray myself as this sort of renegade artist, there is a little girl inside me that wants to be patted on the head.

One year ago, my editor all but rejected the manuscript. It required an “overhaul” she said. I said, “I really wish you wouldn’t use that word.” I read her editorial mandates three times before destroying the document. I breathed. I cried. I stretched. I called my agent who gave me the advice that I needed to hear. “It’s YOUR book.”

I didn’t overhaul the novel, but I made some major changes, listening some to my editor (I eliminated a character as per her suggestion), but mostly putting my ear to the page and remembering the person I had been in 1998, writing Leaving Atlanta. I pushed my pen while channeling my old self, the writer who didn’t know the significance of press runs, advances, and book tours.

The challenge of my second novel was remembering how to write like it was my first. I hope that I got it right.

There are 4 comments on "Thoughts on the 2nd Novel". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.

Comment #1, by Anquinetta V. Calhoun

Hi Tayari, Congratulations! I just heard about your second novel and I'm glad to know you got through it. I also learned from the bio on this site that you are in Illinois. I've been wondering where you were and what you were up to. Take care and do try to keep in touch.

February 17, 2005 01:48 PM

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Tayari's Blog: Thoughts on the 2nd Novel