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I want to establish, before I get into this post, that the majority of my family is amazingly supportive. Questions they ask range from, "When can I buy my copy?" to "You're going to sign it, right?". They like all my posts on Facebook and give me I'm-so-happy-for-you hugs that almost hurt when we see each other. So I know what it's like to have an awesome family behind me in this venture.
I also know what it's like to have someone close to you decide they're not going to be so supportive.
See, back when I wrote Some Quiet Place, I didn't make any official decision to write what I wanted to write. I just did. The words flowed onto the page, and there were no thoughts about what was right or wrong or what other people would think. The story was all that mattered. So when all was said and done, there were some passages among the pages that my conservative family might not approve of. There's some swearing, some steamy moments, some violence. And when I chose to warn someone of this, the response was not positive.
It was the first time someone had ever told me they would not read the book. It was the first time someone had ever expressed how disappointed they were in me for making this choice. And it was the first time I realized that something like this could happen to me. It may not end here. It could happen again.
And that's something I need to prepare myself for.
I could make things easier for myself. I could go back and remove those words, those kisses, those painful confrontations. It would definitely make conversations less awkward during Christmas. It would also make my signings even more special, looking up and seeing that person in the crowd.
But I can't. I won't.
Because the point of writing a story is making it as real as we can. As raw, as poignant, as effective as we can so that not only have we done justice to these characters, but to the reader, as well. Granted, there are amazing stories out there without all those elements people may disapprove of. But they're not my stories. I may not have made a conscious choice when I was writing it, so I'll make one now. I love my family. I always will.
I'm just not going to change my art or my beliefs for anyone.
I feel like I should give you an atta-girl!
ReplyDeleteSo I will.
Atta-girl!
Haha why thank you!
DeleteI've read Stephen King's book On Writing many many (many) times.
ReplyDeleteAnd he states throughout the book that to remain true to yourself, to your readers, you MUST remain true to your book.
If the character's first impulse is to say FUCK! and you change it for *Lemony Cricket!* to avoid disapproval, then you will disappoint your readers because they will feel that the character is not being truthful. And that is what a book is. A promise to deliver. A promise to be truthful.
You were faithful to your characters and they are so alive on the pages that you know you've done right by them. Right by your readers.
Of course some people will be upset. Even more because this person is close to you and you expect a certain amount of support from this said person.
But that is ONE 'negative' comment. And what is that compared to all the positive feedback you've received? (From me, several times over!!!)
I am so so proud of you and I support you in every way possible (WHEN THE MC ENDS WITH THE RIGHT CHARACTER!! Er, I mean...) I completely support you, your writing, your beliefs, your decisions.
I love you, Kills.
I really need to read that book one day...
DeleteAnd thank you so much for this. I'm glad you feel the same way about the story :) You're right; the positive feedback - so far, at least - has far outweighed the bad, so I must be doing something right!
You know what? I'm proud of me, too. LOL. You're going to make me get all weepy.
Also... YOU KNOW WHO SHE ENDS UP WITH.
Love you, too, Tiger.
Thanks for this . . . really. It's a constant war in my mind and heart too.
ReplyDelete"What if so-and-so reads my book and thinks: ________.
I love what you said about not making a conscious choice to write the story as you did. It just flowed onto the page. It's as real as you can make it—it's the best version of itself, and anything less would be, well, less.
So keep on keeping on. And thanks for the bravery of your post (I'm sure your family reads your blog).
I for one am encouraged!
That thought did weigh on my mind eventually... just after the fact. LOL. Thank you so much for reading! Same to you: keep on. Like you said, it's as real as we can make it.
DeleteMy answer to everything is yes. Keep on keepin' on.
ReplyDelete:) YES!
DeleteI salute you, yo. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is something that I've worried a lot about, so now I try to blot out any kind of audience, even a sympathetic one. The way I see it is that while my characters are a part of me, they are not me. They often do things I wouldn't do--swearing, grave-robbing, dieting--just like everyone else around me. I think it's important in how you portray these things; if you have a character who strangles his wife and you write it like a comedy, that's something I would object to.
Haha thanks, Alice.
DeleteGood decision, blotting out the audience. It's really just not good for the writing if we always think about everyone else.
And YES, love the bit about your characters doing things you normally wouldn't. It's so true. As is the importance of how we portray them.
My biggest issue with most books i read is how muted all of the character's reactions are. I find it impossible to actually relate to them when they are all even keel. If a friend of the main character is killed they curse their luck and demand revenge, but then don't do anything about it.
ReplyDeleteYou have to stay true to yourself, not necessarily for your sake, but for the sake of your characters!
I actually haven't read a book with a "muted response" in a long time. I think writers are really overcoming their fear of others. But you're right; it's so hard to relate to those characters.
DeleteAmen. Stay true.
Looks like I'm just picking the wrong books then! Gotta start picking a bit more selectively moving forward.
Delete