A few days ago I spoke of the magic that stories invoke in readers, and because the post generated a few questions and responses, I thought I would take a moment to clarify my semi-gnostic proclamations with what I hope are slightly less gnostic proclamations.
Love this post, it rings true. Regarding how a writer, although they can experience a type of magic, can never experience the same magic as a reader, this reminds me of listening to Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Shows. For each themed episode he played his fave music, popular and obscure vinyl recordings. His comments were funny, deep and revealing as though he was sitting in the front seat of the tour bus, talking to the driver about that song that just came on the radio.
One night the theme was Coffee. Songs and comments were great, but I kept thinking, he’s got to play his song, One More Cup of Coffee. The show ended without the song and then it hit me. He never included any of his own songs in these shows, because in Bob Dylan’s world his songs are not songs that he can ever come to free of the baggage, good or bad, that he used to create them. He doesn’t get to be a listener of Dylan music, the way the rest of us can. In his world there is no Dylan on the playlists.
It made me feel so sad, for him. But as you say, that’s a price that must be paid. I think he’s come to terms with it. He keeps on making music.
Sometimes I start a story and think, but that's not the kind of story I want to write, or, not the story I want others to see me writing. I'm going to change it to what I Should write. But then, I go back in, and the story dominates me, and I just continue writing it. If that happens, this doubting, I think it's because I was trying to be the reader while writing. It's a bad idea, and so I agree: you cannot be the reader and the writer at the same time.
But then there's also that thing we do of writing to a specific reader, as if it were a letter. I might write a story to someone in real life who I've lost. And I still remember Zadie Smith's advice: "...try to read your own work as a stranger would read it, or even better, as an enemy would." This doesn't specify when you should do that, but I'm pretty sure she means in the editing stage.
“A writer that eliminates or colonizes a reader’s space to play is a dictator — they want to tell the reader what the story is and how they should read it — harming their talents and their stories in the process.”
Love this post, it rings true. Regarding how a writer, although they can experience a type of magic, can never experience the same magic as a reader, this reminds me of listening to Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Shows. For each themed episode he played his fave music, popular and obscure vinyl recordings. His comments were funny, deep and revealing as though he was sitting in the front seat of the tour bus, talking to the driver about that song that just came on the radio.
One night the theme was Coffee. Songs and comments were great, but I kept thinking, he’s got to play his song, One More Cup of Coffee. The show ended without the song and then it hit me. He never included any of his own songs in these shows, because in Bob Dylan’s world his songs are not songs that he can ever come to free of the baggage, good or bad, that he used to create them. He doesn’t get to be a listener of Dylan music, the way the rest of us can. In his world there is no Dylan on the playlists.
It made me feel so sad, for him. But as you say, that’s a price that must be paid. I think he’s come to terms with it. He keeps on making music.
damn. what a perfect example to make the case. thank you so much ada.
I'm so glad it makes sense to you. I was hesitating to press that button, so thank you.
This is genius.
Sometimes I start a story and think, but that's not the kind of story I want to write, or, not the story I want others to see me writing. I'm going to change it to what I Should write. But then, I go back in, and the story dominates me, and I just continue writing it. If that happens, this doubting, I think it's because I was trying to be the reader while writing. It's a bad idea, and so I agree: you cannot be the reader and the writer at the same time.
But then there's also that thing we do of writing to a specific reader, as if it were a letter. I might write a story to someone in real life who I've lost. And I still remember Zadie Smith's advice: "...try to read your own work as a stranger would read it, or even better, as an enemy would." This doesn't specify when you should do that, but I'm pretty sure she means in the editing stage.
This hit me over the head:
“A writer that eliminates or colonizes a reader’s space to play is a dictator — they want to tell the reader what the story is and how they should read it — harming their talents and their stories in the process.”
Thank you 🙏
Did you know @junotdiaz, that your book The wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is on David Bowie’s top 100 books?