Comments on: Novel Approaches http://marionblackburn.net/blog/2009/12/28/novel-approaches/ Writers, writing and why we read. Posted most mornings by Marion Blackburn www.marionblackburn.net Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:04:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Gene-o http://marionblackburn.net/blog/2009/12/28/novel-approaches/comment-page-1/#comment-6702 Gene-o Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:51:52 +0000 http://marionblackburn.net/blog/?p=378#comment-6702 Maybe you could weigh in with some words about Kerouac, who wrote without editing. Was writing "easy" for him? Joyce Carol Oates -- the great, the prolific! -- would seem to find writing easy, since she does so much of it. But she has said that it is a great struggle, not only the writing but the editing. Does it come easily to any writer? I can see it coming naturally, but easily? Interesting question. Maybe you could weigh in with some words about Kerouac, who wrote without editing. Was writing “easy” for him?

Joyce Carol Oates — the great, the prolific! — would seem to find writing easy, since she does so much of it. But she has said that it is a great struggle, not only the writing but the editing.

Does it come easily to any writer? I can see it coming naturally, but easily? Interesting question.

]]> By: Marion http://marionblackburn.net/blog/2009/12/28/novel-approaches/comment-page-1/#comment-6689 Marion Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:39:05 +0000 http://marionblackburn.net/blog/?p=378#comment-6689 I have not read "The Yearling," but consider this recommendation highly. I wonder about those writers who create with ease: do they really exist? Or, do we all struggle to write a thing of beauty and interest? even Scott Fitzgerald rewrote everything, several times. Hemingway, too, would go through his manuscripts and remove every word or sentence he didn't find essential. He said he removed as much as possible, then reviewed to see if the whole remained despite the missing parts. In many cases, he said, the whole was larger and better. I have not read “The Yearling,” but consider this recommendation highly. I wonder about those writers who create with ease: do they really exist? Or, do we all struggle to write a thing of beauty and interest? even Scott Fitzgerald rewrote everything, several times. Hemingway, too, would go through his manuscripts and remove every word or sentence he didn’t find essential.

He said he removed as much as possible, then reviewed to see if the whole remained despite the missing parts. In many cases, he said, the whole was larger and better.

]]> By: Gene-o http://marionblackburn.net/blog/2009/12/28/novel-approaches/comment-page-1/#comment-6677 Gene-o Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:42:41 +0000 http://marionblackburn.net/blog/?p=378#comment-6677 Love the post and the "crossing the river" analogy. Another example of this is "The Yearling." Marjorie Kinan Rawlings was not a born writer; she struggled at her craft -- and produced what is, in my little opinion, a perfect novel. Love the post and the “crossing the river” analogy. Another example of this is “The Yearling.” Marjorie Kinan Rawlings was not a born writer; she struggled at her craft — and produced what is, in my little opinion, a perfect novel.

]]>