loved this."good writing" and therefore the betterment of it is obviously subjective, but I think wondering about how to make one's writing better and investigating it in turn makes a "better" writer. in my opinion the key is to not get wrapped up in one's own outlook to not be coerced into the outlook of others. there is no "standard" there is only constant doubt and introspection
Yes, I’m with you on this, Clancy. I think that, over time, you become a better writer because you feel better about your own writing, not because of others’ opinions. Thank you so much, my friend. :)
Very insightful. I enjoy reading lit crit, but came to the conclusion many decades ago that it's mostly a load of bullshit. Perhaps I'll explain my reasoning in an article of my own one of these days. Now, I'm reading a novel at the moment, and the writer is so "postmodern" that she's all but disappeared up her own arse. I'm teaching an online writing course at the moment and so far all the students on the course, none of whom is a professional writer, is better than the author whose books I'm currently reading? Why? Well for one thing when I'm reading their work I don't have to nod slowly and profoundly pretending to understand what I'm reading, or risk being seen as an illiterate, uneducated slob. Is that a good enough reason to think they are better writers? Dunno, but it works for me.
I hope you'll write the novel you describe. I've pre-ordered it already.
"Well for one thing when I'm reading their work I don't have to nod slowly and profoundly pretending to understand what I'm reading, or risk being seen as an illiterate, uneducated slob." -- This is very interesting, Terry. Something I've always thought but could never really articulate. I'm with you on lit crit, although even there something interesting could be found every now and then. "Perhaps I'll explain my reasoning in an article of my own one of these days." -- please do! I'll be looking forward to that. I think that, at the end of the day, you have to let yourself go and pay some attention to what a piece you're reading does to you, without (if at all possible) any sort of back thinking or parallel reasoning. If it's crap, it's crap to you because it doesn't do any good to you, but it doesn't mean that it's crap in absolute terms. What I hate about this whole movement of "better writing" is the objectification of good or bad literature. Reading is the utmost subjective experience, and so is writing. Neither should be constrained by rules and methods.
"I hope you'll write the novel you describe. I've pre-ordered it already." -- This is brilliant! But I wouldn't expect any less from you, sir. Thank you so much!
I'm not sure if some readers here in the comments have missed the startling fact of how you've framed this piece about being "a better writer" (whatever that may mean) by constructing a story about a novel, about a novel.
I'm sat here with my jaw open, swimming back up through the layers. Masterful and fantastic. I now (like last time you mentioned 2666) have three tabs open in my browser about 2666 and am desperately considering hitting "purchase". But I also want to read the story of the mailman, as well as the wider narrative of Jude writing about the mailman! (Only later tonight, as I am lying in bed and as the faint smell of citronella drifts through the room, will I begin to ponder what "better" means. I won't have any answers. But I will know that writing and reading and writing and reading and being perceptive and receptive are the ways I will always leave my door open to "being a better writer".)
You always nail it so effectively, Nathan. It's such a delight to read your comments every single time. "Only later tonight, as I am lying in bed and the faint smell of citronella drifts through the room, will I begin to ponder what "better" means. I won't have any answers." -- This is so beautiful, for example. The way it works for me is that I can say I’m a better writer only when I feel better writing, and this has nothing to do with external recognition. I know you understand where I’m coming from here. And 2666: it's a big commitment (almost 1000 pages), but I never get tired of recommending it. Maybe before that, if you haven’t read any Bolaño yet, I’d go with The Savage Detectives. But that's totally subjective, and I say this after having read both. I wouldn’t have been able to say it before. Thank you so much for always being here, my friend.
Thanks for the recommendations. I just posted a Note with some of his works on the shelf in my local bookstore, but alas it doesn't include The Savage Detectives. I trust I will enjoy his writing immensely, so I am very tempted to order several books, including 2666 and The Savage Detectives.
If you haven't read it, 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' might be of interest to you. A lot of the book dwells on this question of 'quality', both in writing and in other forms of art and design. What is quality? How can it be measured? And yet, how is it that we all recognise high quality writing/art/design/manufacturing...? All fascinating questions to grapple with.
Thank you so much! Yes, that’s one of those books that’s been on my shelf forever but I haven’t touched yet. Every time I catch sight of it, even en passant, I tell myself I have to read it. It’s interesting that you mention it here: one more reason to finally tackle it!
There you go again with these wild kaleidoscopic rides! And such a fascinating thread-a man refusing to deliver painful messages woven into an entire examination of who gets to decide what is good or bad.
I have to be honest, even as a fan I looked at the block of paragraph two and almost started to skim, but this sentence fully hooked me in, as usual. "The novel Jude had written was about a mailman who knew, without looking inside, the contents of every envelope he was called to deliver, and those containing bad news he would not only refuse to deliver but would burn in his backyard." The only way you could be a better writer for me would be if you did go ahead in fact and write this novel, or any novel for that matter Silvio.
Thank you so much, Rick! I’m so glad you didn’t skim and stuck with it after the hook. As for the novel, well, I’m not sure. Lately, things just come to mind and flow to the pen, and I let them out carelessly. (Though I’m definitely not going to admit that I came up with that little story just a few hours before publishing the piece -- with the TV on in the background -- because, you know, writing is supposed to be hard and painful! LOL)
Also, the novel referenced in the novel referenced in this piece sounds fascinating!
I would like to add that there are sports that do bear some similarity - those that include an element of ‘artistic interpretation’, which I feel is as subjective as ‘better writing’.
Awww thank you Silvio! I'm finally feeling well enough to write more or less consistently and hang out with the Substack crowd. Really happy to be back!
The part about the women’s murders is long, tedious, and relentless. You are confronted with so much violence in a manner that is sometimes purely technical, a kind of cold listing that almost makes you bored. I believe that was exactly Bolaño’s intent (at least, that’s how I interpreted it): to make you bored of violence, to make you ashamed of yourself. After all, how much violence do we ignore every day?
Loving all the intertextuality brimming out from that Swiss peak - madness inside or external to? The punchy start...the wandering of the mind...the metafiction. So good, Silvio!
loved this."good writing" and therefore the betterment of it is obviously subjective, but I think wondering about how to make one's writing better and investigating it in turn makes a "better" writer. in my opinion the key is to not get wrapped up in one's own outlook to not be coerced into the outlook of others. there is no "standard" there is only constant doubt and introspection
Yes, I’m with you on this, Clancy. I think that, over time, you become a better writer because you feel better about your own writing, not because of others’ opinions. Thank you so much, my friend. :)
Very insightful. I enjoy reading lit crit, but came to the conclusion many decades ago that it's mostly a load of bullshit. Perhaps I'll explain my reasoning in an article of my own one of these days. Now, I'm reading a novel at the moment, and the writer is so "postmodern" that she's all but disappeared up her own arse. I'm teaching an online writing course at the moment and so far all the students on the course, none of whom is a professional writer, is better than the author whose books I'm currently reading? Why? Well for one thing when I'm reading their work I don't have to nod slowly and profoundly pretending to understand what I'm reading, or risk being seen as an illiterate, uneducated slob. Is that a good enough reason to think they are better writers? Dunno, but it works for me.
I hope you'll write the novel you describe. I've pre-ordered it already.
Marxism destroys art. And so naturally, postmodernism destroyed art.
Yes indeed
Well said, Jisoo. :)
"Well for one thing when I'm reading their work I don't have to nod slowly and profoundly pretending to understand what I'm reading, or risk being seen as an illiterate, uneducated slob." -- This is very interesting, Terry. Something I've always thought but could never really articulate. I'm with you on lit crit, although even there something interesting could be found every now and then. "Perhaps I'll explain my reasoning in an article of my own one of these days." -- please do! I'll be looking forward to that. I think that, at the end of the day, you have to let yourself go and pay some attention to what a piece you're reading does to you, without (if at all possible) any sort of back thinking or parallel reasoning. If it's crap, it's crap to you because it doesn't do any good to you, but it doesn't mean that it's crap in absolute terms. What I hate about this whole movement of "better writing" is the objectification of good or bad literature. Reading is the utmost subjective experience, and so is writing. Neither should be constrained by rules and methods.
"I hope you'll write the novel you describe. I've pre-ordered it already." -- This is brilliant! But I wouldn't expect any less from you, sir. Thank you so much!
I'm not sure if some readers here in the comments have missed the startling fact of how you've framed this piece about being "a better writer" (whatever that may mean) by constructing a story about a novel, about a novel.
I'm sat here with my jaw open, swimming back up through the layers. Masterful and fantastic. I now (like last time you mentioned 2666) have three tabs open in my browser about 2666 and am desperately considering hitting "purchase". But I also want to read the story of the mailman, as well as the wider narrative of Jude writing about the mailman! (Only later tonight, as I am lying in bed and as the faint smell of citronella drifts through the room, will I begin to ponder what "better" means. I won't have any answers. But I will know that writing and reading and writing and reading and being perceptive and receptive are the ways I will always leave my door open to "being a better writer".)
You always nail it so effectively, Nathan. It's such a delight to read your comments every single time. "Only later tonight, as I am lying in bed and the faint smell of citronella drifts through the room, will I begin to ponder what "better" means. I won't have any answers." -- This is so beautiful, for example. The way it works for me is that I can say I’m a better writer only when I feel better writing, and this has nothing to do with external recognition. I know you understand where I’m coming from here. And 2666: it's a big commitment (almost 1000 pages), but I never get tired of recommending it. Maybe before that, if you haven’t read any Bolaño yet, I’d go with The Savage Detectives. But that's totally subjective, and I say this after having read both. I wouldn’t have been able to say it before. Thank you so much for always being here, my friend.
🤗
You're most welcome, my friend.
Thanks for the recommendations. I just posted a Note with some of his works on the shelf in my local bookstore, but alas it doesn't include The Savage Detectives. I trust I will enjoy his writing immensely, so I am very tempted to order several books, including 2666 and The Savage Detectives.
I’m so curious to hear what you think, as I trust (and like) your judgment very much. Although I’m almost certain you will like him.
Those are two great ones, concur! Also Monsieur Pain
mise-en-abyme again!!
it's very clever, but then the writing is excellent even without the 'clever' aspect
Yes, mise-en-abyme! Love this, Kate. Thank you so much for your super kind words! :)
PS didn't know the term! *Adds to vocab.* Thanks, Kate. You expand my cultural/artistic knowledge. ;)
Most definitely. :)
It's a story within a story, a bit like the cereal Packets that feature a photo of a family with a cereal packet which features...
😂
😆
Haha.
😁
Fantastic as always.
If you haven't read it, 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' might be of interest to you. A lot of the book dwells on this question of 'quality', both in writing and in other forms of art and design. What is quality? How can it be measured? And yet, how is it that we all recognise high quality writing/art/design/manufacturing...? All fascinating questions to grapple with.
Thank you so much! Yes, that’s one of those books that’s been on my shelf forever but I haven’t touched yet. Every time I catch sight of it, even en passant, I tell myself I have to read it. It’s interesting that you mention it here: one more reason to finally tackle it!
I tried that, years ago, but didn't finish it. Maybe I should give it in another go. There are a couple of bits that stand out for me even now.
There you go again with these wild kaleidoscopic rides! And such a fascinating thread-a man refusing to deliver painful messages woven into an entire examination of who gets to decide what is good or bad.
Thank you so much, Kimberly! I love how you always nail it so succinctly: kaleidoscopic rides is just too good!
I have to be honest, even as a fan I looked at the block of paragraph two and almost started to skim, but this sentence fully hooked me in, as usual. "The novel Jude had written was about a mailman who knew, without looking inside, the contents of every envelope he was called to deliver, and those containing bad news he would not only refuse to deliver but would burn in his backyard." The only way you could be a better writer for me would be if you did go ahead in fact and write this novel, or any novel for that matter Silvio.
Thank you so much, Rick! I’m so glad you didn’t skim and stuck with it after the hook. As for the novel, well, I’m not sure. Lately, things just come to mind and flow to the pen, and I let them out carelessly. (Though I’m definitely not going to admit that I came up with that little story just a few hours before publishing the piece -- with the TV on in the background -- because, you know, writing is supposed to be hard and painful! LOL)
So you’re admitting that you “channeled” that last piece of writing.
Haha, yes. There was a football game on TV, but the volume was very low: That count?
Hear hear!
Very thought-provoking!
Also, the novel referenced in the novel referenced in this piece sounds fascinating!
I would like to add that there are sports that do bear some similarity - those that include an element of ‘artistic interpretation’, which I feel is as subjective as ‘better writing’.
Thank you so much, Rose, for reading and sharing that interesting bit about those sports. :)
Good morrow, Silvio. I hope you don't mind, but I've written a review of the book you feature in your article: https://terryfreedman.substack.com/p/experiments-in-style-special-edition
The book? You mean, the novel that my character had written I guess. Wow this is getting serious... 😂 Going to read it now. :)
When Silvio goes meta upon meta -- that's my favorite moment :D Bravo and well-done!
Helen! Welcome back! So good to see you here, dear. Is everything alright? Thank you!
Awww thank you Silvio! I'm finally feeling well enough to write more or less consistently and hang out with the Substack crowd. Really happy to be back!
This is great to hear! I'll have to catch up with your stuff soon.
A beautiful web woven, Silvio. I remember only bits and flashes of 2666 - the catalog of femicides mainly - disquieting and grim.
Thank you so much, Troy!
The part about the women’s murders is long, tedious, and relentless. You are confronted with so much violence in a manner that is sometimes purely technical, a kind of cold listing that almost makes you bored. I believe that was exactly Bolaño’s intent (at least, that’s how I interpreted it): to make you bored of violence, to make you ashamed of yourself. After all, how much violence do we ignore every day?
Loving all the intertextuality brimming out from that Swiss peak - madness inside or external to? The punchy start...the wandering of the mind...the metafiction. So good, Silvio!
Your analyses are always so punchy and effective and precise, Kate. Thank you so much! "The metafiction" -- yes! :)
Need to read it twice over to make any sort of credible comment!
Love what you did there. Thank you!