Category: The Wandering Writer

Where the Wild Things Come From

My children grew up on Maurice Sendak.  Where the Wild Things Are was a favorite – edgy and smart and much loved by my daughters and me.  After seeing this interview on the Colbert Report I had to share it.  Not only is Sendak smart; he’s also funny and irreverant, and plays off Colbert like a pro.  So, for your viewing pleasure, I’m including the interview here.  You may have already seen it, but I think it’s worth a second or third watch – there are little things you miss the first time around.

What I find particulary interesting is that Mr. Sendak is not shy in announcing that he really doesn’t write for children – he just writes what he wants to write, and lets others classify his books.  Shouldn’t we all be doing that?

(For part 2, click here.)

Picture Them Naked???

When you’re honest enough to admit to being nervous before a reading, you’re often told by well-meaning people to “Just picture the audience naked.”

OK, so has this really worked for anyone?  I mean, come on.  The last thing I need standing on stage in front of a bunch of strangers is to start imagining their, well… shortcomings.  Maybe this method works for politicians – they set out to screw us all anyway, and the naked part works with that, right?  But writers have imaginations that swirl and flit all over the place, and we hardly need to be told to imagine things, especially not when we’re trying to appear focused and sane.

So, here’s my advice to those of you out there who fear public speaking or don’t think you’re any good at it (and that’s almost everyone, right?).  I still get nervous, even doing all these things, but at least I don’t vomit anymore when I have to get up in front of a crowd and read or speak.

1)      Practice, practice, practice.  And then practice some more.  Out loud, in front of people, over and over again, until you could just about recite the piece from memory.

2)      Before you start your reading, look up at the audience and smile.  You have no idea how many people don’t do this, and then wonder why they couldn’t connect with the audience.

3)      Breathe, slowly and deeply, for just a pause before you start.  I have a tendency to take short quick breaths when I’m nervous – I think most people do – and if I don’t slow it down I’m in danger of hyperventilating.

4)      Say something, anything, to break the ice.  To humanize yourself.  But don’t admit to being nervous.  If you do, the audience will sympathize, yes, but they’ll also then be aware of your fear the whole reading, and you don’t really want sympathy, do you?  You want an audience who gets lost in your work.

5)      Slow down.  No matter how slowly you think you’re reading, you’re probably going too fast.  And try to look up occasionally during the reading instead of keeping your head down and eyes glued to the paper.  This will help you connect with the audience and will also help to slow you down.

6)      Do not, I repeat, do not, go on too long.  KISS – keep it short, stupid.  Personally I think anything longer than 10 – 15 minutes is too long, but that might just be because that’s the maximum amount of time I can sit still.  At any rate, always leave them wanting more.

7)      If there’s a funny part in your book or story, read that.  People love humor.  But make sure it really is funny.  Nothing’s more painful than a joke that goes flat.

8)      And don’t read anything that takes a whole lot of set-up.  Just find some place in your work that stands alone.  I don’t want a synopsis of your novel; I just want to be enchanted by a (short) reading.

9)      If all else fails, use medication.  Half an hour to 45 minutes before you’re scheduled to go on.  Nothing too strong: xanax works best, leaves you less spacey than clonapin or valium (not that I would know).

The more you do it, the easier it gets, I swear.  Oh yeah, and one more thing:  if you do insist on picturing the audience naked during your reading, at least try not to giggle.  Unexplained giggling during a reading is just weird.

Some Random Stuff I Learned at KWLS

San Carlos Institute, site of KWLS
San Carlos Institute, site of KWLS

My lofty intention this week was to summarize the Key West Literary Seminar, in 500 words or less.  I really had no idea before going just how impossible a task that would be.  I’m still trying to process it all myself.  So instead of giving you a blow by blow of all the panels, etc, I’m going to offer up just a few of the things I learned this past week.

1)      The cardinal sin in fiction is to bore the reader.  I honestly can’t remember who said it (it was on the first day, which seems so long ago) but it really resonated with me.  Sure, it should go without saying, but how many perfectly competent books have you started reading only to put them down after the first few pages because they couldn’t hold your interest?

2)      Don’t close off possibilities in the story from the beginning.  This is the main thing I took away from the workshop of my story with Robert Stone.  I need to challenge myself, make the story more difficult, so the opening doesn’t lead directly to the outcome.  In my story as currently written, there could be only one outcome, and this makes the story predictable and boring.  (see number 1)

3)      Writers can win readers over by their appearances on panels and in readings.  I knew absolutely nothing about Gary Shteyngart (Super Sad True Love Story) before Key West, but after hearing him read and discuss his work, I’ll be reading his book.  The same goes for Colson Whitehead (Zone One), even though his book has zombies in it and I’m not really into zombies.  The entire group of writers, really, blew me away.  You can hear them yourself once the KWLS podcasts are online.  (Make sure you listen to everything with Margaret Atwood.)  You’ll even be able to hear my reading, I think.

4)      All writers get a little nervous before an appearance.  Or maybe George Saunders just told me that to be kind.  But what he said (and he is a fabulous speaker, by the way) is that I should look at it as giving the audience a gift, as sharing something with them that no one else can give. I can’t say it made me less nervous, but I will never forget it.  Oh, and if you love short fiction, read George Saunders.  He’s a master.

5)      Go to everything you can at a conference, no matter how exhausting the schedule.  This includes readings, panels, workshops, and social events.  I pretty much did everything there was to do.  I heard some wonderful writers, got to know a great bunch of attendees, learned a lot about myself, and had a beautiful evening sailing on a schooner at sunset.  Yes, it can be tiring, but there’s always time to rest when you get home.

Thank you Key West Literary Seminar.  It was a magical week filled with people who are passionate about literature.  Now I need to get back to writing.  A week is a long time away from my characters, and I missed them.