And then there's death...
Listening to a discussion on the topic on Public Radio and it got me thinking. I'm picturing the scenario of somebody dear to me, on their deathbed, and my having the priceless opportunity to speak to him/her.
You've made my life better just by being in it. I'm sorry I've been so distant through the years, I haven't made the necessary effort to spend more time together. How do I reconcile such enormous selfishness with what I'm saying now? I don't know. I just know it's true, the way I feel. That you've added to my life's worth and I'm a better man for having loved you. Too often we allow those close to us to depart without a proper goodbye. I don't know if it's too late to speak these words, if it might seem to be only a cowardly thing to do, bailing myself out of future regrets, but in my heart I feel I'm being truthful and just now speaking the truth I've kept inside. Love is not a decision we make, it is merely an emotion that decides for us. From early days I've been troubled by an inability to properly deal with my emotions, and though I've tried to fight my innate tendency to hide away when uncomfortably flustered by love's tangled web, the pull of my deeply flawed character has usually won out.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Tell the tale from the beginning...?
"The tale the beggar tells must be told from the beginning," wrote Elie Wiesel. Indeed. I understand the point made by the statement, even though I'm reading it in a vacuum, devoid of any context. It speaks clearly to me, and in volumes. Obviously a beggar's story can't be complete without including the path that led him to begging. But what strikes a chord for me, regarding this quote, is the question it seems to inevitably lead to, once you've arrived to the aforementioned conclusions. Must not everybody's tale be told from the beginning, if there is to be a full faceted understanding of his/her story?
I'm not going to attempt an essay on the subject, though I probably should. The truth is I'm too lazy to try. No, I just want to use this statement to add to my understanding of my novel's central character. He is the sum of many parts. To wit, his genes, upbringing, education and life experiences are the most fundamental of those parts which have contributed in some way to carving his character and personality. But these are painted on with a very broad brush. There is much minutiae within each contributor that shifts the balance of influence one way or the other. My dilemma is whether to consider these only for the sake of character development, or use them as a part of the narrative (be it in the form of biographical details, flashbacks, or as retrospective explanations for decisions made throughout the story). Perhaps it's best only to consider them privately as the writer, and allow them to shape the character in my mind before committing it to paper. Hmm...
I'm not going to attempt an essay on the subject, though I probably should. The truth is I'm too lazy to try. No, I just want to use this statement to add to my understanding of my novel's central character. He is the sum of many parts. To wit, his genes, upbringing, education and life experiences are the most fundamental of those parts which have contributed in some way to carving his character and personality. But these are painted on with a very broad brush. There is much minutiae within each contributor that shifts the balance of influence one way or the other. My dilemma is whether to consider these only for the sake of character development, or use them as a part of the narrative (be it in the form of biographical details, flashbacks, or as retrospective explanations for decisions made throughout the story). Perhaps it's best only to consider them privately as the writer, and allow them to shape the character in my mind before committing it to paper. Hmm...
Monday, November 19, 2012
Miami Book Fair
Spent a lovely afternoon with the family yesterday, visiting the Miami Book Fair on it's final day. Found many good deals on used books, bought a handful of new books (including an autographed copy of Adam Johnson's "The Orphan Master's Son"), and attended some very interesting and entertaining lectures and readings by contemporary authors. We've done this before and it's always a treat. On this occasion we took my daughter (nearly 13) and my sister in law. My wife had a list of lectures she was interested in and I had my own. She grabbed her sister, I took my daughter, and off we went our separate ways. It worked out well and I believe my daughter had a wonderful, educational time.
One of the lectures we attended was comprised of three authors, all of them writers of Young Adult fiction. I thought my daughter might find it interesting to hear directly from authors regarding books she might actually read. We decided to purchase novels from two of them. It was a whole new experience for her. I'm hoping she's discussing her day with her schoolmates today and speaking about it in glowing terms. Any encouragement these kids can get toward enjoying books is an improvement over the status quo.
I received a different type of encouragement myself, yesterday. Watching and listening to all these authors gives me a sense of longing to be there, speaking as an author and reading excerpts of my work. I need to break through the research phase and begin the actual writing. I'm afraid I'm stalling at this point and it's scaring me. I don't want to be a potential writer anymore; somebody who is capable of writing a novel, just hasn't done it yet. If I wait any longer I'll simply be somebody who never wrote anything. A nobody.
We all got together at the final lecture, one that both my wife and I had on our lists: Jaime Bayly. It was terrific and a perfect way to end the day. Walked a couple of blocks to my car and we left downtown, heading home. On the way there, we compared titles and exchanged anecdotes. Everybody had a story to tell. Can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Can't wait 'til next year!
One of the lectures we attended was comprised of three authors, all of them writers of Young Adult fiction. I thought my daughter might find it interesting to hear directly from authors regarding books she might actually read. We decided to purchase novels from two of them. It was a whole new experience for her. I'm hoping she's discussing her day with her schoolmates today and speaking about it in glowing terms. Any encouragement these kids can get toward enjoying books is an improvement over the status quo.
I received a different type of encouragement myself, yesterday. Watching and listening to all these authors gives me a sense of longing to be there, speaking as an author and reading excerpts of my work. I need to break through the research phase and begin the actual writing. I'm afraid I'm stalling at this point and it's scaring me. I don't want to be a potential writer anymore; somebody who is capable of writing a novel, just hasn't done it yet. If I wait any longer I'll simply be somebody who never wrote anything. A nobody.
We all got together at the final lecture, one that both my wife and I had on our lists: Jaime Bayly. It was terrific and a perfect way to end the day. Walked a couple of blocks to my car and we left downtown, heading home. On the way there, we compared titles and exchanged anecdotes. Everybody had a story to tell. Can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Can't wait 'til next year!
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Choice of narrative
Thanks to my unique proximity to the parties involved, I have compiled a good deal of documentation regarding the road trip. My mother saved all the letters my father sent her while on the road (they weren't married then, only dating), and my father saved a decent amount of memorabilia and photos in a scrapbook. That, in addition to his recollections, anecdotes, and personal chronological narrative, albeit it over 50 years after the fact, make for a bountiful pail of information to draw from.
However, there is no substitute for traveling the trodden route. I have no firsthand experience of the roads they rode down, the people they met (nine countries were stepped on), and realistically only a rudimentary understanding of most of the cultures they mixed with. That is why I believe I can only approach the writing of this book as more of a character study than a road trip. In other words, the plot would be driven by the main character's development while on the road, as opposed to focusing on the trip itself and writing it as an adventure novel. My dilemma is whether to write it as a first or third person narrative. If done as a first person account, I'm also considering including a second narrator, also in the first person, which would be the love interest back home. I think it would be interesting to have the tale peppered with stories and perspectives of everyday life through the eyes a young, single socialite in a thriving cosmopolitan city while her beau is away.
Not sure. I need to develop both ideas a little further before deciding which way to go.
However, there is no substitute for traveling the trodden route. I have no firsthand experience of the roads they rode down, the people they met (nine countries were stepped on), and realistically only a rudimentary understanding of most of the cultures they mixed with. That is why I believe I can only approach the writing of this book as more of a character study than a road trip. In other words, the plot would be driven by the main character's development while on the road, as opposed to focusing on the trip itself and writing it as an adventure novel. My dilemma is whether to write it as a first or third person narrative. If done as a first person account, I'm also considering including a second narrator, also in the first person, which would be the love interest back home. I think it would be interesting to have the tale peppered with stories and perspectives of everyday life through the eyes a young, single socialite in a thriving cosmopolitan city while her beau is away.
Not sure. I need to develop both ideas a little further before deciding which way to go.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Why I'm blogging
In 1960, my father and a friend set off on a trip by car from Bogota, Colombia to Detroit, Mi. I have interviewed my father extensively, gathered photos, letters and maps that were saved from the period, and tried to get a feel for the time and place as it was.
I'm stalling, however, because I am still undecided on the form of narrative that the novel will take. It is my intention to use this blog as a way of setting down my doubts and ideas, in no particular order and for no other purpose than to serve me as a sort of therapy. If anybody should happen upon this page, please understand that I am making no attempt to retain readership. I'm only trying to put down whatever thoughts are bouncing around in my head with regards to my prospective novel.
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