Tayari's Blog: Be Honest With Me!
Posted by TayariJones on October 12, 2006 07:34 AM
Filed under
Writing
A former student recently shared with me a draft of a novel. "Be honest with me," she said. "Should I just throw the whole thing out and write something new?"
The honest truth is that this is a decision only the writer can make. The bookends are entirely your own decision. No one can tell you what or when to write, and no one can tell you when to give up.
I've been there, too. My writing process involves about two (sometimes three) sort of terrible drafts. Before I understood this about myself, I showed draft number two of The Untelling to a friend in the publishing business. She said, "Maybe you should put this aside for a while and start on something new." "Put this aside," is a euphemism for "toss it."
I'll concede now that the draft was all over the place-- too many people, wrong setting, weird voice, unsatisfying ending. However, it wasn't her call to tell me to toss it. A writer-- a good one, a serious one-- chooses to wrestle with a story for a particular reason. Sometimes the writer herself doesn't quite know why it is she invited this particular narrative into her life. But as a first reader, you must respect the project just by its very existence.
It puts me in the mind of the state of Texas. Did you know that in Texas, if someone spends the night at your house and brings any of his stuff over to your place, he's a tenant and has rights? Yes, it could have been a one-night sleepover and of course he brought a pair of jeans and a toothbrush, but that doesn't mean he lives at your house! But, yes, it does. And the same is sort of true with stories. There may be a million reasons to quit, but the manuscript has certain rights and that includes that someone can't just toss it out. Yes, you can evict it. But it's going to take a while, and there is a process. You just have to respect that.
So, back to my former student and her manuscript. It's a mess. Begins and the wrong place, ends wrong, dialogue is choppy and unbelievable. But there are lively moments and real heart. So, when she says, "Should I just chuck it? Be honest." I am honest.
I say to her, "My honest opinion is that you should keep working on this novel if it is still alive in your mind."
She thinks I am humouring her. She asks me again to be honest.
I ask her if she wants helps repairing the manuscript.
She says she does. "All right then," Is say. And we get started.
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There are 3 comments on "Be Honest With Me!". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by Michael Fischer ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
I'm glad I'm not the only aspiring fiction writer to ask such a question to his/her teacher, or to a published writer! I can identify with your former student. Maybe what it comes down to is not having prior "success" to refer back to--prior success that proves that if he/she trusts him/herself like before, things will turn out okay.
October 12, 2006 02:10 PM
Comment #2, by kpdreams
Tayari:
How blessed is that student to have you in her life. My goodness. When I first read "Leaving Atlanta" I thought that it was the most amazing writing I had ever read. When I finished the final page I shut the book with an exhale of, wow.
So that's why when you say things about writing bad drafts it is so hard to phathom.
I'm glad that you are encouraging her to continue on with her work. Sometimes we can't get the story down on paper just right, but the story is still ours to tell. This post encourages me to keep trying with my own work.
Thanks
Kizzy
October 12, 2006 03:34 PM
Comment #3, by Michelle
Wow! This blog is so refreshing and timely. I have been struggling with a novel I am writing and trying to decide whether or not to "toss it" and just move on to another story. But the story just would not leave and I had to pull it out and start over with some more revisions and center the voice. This post let's me know that I am not just spinning my wheels. Thank you for the insight!
October 13, 2006 06:28 PM