Think of writing = a palimpsest, a parchment where earlier layers of writing of whatever nature were scraped off and replaced by whatever scribes of the time thought more important. Again and again…
For me, layers equal a stratigraphy of time – and, especially, of the layering of memories.
From The Guardian’s Rules for Writers series:
First paragraphs can often be struck out. Are you performing a haka, or just shuffling your feet?
Hilary MantelMy minimum is 1,000 words a day – which is sometimes easy to achieve, and is sometimes, frankly, like shitting a brick …
Sarah WatersI think of my novels as being something like fairground rides: my job is to strap the reader into their car at the start of chapter one, then trundle and whizz them through scenes and surprises, on a carefully planned route, and at a finely engineered pace.
Sarah WatersPrayer might work. Or reading something else. Or a constant visualisation of the holy grail that is the finished, published version of your resplendent book.
Margaret AtwoodTell the truth through whichever veil comes to hand – but tell it. Resign yourself to the lifelong sadness that comes from never being satisfied.
Zadie Smith… remember how much time people spend watching TV. If you’re writing a novel with a contemporary setting there need to be long passages where nothing happens save for TV watching: “Later, George watched Grand Designs while eating HobNobs. Later still he watched the shopping channel for a while …”
Will Self
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