I am currently finishing a fiction writing class at St. Francis College taught by my dad. The course was harder, more lively, and more fun than I expected, but it also made me realize how not special I am as a writer. I had probably been a little hard on the St. Francis students, and reading their writing—it was better than I expected—made me realize I was maybe a little too full of myself. It made me realize that writing isn’t just “what’s in you’re heart,” it’s getting people to understand what’s in your heart. People make the same mistake when they think about a jazz solo. They forget, or don’t understand, the importance of chord progressions, permutations, and tone. With writing and music, it’s about getting others to feel what you feel, which isn’t so easy.
My dad wants me to add something he says he talked about in class (I don’t remember): “Just because you feel something, just because something happened to you, doesn’t necessarily mean I want to read about it, doesn’t necessarily make it a story worth telling. You are obligated to make me care.”
Not to point fingers, but I think it was Senesh, my old school, that made me think I was such a good writer. Everything passed as great or good, never bad. I would get remarks like “I know you’re a good writer so you can do whatever you want.” It is important to be positive towards kids because if you’re not, they may assume they can’t do anything, but over positivity can lead to not understanding how much hard work and commitment it takes to be really good at something.
[Note from dad: I--and Skeptic, and many others--really do think you're a GREAT writer (not to mention musician)--what now?]
As a little extra thing to add to home school this year, this week I started taking a Fundamentals of Short Fiction Writing course for high school students through Brandeis University. This is definitely, in part, a compensation for my mom in that she “found” the class and, also, is just happy that I am in an “official” class of any kind, but I’m happy about it too.
The first assignment was called “Where I’m From.” My dad liked what I wrote. Thought he wouldn’t. Anyway, here is what I wrote:
LearnMe
how nice. “You are obliged to make me care.” How true. What’s wrong with so much contemporary writing.
You should NOT doubt what a gifted writer you are. I read your postings and think, HOW OLD IS THIS KID? The education you are receiving as a homeschooler is invaluable, especially the opportunities to turn up the learning by being around those with more experience. There is so much to be said for one on one. I DO care when I read your stuff. See you in June when you can show off your dancing skills!
“With writing and music, it’s about getting others to feel what you feel, which isn’t so easy.”
That is a very astute and mature observation on your part SchoolLess. It took me a long time to learn that one. It really is true for any form of communication; it’s about getting others to feel and see things from your perspective, even if they disagree. Also important to remember that it is a two way street – we become better at writing and playing music the more we read and listen.
-From another patron of the world of small snacks and no meals.
I love this post. It made me a think a lot. But while I agree that the writer has an obligation to make the reader care, I also think that readers are obligated to try to care and to want to care about the story, characters, people, events they are reading about. This may take effort and patience, especially if the experience/perspective they are reading about – or music they are listening to – is totally unfamiliar or seemingly unsympathetic. Just a thought…
I agree. It’s what makes listening to music or reading a book both so challenging and helpful.
I don’t know you at all, but you are a good writer; I’m enjoying this blog You’re right – detailed feedback on your work is what will make you a better writer, and humility about the work is what makes you an effective editor of your own writing. I think you have it in you to make the reader care.
I’m a nonfiction writer, but here are two books on the crafting of narrative I’ve found really useful – and in no way dry or text-booky – conversational, sometimes snarky, often largely thoughtful on what it means to wake up to reality through writing – pleasures to read:
How Fiction Works by James Woods and Burning Down the House: Essays on Fiction by Charles Baxter.