Is Writing an Art?

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art, artisans, artist, artsy, artsy people, authors, books, creating, creation, creative, creativity, novelists, novels, stories, storytelling, writers

I’ve always wondered if writing is an art. I know it is a craft, but is it also an art?

One reason why I wonder is because art is considered something that we create. That would mean creating characters, their world and their conflicts, would be an art, right?

Image via Wikimedia Commons

But when we think of the word, “artist”, many think of a painter, dancer or musician. I get the impression writers are further down the list of potential artists.

According to Merriam-Webster, an artist is:

• one who professes and practices an imaginative art, or a person skilled in the fine arts.

Hmm. While telling a story is certainly imaginative art, it is not considered a fine art. Poetry maybe, but not fiction.

However, there’s this second definition by Merriam-Webster:

• one who is adept at something

So, in this way, if the writer is very good, writing can be an art.

But what is art, really?

It has so many definitions, not including the usual painting and dancing. Small talk is called an art. Coming up with a skillful plan is too, so is learning to assemble furniture. So, art altogether is being very skilled at something.

But can a writer be lumped in with the sculptors and clothing designers? Perhaps. Some stories require great imagination. I would say J.K. Rowling is more of an artist than Jodi Piccoult because she created a world not at all like ours. We don’t have magic or a boarding school for magic, with paintings talking to us. Jodi Piccoult’s worlds are much like ours.

However, to make your readers feel the emotion of your characters – that can be an art. I’ve always thought being artsy meant pouring your thoughts and feelings into your creation. So if we’re pouring those aspects into our stories, or expressing the feelings of our characters, that certainly sounds artistic to me.

 

Disclaimer: This is a Work of Fiction…

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authors, book disclaimer, characters, developing characters, disclaimers, novelists, the writing process, writers

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

We’ve all come across this when we opened to a new book, right? Maybe most of ignore it or barely think any of it, but it seems there are some people out there who need to read that disclaimer.

I suppose many authors deal with this: people thinking the characters they wrote about are actually the author themselves, or the conflict the characters face is something the author actually went through, minute by minute. It can be true. Some authors may write about an event in their lives, yet tweak a few people or scenes to make it more fictitious. When I took a writing course a few years ago, a few people in the class were doing that. 

But some stories are born out of a writer’s imagination. There may even be some aspects of the event or character that resemble the writer, but not all of it. We all know Stephen King’s novels all take place in Maine, where he is from. But that doesn’t mean everything he’s ever written about has actually happened to him.

I just bring this up because a few people in my life who have read my book have actually asked me if parts of it are reflection of me. They ask if, like Claire McCormick, I am agnostic (nope). They ask if I’ve been in an abusive relationship (no, and I made that clear once before). The hysterical part is when I’m asked if I really do have sex on the first date (I do not, and I’ve explained why I wrote that part). It’s funny because it is usually a guy who asks that question. Ha!

So while a few things about Claire may sound familiar to those who know me (freelance journalism, struggling to find work in a lousy economy, Irish heritage, living on Staten Island), many things about her are not like me. I don’t have a brother, and I also would’ve handled the terror Daniel put her through in a different way – and that would’ve been by ending up in a psychiatric unit.

When I write my characters, they develop and grow on their own. You can’t micromanage characters, especially main ones. They become their own persons to the point that nothing of you is able to penetrate them. With that, it is impossible for a book to reflect it’s author – unless it is that author’s intention all along.

So yeah. I’m just bringing this up for lighthearted fun because recently a guy I went out with did ask about the sex on the first date part. He seriously thought he had struck gold with me. Oh, was he disappointed!

Wednesday Interview: Price McNaughton

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authors, interviews, mysteries, mystery novels, NA, New Adult, novelists, novels, writers

The future of New Adult continues to look brighter! Price McNaughton’s latest book, Murder is Ugly, tells of a young woman looking for a direction in her life, as well as the truth about a murder mystery.

MC: You say storytelling is something you’ve always loved. What made finally decide to tell stories professionally?

PM: I was involved in a horseback riding accident that left me bed ridden for about three months. It was definitely a turning point in my life. At the time, I was miserable and in a lot of pain. Due to a concussion, I spent a lot of time in dark rooms with no stimulation to help keep the terrible headaches at bay. Believe it or not, this was pretty boring! I thought up a murder mystery plot and focused on it. I developed the characters and the storyline completely in my head. Once I was cleared to use a computer, I wrote down everything I had thought out and my first book was born. Since then, I’ve become addicted to writing.

MC: How did living in the South inspire your novel, Murder is Ugly?

PM: It’s probably one of the main inspirations for my writing. The greatest memories from my childhood are the ones spent around the kitchen table with my grandmother and mother and various family members, telling and hearing family stories. My father was also a great story teller. He insisted on hearing about our days, in detail, over supper. Myself and my siblings would compete for the best and most entertaining stories. I find the South to be a great place of tradition, love and joy as well as sadness and tragedy. It’s influenced every part of my life. When I was writing Murder is Ugly as well as A Vision of Murder, I never considered them being set anywhere else. It was a given that the stories would occur in the South to southern characters in my mind. It’s what I know and what I feel comfortable writing.

MC: Did you subconsciously decide to make your main character, Jinx, to be a college graduate or do you decide because the New Adult category is gaining momentum among readers?

 PM: Jinx was born that way! I hadn’t even heard of the New Adult category when she was written. It was similar to what I was going through at the time, being newly graduated and unsure of the direction that I wanted to go in. As I begin investigating the best ways to market my completed story, I stumbled across the New Adult category and I have to say I really like it.

MC: Do you think New Adult has a future much like YA?

PM: I do. I was (and still am!) a great reader of YA novels as well as adult novels. For many years, i’ve found that a great divide was happening in the areas of both styles of writing. In general, YA were staying typically the same while Adult novels were becoming darker and more adult oriented. It was becoming increasingly harder to find a style of writing that fell comfortably in between the two genres. I’m hoping that New Adult fiction will fill this void and so far I have to say that it has. I find the NA category to be very similar to YA in style while being a bit more complex. I only see New Adult growing in popularity.

MC: What does the future hold for Price McNaughton?

PM: I’m not sure. I’m currently writing a dystopian trilogy that I have been working on for a few years now (it will also be NA) and a sequel to my first novel, A Vision of Murder. I hope to stick around for awhile, but I’ll guess time and reader response will tell!

Check out more about Price McNaughton here:

http://www.talebearers.com/

www.facebook.com/PriceMcnaughton?ref=hl

www.amazon.com/Price-McNaughton/e/B00AIYOPYA/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

www.twitter.com/PriceMcNaughton

True Blood Season 6 Premieres in Two Months

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HBO, television, True Blood, TV Shows, vampires

The trailer for the HBO series True Blood’s sixth season has been getting some attention, as well as rumors of spoilers and casting. The trailers and reports have some fans of the show excited for the new season, to start June 16th.

Me? I’m still on the fence of whether to watch this season or not.

You may remember my irritation about how Season 5 ended last year. Like many, I was so disappointed with the direction True Blood went that I was pretty sure I could not watch the show anymore. The last season was dull and confusing, and the whole idea of Bill becoming “Bilith” was ridiculous to me.

While I feel True Blood jumped the shark, I confess that I may watch this upcoming season, despite my vow back in August not to.

Not that I will be as enthusiastic with previous seasons. I doubt I will be excited to hear the theme song “Bad Things” by Jace Everett or to find out what becomes of the previous season’s cliffhanger. I know for sure I won’t be sitting forward with eagerness when I turn on HBO June 16th.

And if the season is much like last year’s, chances are I’ll just catch episodes from OnDemand, whenever I get around to them. If by chance this upcoming season redeems last year’s – there’s a new set of writers now – I’ll be amazed and very intrigued about how the work out everything.

And honestly, there are some characters that I would like to see again. Jessica is one that I’ve gotten to like more and more. Her transformation from newborn vampire to a mature one is really cool to watch, plus she kicks ass. Jason Stackhouse may be clueless in many ways, but it’s kind of cute. Pam is always funny, and it will be interesting to see how her relationship with Tara develops – and Tara’s new life as a vampire is something to watch. And Eric Northman is always a reason to watch this show – from his hotness to his sneakiness.

But that’s it. Some characters I don’t think belong on the show anymore because there is no storyline left for them, and others are either boring or annoying. Even Sookie Stackhouse, the main character, is no longer a draw for me. How many times does her life have to be in danger? Seriously, you’d think she would have PTSD by now.

So, I’ll give True Blood Season 6 a chance this June. I’m not excited, but I’m just curious what happens. But I don’t expect to be impressed.

Should We Always Relate to the Protagonists?

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A Clockwork Orange, book reviews, characterization, Gone Girl, literary fiction, literature, main characters, opinion, protagonists, The Kite Runner, thoughts

A few weeks ago, I came across this essay on the Huffington Post’s books section. Written by Evan Gottlieb, an English professor at Oregon State University, it asks the question whether it is imperative for readers to identify with the main character in the books they read.

Gottlieb says that this is something new with readers, most likely because of the advent of psychologically complex characters in the 19th century. Before, the thoughts and actions of protagonists weren’t as deep and were mostly symbolic. Now, they are more realistic.

So does that mean all protagonists have to be relatable to any potential reader?

If, as Gottlieb points out, relatable means “likable”. In that case, I would say that is not always necessary. I’ve read books where I didn’t like the main character but enjoyed the book anyway. The Kite Runner didn’t have Amir as a likable protagonist, but the story was amazing. Louis in Interview With The Vampire was whiny, but it was a very entertaining book. From what I’ve been hearing, the popular novel, Gone Girl, has unlikable characters but is a very good story.

However, you might recall my review of Kushiel’s Chosen, where I made it clear that I couldn’t stand the main character, Phedré, and almost put the book down for good because of her. On Amazon and Goodreads, there are many reviews where people say they couldn’t enjoy or even finish a book because the protagonist was so unlikable.

So there is a need for likable characters. However, is it plausible? Meaning, do all main characters have likable or even interesting for a story to be told?

Not necessarily, and here’s an example: perhaps many of us read or saw the movie A Clockwork Orange in college. Now, Alex is wholly an unlikable character! But Anthony Burgess’ book continues to receive good reviews not because Alex is such a lovable, caring, sweet protagonist whom we root for from beginning to end (Ha! I can’t believe I used those words, even mockingly).

That is because Burgess has a point to make about forcing people to be good, and torturing them to stop being bad. The book makes the reader ponder what is the right or wrong way to stop antisocial behavior, plus show that even the justice system can be worse than the criminal.

See, who Alex is isn’t the point of the story – it is what happens to him that is the point.

I think some books require the protagonist to be liked and others don’t. I can’t see a romance novel being successful if the main character is widely disliked, but a thriller can call for a less than likable one.

Evan Gottlieb’s essay ends off with these lines which ring true:

There are, of course, many other good reasons to read literature: for entertainment, for instruction, for inspiration. But from the 18th century onward, novels have shown themselves to be remarkably effective, durable technologies for encouraging us to extend our understanding to others, no matter how different or unlikable they might initially appear.  And if that isn’t a good reason to pick up a good book, then I don’t know what is.

Insecure Writers’ Support Group: #3 – I Know It’s Only a Draft But…

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how to write, how to write a book, Insecure Writers Support Group, insecurities, support, the writing process, writers

I am taking part in the monthly blog hop, Insecure Writers’ Support Group. Started by Alex J. Cavanaugh, it is meant to do the following:

To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

I felt it was a good idea for me to do this. Not only does it give me an excuse to vent my fears the first Wednesday of every month, but it is nice that so many other authors are doing the same.

Entry #3

Yes, I’m a day late, but better late than never!

I’m probably whining about the same things again, but I find it so difficult to get my follow-up right. I must’ve done the first chapter 20 times already, and it driving me nuts. Yeah, it’s only a draft and no one nails it in the early stages, but holy crap!

We’ve all heard that the first page, or even the first five sentences, have to grab the reader enough for them to continue. Every word has to be engrossing enough to make them read on. If not, you’ve lost a reader.

After that, make the first chapter thorough enough to give the reader an idea of what is in store for the rest of the book. Sure, there would be twists and turns throughout the story, but the main idea belongs in the first chapter. Miss anything important, your book won’t be considered good enough.

And to make it worse, my WIP is the follow-up to my book, which means I have to refresh readers minds a little (but not a lot!) within the first chapter, plus set the stage for what is in stake for the characters now. I want to show that Daniel has gone mad with power (why is he so easy to write?). I want to show Claire has a lot of regret and needs to be given a situation which will allow her to heal and forgive herself. All this in one damn chapter. No wonder why I’m feeling overwhelmed with pressure.

But yes, it’s only a draft and they’re always horrible. Like I mentioned in last month’s entry, I am aiming to have as many eyes on my work as possible. I want a good critique at all times and I appreciate anything said, positive or negative. It’s great to know that something works, and it is also great to know where I can improve or fix.

I just wish I can get past this damn f***in chapter and get on with the rest of my story. I also wish I wasn’t such a perfectionist and so hard on myself so I could write with more ease.

Sigh!

But on a positive note, I’m halfway done with the chapter and I’m satisfied – at last – with what I have. I think with that, I’ll get the other half done more easily now.