Background Image
Writing a novel was like i had some play-doh to work with and could just keep working with it - doing a million drafts and things changing radically and characters appearing and disappearing and solving mysteries: why is this thing here? should i just take that away? and then realizing, no, that is there, in fact, because that is the key to this. i love that sort of detective work, keeping the faith alive until all the questions have been sleuthed out.
-Miranda July
Please Wait....
Translating....

Writing A Novel Was Like I Had

Miranda July
Writing a novel was like i had some play-doh to work with and could just keep working with it - doing a million drafts and things changing radically and characters appearing and disappearing and solving mysteries: why is this thing here? should i just take that away? and then realizing, no, that is there, in fact, because that is the key to this. i love that sort of detective work, keeping the faith alive until all the questions have been sleuthed out.
Views: 77210
Cite this Page
Prevent plagiarism by providing proper attribution.
APA FORMAT
Embed this Quote
Copy this HTML code to embed the quote on your website or blog.
HTML CODE
Topic
Writing Character Things Change

More From Miranda July

I had written eight drafts of the lemony snicket' screenplay when this changing-of-the-guard thing happened, and i said to the new producers, "i don't think i could write any more drafts." i guess i was sort of hoping they would say, "well that's okay, this last one is perfect." but instead, they said, "it's funny you should say that. we don't think you can write any more drafts either."
Writing Thinking Eight
What i try to do is write a story about a detective rather than a detective story. keeping the reader fooled until the last, possible moment is a good trick and i usually try to play it, but i can't attach more than secondary importance to it. the puzzle isn't so interesting to me as the behavior of the detective attacking it.
Writing Play Interesting
It's more like i write multiple first drafts, handwritten. so with my first novel, i wrote whole drafts from different points of view. there are different versions of that novel in a drawer on loose-leaf sheets. i won't even look at the first draft while i'm writing the second, and i won't look at the second before writing the third.
Writing Different Point Of View
It's very bad to write a novel by act of will. i can do a book of nonfiction work that way - just sign the contract and do the book because, provided the topic has some meaning for me, i know i can do it. but a novel is different. a novel is more like falling in love. you don't say, 'i'm going to fall in love next tuesday, i'm going to begin my novel.' the novel has to come to you. it has to feel just like love.
Falling In Love Book Love You
I was a lot dumber when i was writing the novel. i felt like worse of a writer because i wrote many of the short stories in one sitting or over maybe three days, and they didn't change that much. there weren't many, many drafts. that made me feel semi-brilliant and part of a magical process. writing the novel wasn't like that. i would come home every day from my office and say, "well, i still really like the story, i just wish it was better written." at that point, i didn't realize i was writing a first draft. and the first draft was the hardest part.
Home Writing Office
I could play a cop, i could play a crook, i could play a lawyer, i could play a dentist, i could play an art critic-i could play the guy next door. i am the guy next door. i could play catholic, jewish, protestant. as a matter of fact, when i did the odd couple, i would do it a different way each night. on monday i'd be jewish, tuesday italian, wednesday irish-german-and i would mix them up. i did that to amuse myself, and it always worked.
Monday Art Couple
Similar Quotes
I played in a basketball league until i was 40 years old. i played every monday night and the guys would say, "you take him out, and you'll see us afterwards."
Basketball Monday Night
People love in different ways. you may have a man who brings you flowers every monday but doesn't give two hooty-hoots about valentine's day. just because he doesn't give you a valentine doesn't mean he doesn't love you!
Monday Valentine Flower
There are two tests in life, more important than any other test. on monday morning, when you wake up, do you feel in the pit of your stomach you can't wait to go to work? and when you're ready to go home friday afternoon, do you say, 'i can't wait to go home?'
Friday Morning Monday
Today you are you! that is truer than true!
Happy Birthday Funny Birthday Monday

Trending Author

Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Don Hewitt
Don Hewitt
Donald T. Regan
Donald T. Regan
James Beard
James Beard
Samuel Rutherford
Samuel Rutherford
Jean Rostand
Jean Rostand
Category
Information
Inspirational
Philosophy
Personal Growth
Happiness & Joy
Life Lessons
Success & Business
Motivation