Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Last week a number of people reposted a meme on Facebook created by author Tony Aleo. It said: “When you buy a book from an author you’re buying more than a story. You are buying numerous hours of errors and re-writes. You are buying moments of frustration and moments of sheer joy. You are not just buying a book, you are buying something they delight in sharing, a piece of their heart, a piece of their soul. . . a small piece of someone’s life.”
The sentiment came embedded in a gorgeous picture of a stack of books, some handwritten manuscript pages and a pewter stein. My first thought was ohhhhh, yes. As an author I could identify.
And then. . . I begin to think about it as a reader. Wait a minute. When I buy a book I don’t want to think about the author slaving over the manuscript. I don’t want to think about the rewrites. I don’t want to picture the frustration or even the sheer joy.
As a reader I want to open the book and fall into the story. I want the experience of becoming part of this story world. I don’t want to catch even the tiniest trace of the author. The story is about the characters, their journey, the setting and the magic that happens when a compelling story begins to unwind.
One of my literary heroes, C. S. Lewis, always argued against source criticism– the idea that events or themes in a book can be traced to something in an author’s life. He hated it when readers would try to find the author in the pages of a story.
Reading a book is like enjoying sausage. We just want to hear it sizzle and then feel the pop as we puncture it with our fork. We want to savor the taste but we do not want to know what goes into it or how they make it. Trust me.
Story is like that sausage. We want to be transported but we do not want to know what goes into it or how it was made.
So tell me, do you agree? I know we encourage you to have author sites where fans can find out more about you. And, as a reader, I often go to author sites. But do we want a reader to pick up a novel and think about the blood, sweat and tears that went into it?
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“As a reader I want to open the book and fall into the story.”
This.
It’s about the story, the results, not the work. And some of the authors I’ve seen beating this drum aren’t actually delivering a good story, or what could be a good story is buried under layers of spelling mistakes or extraneous verbiage that a good editor would have peeled away.
I hear you. Nothing pulls me out of the story quite like a mistake.
I don’t look for the author in a novel. I look for a bit of me: a flash of my personality in a character, the tension of my own fears, a glimpse of a place that I’ve been (my father was a “see America” guy, and I’ve been to lots of places).
*I confess to different thoughts of the author. When I run across a gripping phrase or an exquisite sentence, I occasionally wonder, “Did that just flow effortlessly from his or her fingers, or was it the result of multiple edits, or was it a set of words carried in the author’s head for years just looking for the right space to rest?”
I think I’m a little like you, Shirlee. I tend to look for something I may have in common with the characters I’m reading about. 🙂
*And, when we traveled when I was a girl, we almost exclusively drove. One year, our vacation took us from Colorado to Florida to Ontario, Canada and home again. All those miles were covered in our car. 🙂
I think those questions you have for the author come from you as a writer. I’m wondering if a non-writing reader would wonder. It’s hard to read without our writer selves intruding.
“It’s hard to read without our writer selves intruding.” Isn’t that the truth?
This intrusion can trip me up, but now that I understand how much it takes (love, sweat, tears, etc) to write a novel, I appreciate the tenacity of the author even more.
You can extend that idea to so much. As I read your opening statements Wendy, I thought, “no actually, I am not that fussed about how it got here, I just want to enjoy it as it now is”. Then you went on to agree with that point. So now, do I agree with you or you with me? I love cooking, but I don’t want those who eat my food to know how it got there – partly because its my secret, but also because I don’t want them to know what they don’t need to know. In Toastmasters we often corrected speakers who volunteered to the audience, information about their nervousness that no one needed to know but which in knowing actually robbed them of the simple pleasure of enjoying the finished product. I look at art that way too, and music and dance and even a beautiful Aston Martin (or the unspoken mysteries of a few publishing agents I know) – and I just love it as it is. Only in retrospect might I dig a bit to get some insights, as I was recently tempted to do to work out how Matt Damon flew through space to connect with his mission commander in “The Martian”. I do admit, that I often ponder how a film was made or how Hobbits were made to be small, but I never dig deeper – that would spoil the magic, as would finding out how an illusionist does his stuff. Most things are best enjoyed as they are, without too many questions. That is how most artists prefer it.
Peter, I’m the same way with movies. I’m curious how certain things happened. Or certain aspects of the movie were made. 🙂 Glad I’m not alone.
So glad I agreed with you before even knowing it. But yes, we sometimes read (or watch) something and go out to find out more about the author (or actor) but we don’t want readers to imagine the tears that flowed over the edit or the gnashing of teeth over the second rewrite while they are supposed to be engaged in the story.
“I do admit, that I often ponder how a film was made or how Hobbits were made to be small, but I never dig deeper – that would spoil the magic, as would finding out how an illusionist does his stuff.” Peter, this makes a helpful distinction between being impressed by the writer’s craft and distracted by it. I remember reading Jane Austen and my breath being taken away by the prose, causing me to pause and savor it.
So glad I agreed with you before even knowing it. But yes, we sometimes read (or watch) something and go out to find out more about the author (or actor) but we don’t want readers to imagine the tears that flowed over the edit or the gnashing of teeth over the second rewrite while they are supposed to be engaged in the story.
Hi Wendy,
I agree. I want to be pulled into the story. If I think about the author and what the author went through to write this story, then I’m not fully into the story. If I want to know more about the author, I’ll Google him/her or become friends on social media. And I don’t think authors want us thinking about them when we read their stories.
Great point, Jackie. I don’t think I want my future readers thinking about me when they read the stories I pen. I want them to enjoy the story. 🙂
Jackie, don’t you think this is a problem with spending so much time with other writers instead of our readers?
Wendy, I think the exploration of this question could be a whole blog post in and of itself. Hope you take it on in the future. 🙂
First of all, Wendy, you made me hungry for sausage for breakfast, and I have none in the house. Sigh. 😉
*I like how you looked at that quote from both the author’s and the reader’s viewpoint. I think the quote resonates with us as writers. But your point is spot on for readers. When I read a story, I want to be immersed in the story, not pulled out of it by something the author says to make his/her presence known behind the scenes. If a reader gets pulled out too many times, they may just put the book down for good.
*And, as has been said, it’s nice to be able to follow authors to get glimpses of them on social media. We don’t necessarily need to see them in their stories.
I totally agree, if I get “pulled out” too often, I usually abandon the book.
And I’ve always been a proponent of making it seem painless. In the years I created art I always declined art-in-process invitations. Creating my art was more like making sausage than delicately putting brush to canvas.
I want my books to be like movies. I want my reader to ESCAPE. I do not like opening books and seeing the same catch phrases the author used in the last one. Yes, that happened. Nope. No names.
People tell me I have a bit of wit, and yet they read my work and CANNOT believe it came from me. I take that as a compliment.
A compliment, indeed! 🙂
Sounds like you’re keeping your readers and characters in mind as you write.
I wholeheartedly agree. Not only do I not want to know all that goes into a particular author’s writing of her story, but I don’t want to share those details about my own stories. There’s magic and sweat involved. Let’s leave it at that.
Yes! magic.
My first thought goes back to the principle that good writing should make the reader forget they’re reading written words and just become enveloped by the story. It reminds me of great movies. You know an actor has done a superb job when you leave remembering the character she portrayed instead. My main goal when I write is that readers find themselves in the story…not me. We authors have to get out of the way for that to happen, which I feel is the impetus for focusing on the craft. When executed properly, the craftiness magically fades.
Exactly. “We authors need to get out of the way.”
On a first read? Probably not. I would rather a reader be engrossed in the story, caught up in the world I created. But afterward I would hope a reader is so moved by the story that she does think about those things–the research, the writing process–on some level. I sure do when I’ve finished a book that engages me, but not until I’ve read the story.
This past weekend I met a young woman who had read my books, and having time to sit and chat with her over a couple of days, was touched when she told me she felt like she knew me after reading my books. I told her, “You do in a way. There’s a lot of me in those books.” Another time a new acquaintance said in my hearing that he chose to read my books in part to get to know me better. So this factor of knowing an author through her books is part of some readers’ reading experience, while I’m sure many more never give the author much thought at all.
Interesting. I can agree about knowing a small part of the author after reading the book but I wouldn’t want the reader to be thinking about the pain that often goes into the creation.
Definitely not the pain. More than anything I want readers to enjoy the reading experience. But it’s nice when some idea of the work behind the story is appreciated by a reader now and then. That tells me they enjoyed it on another level too.
Yes! And as an author I want this more than ever. Few things are as delightful as a book that sweeps me away and makes me forget about who wrote it. I DO read for craft at times, but that’s work. The best is when I mean to pay attention to the craft and, instead, find the story simply unfolding. It’s certainly what I hope for when someone picks up one of my novels. I’d rather the seams never showed.
“Swept away.” And when this can happen for a writer/reader, it’s a powerful thing because we can’t help examining seams usually.
At the recommendation of your “What we’re reading” widget, I listened to “All the Light We Cannot See.” It was the most complex novel I have ever read, and I had to know more about the author. I ended up watching an interview with him, and he appeared to be a likeable genius. I LOVED the story and the writing–the beautiful phrases, riveting images, and efficient wording. I decided I had to buy the hardcover to study. However, (insert sausage imagery!) upon slicing through the first chapter or so, I feel like I punctured the thing I was hoping to savor, and now all I can see are the ingredients…savory as they are 🙂
Oh, that’s funny, Shauna. 🙂
Great testimony. I know. I love the NPR author interviews but this very thing happens.
Before I started writing novels, I never, ever, not even once went to an author’s website. I enjoyed the story entirely on its own merit devoid of contact with the author. I had authors I enjoyed, but I didn’t follow them as people. As to what they went through in writing the book, that never entered my mind unless it was a nonfiction work about dealing with life traumas.
Now I am visiting sites to learn what is attractive to me and what is just neutral. I haven’t found anything repellent. Some of the regular commenters here have wonderful sites! I’m working on designing a site that I hope will be interesting and even fun. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. (My novels are set in the Roman Empire, and I’m certainly NOT going to do as the Romans did!) I’m becoming very psyched up about getting to know any regulars who decide to share with me some of their limited time.
I do like the special features about the making of a movie. We always watch that after viewing a DVD for the first time, especially if special effects are involved. There is an engineering solution to most problems, and it often involves WD-40 or duct tape.
It’s hard to take off our writer’s hat. I’m currently reading an author, Charles Todd. The author is actually a mother-son writing team. He lives in Florida, she in Delaware. I can’t leave it alone. I keep wondering how they do it. Do they plot together and one writes? Does he do the military aspects while she does the emotional parts? Is one of them in name only (for promotional appearances) and the other the real worker. Does the mom get the last word? If the story wasn’t so intriguing I couldn’t easily take my agent hat off.
I enjoy reading about an author’s journey and craft. However, I find that many author sites are whiny or self-absorbed – focusing on mundane daily irritations. That sends my curser to the X.
I am sure there are others who enjoy reading the daily struggles that authors overcome to find time to write, as an inspiration to keep at it.
Now there’s a good warning for all of us: “I find that many author sites are whiny or self-absorbed – focusing on mundane daily irritations. That sends my curser to the X.”
“That sends my curser to the X” … love that!! 🙂
I suppose what the writer wants is to be appreciated for their hard work. Whether that happens or not, depends on the finished product. It makes me think of farming, (I farm walnuts) farmers work hard and spend a lot time and money to grow a quality crop… plus there is the expertise involved, the farmer’s farming practices…how they do what the do. When the consumer buys walnuts to put in their fudge for Christmas, they aren’t thinking about the farming side of things.
The analogy breaks down, though, we love a great book and we know it goes back to the talents and hard work of its author. I think the part that isn’t recognized is how much work is involved from start to finish. I was talking with a new author the other day, he was shocked how time consuming the editing process was and all that publishing a book involved.
Walnuts, huh? We had thirty acres of almonds up until ten years ago. Lots of walnuts in our area as well. (Are you California?)
The author of this meme obviously thought it would make readers appreciate books more if they knew how tough the process. There’s something to say for that but the books that gain the serious word of mouth are all about the story.
As a writer, I’m interested in how the sausage is made so I can learn better sausage-making techniques and spices and thus become a better sausage- maker myself. As a READER, though, the story must speak for itself. I don’t need or necessarily want to know what went into it. It’s like choosing a dress. If a dress is appealing, fits me, and is of good quality, I’ll buy it. If it’s shoddy or doesn’t suit me or appeal to me, I won’t buy it. It won’t make a whit of difference if the seamstress tells me she stayed up all night, got headaches from squinting, and broke the needle on her sewing machine in the process of making it.
Excellent metaphor. And much more palatable than sausage. 🙂
Oh, this is interesting. As a reader, and only a reader, I totally agree. But as a writer, I’ll admit that I love hearing stories behind the story. But that’s because I’ve come to love other writers, and their stories intrigue and encourage me. And if I can, I want to encourage others. And oh my goodness, I just finished an article … one that has beaten me to the ground. First time I’ve experienced this. I thought I’d never get the plan. I’ve soaked in the tub, prayed and prayed again, stomped my feet a bit, nearly pulled my hair out, wanted to pull someone else’s hair out … would I want anyone to know that (besides y’all, of course)? Na. But I smiled so big when I finished up just minutes ago. Yay, God! 🙂 And the funniest part … it was really only two days. 🙂 (Case in point … exactly why you don’t want to know)
I hope you celebrated pushing the send button on that article.
When he was a child, my husband saw a documentary on how hot dogs were made. Even now, he has to push it out of his mind to eat one (not that that happens often!). It’s an excellent analogy, Wendy, and one I won’t soon forget. I agree that I want a reader to be absorbed by the story and have nary a thought about me…until they get to the end and wonder if the author has written any more books.
Yes!
And I love it that when I reach the end of a book on my Kindle app, with one click I can enter the next book in the author’s series to my wish list. then I just pop over and one-click buy. (Wish we could buy from inside the app.)
I often chide my husband, who is a very fast reader, for insulting the author by breezing through his or her book. I know how long it takes me to write a manuscript and feel that my husband hasn’t done the author justice by whizzing through it. But he is a reader, not an author-hopeful. I think for the vast majority the story is all that is important. Who cares how the author got there.
Personally, I like to ponder the work as I read it. I think about the elements that are surprising – particularly the ones that I wouldn’t have thought of. I often feel surprised when I see acknowledgements by authors to a team that put up with all the blood, sweat, tears, and rewrites of the manuscript I’ve just enjoyed. Rewrites? Revisions? It always makes me wonder what parts the author agonized over and what other ways the plot might have turned. Was there a part of the story that almost didn’t make it? I find that I like to know a bit about the author and their writing process – but, I also hope that the author’s real personality won’t disappoint me! This is a real risk when you’ve enjoyed a story only to find out that you don’t really enjoy the author.
“This is a real risk when you’ve enjoyed a story only to find out that you don’t really enjoy the author.” So true. I just heard an author interview on NPR and it made me think I don’t care if I read another book from that author.
Oh, Wendy, I so agree. I don’t mind talking about bits and piece of ‘me’ when discussing a book with a reader, but yes, the novels are sausage. Love that metaphor. We are big chorizo fans in our house, and my children grew up with repeated warnings to not read label!
I laugh at my metaphor of sausage because really, if we described each food we eat, we’d probably never eat again. It’s either pulled out of dirt and manure, comes off a tree where who knows what crawled all over it or it used to be part of an animal.
There is nothing wrong with stepping back and appreciating the skill of a writer. The statement wasn’t meant burden the reader….just an afterthought for admiration.
Of course. And I knew that but it was an opportunity to get a point across. 😉
You know, it’s funny. I was one of the many who reposted that meme, but not for the reason you think. Just a day or two before I saw that particular meme on Facebook, my mother and I had a conversation in which she told me how frustrated she became when a dear friend borrowed a set of CDs from her and proceeded to make a pirated copy of them. When my mom pointed out to her that doing so was stealing, her friend told her she didn’t care. Just a day or so later, I found what looks to be some websites offering pirated copies of current ebooks (some of mine included). So when I saw the meme, that was what ran through my mind. The days, months, or years that an artist (of any sort–a painter, a writer, a musician, etc) spends on crafting a product for their audience. As an author, no…I don’t want readers to think about those things while they read the stories. I write those stories so they can escape this life and go to a different one for a while. But I want people to understand that theft of intellectual property is still theft, and maybe if they think about the blood, sweat, and tears that went into making a story, a great album, or a piece of artwork, they’ll think twice about taking what they haven’t paid for.
I love your mom! Maybe she should create a youtube and become the go-to person for anti-piracy.
Good reason to post the meme!
Think about blood, sweat and tears? Absolutely not.
If we look at most things in the world, from skyscrapers to shoes, to a beautiful piece of jewelry, we see only the finished product, not the uncut gem stuck in a rock, or the steer hide bubbling in a tannery. It is the culmination in which we are interested. The end.
Everything, whether we buy it or not, has an untold story behind it. Just getting home for Christmas can be harrowing and exhausting, but all we remember is the joy on our family’s faces when they open the door.
It sounds like this man is feeling sorry for himself and wants some adulation for all the terrible hard work he is going through getting his book written. To which I can only say, “Grow up.”
Who said it was going to be easy?
You’ve got that “snap out of it” attitude going on. 🙂
Yes for fiction. A thousand times yes. A fiction book is a window to another world. I want to see through the window… I don’t want to see the window. I’m hoping to forget it even exists. Don’t smudge it with your fingerprints. Disappear, and let me indeed fall for your story world, hook, line, and sinker.
I think non-fiction is a different animal. I think non-fiction readers want to know the author a bit. They want to know that we’re doing more than giving a lecture in writing. They want my heart, my life, my experience as it unfolds whatever truth I writing, for good or (especially) for bad.
Bill
You are absolutely right, Bill. The nonfiction writer needs to be the go-to person for his subject and he needs to live it.
I think readers want to enjoy the finished work as it is while they’re engaged in it — as long as they’re reading the pages. Once they’re done, I think they can definitely enjoy the author’s story as a separate entity. I love the “behind the scenes” DVDs that come with movies, but they’re usually on a separate disc. I think that’s for a reason. And readers may often feel the same way about the stories and books they love.
I like that you separated the activities. Yes. We can do both.
Whenever I’ve bought a book, I’ve bought the book based on my interests. If I encounter a mistake when reading a book, I skip over the mistake. I’m reading for information and enjoyment. I really am not considering all the editing the author has endured.
That’s grace, J. P.
I wish I could do the same but the mistake stands out and makes me lose that experience of being lost in the story. In nonfiction I can be more forgiving unless it is an error in research or a factual mistake. When that happens I lose faith in the expertise of the writer.
Absolutely I DON’T want them to think about everything that happened behind the book. No, no, no, no, no.
I write escapist fiction. I write stories for people to turn to to get away from reality. I want my readers effortlessly lost in the pages without a second thought for me (other than, “Where’s the next Heidi Kneale book?”).
While it’s nice to have someone somewhere have an occasional second thought about what it took me to bring them this book, I want those thoughts few and far between.
The whole purpose behind my books is to salve someone’s soul, not make them pay attention to mine.
I will not break the fourth wall. I want to show a perfect illusion.