Friday, October 16, 2009

Currently Reading...and Writing

I'm working on the novel (just hit 50 pages) and doing research...which means I have the CRAZIEST pile of books on my desk right now. I could be wrong, but I'd venture a guess that I'm the only person in America reading The Sociopath Next Door and Catechism of the Catholic Church at the same time.

I'm reading the books for separate characters, but because I'm writing both at the same time, I'm jumping back and forth. In both areas, I'm finding all sorts of things I didn't expect, almost bonus information: explanations for things I'd wondered about, and answers to questions I'd been afraid to ask. Fascinating stuff.

And in the midst of this, I'm loving these thoughts from Junot Diaz on his attitude towards writing after five years of struggle:

"Five years of my life and the dream that I had of myself, all down the tubes....I wasn't even interested in a Great American Novel. I would have been elated with the eminently forgettable NJ novel.... It took two more years of heartbreak, of being utterly, dismayingly lost before the novel I had dreamed about for all those years finally started revealing itself. And another three years after that before I could look up from my desk and say the word I'd wanted to say for more than a decade: done."

Here's to the eminently forgettable NJ novel! It seems like that's working out pretty well for him :)

On that note, I'm going to get back to work. I'll leave you with this hard-won tip: If you feel the urge to research sociopathic behavior for any reason (curiousity; your own eminently forgettable name-your-state novel), check it out; it's interesting stuff...Just don't do so right before bed!!!

5 comments:

Stacy said...

I love Junot Diaz.

And I promise not to research sociopaths right before bedtime.

LEstes65 said...

I always WATCH sociopaths right before bed time. I watch everything from any version of CSI, Law & Order, Criminal Minds, Snapped, True Crime, and any other criminal show - fictional or otherwise. I don't know why I've suddenly developed an addiction to these shows. But it really does make me give a few people a second wary glance. HA! Also makes me jump at EVERY noise my house makes once I go to bed!!!

kim said...

yup, have done the research, but for reasons other than writing a book. and the really sad thing is the research says they get worse from therapy, so there is not much help other than a relationship w/God. i'm still praying for the one i know...from a distance of course.

heidikins said...

I really need to get some insider info on the sociopathic thing...may calm me/freak me out a bit about [redacted].

xox

Miscellannie said...

Doing research was how I found my way to "He loves me, He loves me not" earlier this year [don't worry, I wasn't researching psychopaths].

And then this week, I was reading another book which has led me into doing a six-month prayer challenge and through that to your 40 days of faith blog. Small world. Big God.