A fairer word about "Thrillers and Killers" and some thoughts on writing

I spent more time thinking about the authors I heard speak at Boston Bookfest's panel on "Thrillers and Killers" and while I felt like they did not delivered an interesting discussion on the serial killer narrative or what it is like to research the innerworkings of a pyscho-path, I do think they all had interesting points on the art of writing. All three authors spoke about being fascinated by the topic, but each has different methods. Andre Dubus III likened himself to a vessel that accepts the story as it enters his mind and when his writing session ends for the day, distancing himself from whatever the text reads. Contrastingly, Joe Finder implied his method involved more planning and preparation, indicating that he dreads writing particular scenes that depict violence. While Finder and Dubus portray the violence of the killers their stories feature, Stephen Carter leaves all that action "off-screen." The decisions of what to portray, when and how to write it are particularly interesting to me as I was recently reading an interview with one of my favorite authors, John Irving.

I have read before that Irving often writes the last sentence of his novels first and then works his way there from the beginning. On the "Thrillers and Killers" panel Joe Finder also indicated that he writes endings first and then tackles the beginning. I like this because it lends solid direction to the story. In Michael Chabon's Wonder Boys, the primary character is in the process of finishing a novel that over time became a sprawling, multi-generational story that never ends. By writing the ending first, the author can stay the course and keep the finish in sight.

Irving also discussed how the subjects for his books surface. While the writers on the "Thrillers and Killers" panel are inspired by what they do not know much about and want to learn more, Irving proves more inrospective and curious to explore his past. Though his novels are not entirely autobiographical, Irving uses writing as a catalyst to process events and periods in his life, but only after he has gained distance from when such events occurred;


I'm a slow processor. I wrote my Vietnam novel, "Owen Meany," 20 years after the war; I needed to wait that long to know what about that period of time still made me angry. I purposely set my abortion novel back in the '30s and '40s—just to distance my story from the current politics surrounding the abortion subject, and to make the novel have the authority of an historical document. Similarly, I wrote my most autobiographical novel—about my childhood, my premature sexual experience, my missing and undiscussed father—when I was already in my late fifties (when I began Until I Find You); I was in my sixties when I finished the book.
Until I Find You would have been a very different novel if I'd written it when I was still living through the consequences of my childhood, and of my life as a teenager, or even as a young man in his twenties or thirties. But I was long past those times; I could make up more of the story, I could take many more liberties—I could exaggerate, which is what novels do so well. You cannot build on your past experiences in fiction if you are still muddling through those experiences—you need some hindsight.
- http://www.nashvillescene.com/2008-11-06/news/john-irving-the-scene-interview/2


I really like the way Irving talks about the distance he needs from his life to then write about it in an effective way, which leads me to another book related adventure upon which the rompers embarked.

We attended a book reading by first time and self published author Amy Julia Becker. She read from Penelope Ayers: a memoir at a small event arranged by an arts group at the Park Street Church. While Becker was friendly and enthusiastic to share her story with the audience, it became clear very quickly that she was still developing her craft as a writer. Penelope Ayers is a memoir written from Becker's perspective about her mother in law's battle with cancer. Becker depicts a broken and hurting family brought together in spiritual healing when one of their own falls victim to a terminal disease. The Christian faith plays a large role in the healing process as does the unbreakable bonds of lifelong friendship resurfacing in times of need. Though Irving writes fiction and Becker writes memoir the comparison between the two relates to the time that passes before publishing a work. Becker experienced the time of turmoil and upheaval featured in her book in the earlier part of this decade. The memoir serves as a processing tool and from what we heard of the text, it is too soon to share. While Becker feels like she has a story to tell, she is still too close to the subject matter - essentially, the wounds are still fresh and without allowing them to scab over, Becker gains no perspective on the events.


From the selections Becker read, she revealed herself to be a new writer in that details she choose to describe seemed irrelevant. Though Becker spoke about her writing process what she hoped readers could gain from the story, the story itself seemed unfocused. Described as "Set in pre-Katrina New Orleans, Penelope Ayers unfolds against the backdrop of one of the world’s most vibrant cities," Becker juxtaposes her story with an extremely volatile period in recent American history and that seems unnecessary. The selections she read indicated no actual connection to Hurricane Katrina, so why reference it? Katrina evokes so many specific images and emotions in the American public, it seems strange to layer that cultural memory onto a personal family story. Additionally, Becker mentioned other themes like the clash of family culture within a marriage (her husband grew up in New Orleans, she grew up in New England), restoration of faith when faced with a seeming lack of God (cancer exists), yet these themes seemed underdeveloped.

However, we are both eager to read the book to determine if what we gathered from the reading is true. At the time it seemed to us that Becker needs more distance from the events she recounted as well as time to develop herself as a writer. We saw a great deal of potential in her and would like to see the story evolve. Furthermore, the setting was relaxed, but engaging as the audience asked several questions at the end and clearly felt compassion towards the hardship Becker and her family endured. We will report back when we have read the text in full!

In conclusion, the rompers are eager to try out a brand new author, but recognize that seasoned folks like John Irving truly understand the craft and dig deep to find a worthy story. Even though Dani hates most books by John Irving, she too loved his thoughts on the popularity of reading:

The bestseller list in the U.S. doesn't only reflect what we read. That list is a reflection of how backward we are as a culture. We are anti-intellectual, we don't value the arts, and we don't sufficiently support education. President Bush made sounding stupid actually comforting to many Americans. Look at the rush of instant identification that many Americans felt for Governor Palin; she was mean, she was poorly informed, she spoke badly. I said to my wife, after watching Palin's debate with Senator Biden, that I could only think of one question that woman might not duck—one she actually might answer, even with enthusiasm. Here's the question. I have never field-dressed a moose, but—in my deer-hunting days—I have field-dressed deer, and I would have liked to ask the perky Alaskan if the process is more or less the same. (Only a lot bigger!) I could easily imagine Gov. Palin's eyes brightening; an onslaught of pre-orgasmic winking might have ensued. "Ya know," she might have begun, "ya just gotta make a big slit from the critter's brisket to its crotch, and ya gotta reach way the heck up and grab hold of the rectum. Ya can't let the feces fall out and get all over the meat, ya know. But there's really nothin' to it. It's just a moose—it's not a Russian, or somethin'!" I think that pretty much covers what the governor might say in answer to that question, except that she probably wouldn't use the feces word—if ya know what I mean.
- http://www.nashvillescene.com/2008-11-06/news/john-irving-the-scene-interview/3

So, whether you love a serial killer narrative, an introspective fiction as an exploration of one's life, or a memoir, keep reading! In other candid culture news: more to come on future and present reading challenges as well as a lecture on famous murders in Boston! That's right, the rompers are a little blood-thirsty around Halloween!!
 

- KER