The Centipedal Question

Earlier today I was listening to a CD of Sergei Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony and reading the liner notes. I had thought Prokofiev had composed this symphony in the 1950′s, but no, it was the summer of 1944. Apparently, Prokofiev had wanted his listeners to understand the symphony was not “about” the war because at the time, Russians needed to look to a future of victory and peace. His comment on the symphony: “The Fifth Symphony was intended as a hymn to free and happy Man, to his mighty powers, his pure and noble spirit.” He then continued with: “I cannot say that I deliberately chose this theme. It was born in me and clamored for expression.” (Quote from liner notes written by Richard Freed)

If Prokofiev’s comment sounds a bit tortured, it was probably 1) translated from Russian, and 2) one of those “centipedal question” situations when someone asks an artist to explain how he/she did something.

How do writers get ideas? How do writers find the right words? Or the right images that reveal character? How does a writer, who’s talented at writing dialog, know what works and what doesn’t when writing dialog? What does it all mean? All very common questions and all could be categorized as centipedal questions. A little poem:

The Centipede was happy, quite
Until the Toad in fun
Said, “Pray which leg goes after which?”
And worked her mind to such a pitch,
She lay distracted in the ditch
Considering how to run.

Sometimes it’s best not to ask how because it could disrupt the actual process. But it’s natural that people would be curious about how writers work. Writers are often curious about how other writers work. But for non-writers, I think what they may be really asking is: how does the imagination work and what is creativity really?

My first impulse is to say, “None of your business!” That impulse arises from the fear of interfering in the process. My imagination operates just fine as is, and thinking about it, trying to dissect the process, could land me with the centipede in a ditch. Or perhaps not.

Everyone possesses imagination. People use imagination to visualize situations or people in their minds, to solve problems, to plan for an event, to daydream. It is a driving force in our cognitive abilities. The imagination also enhances our emotional lives through sympathy and empathy. We exercise and strengthen the imagination by taking it to the playgrounds of stories, music, movies, art, design, dance, theater and writing.

A “creative” imagination is one adept at creating, whether solutions to problems, a long-term plan for retirement or corporate restructuring, or composing a symphony, choreographing a ballet or writing a novel. Or healing our ailing economy. Creativity permeates our lives. We call writers, actors, musicians, etc. “creative artists,” but the truth is that each person, whether in the arts or not, is a creative artist. It’s up to the individual how he/she uses that creativity and imagination.

Children live in the imagination and are naturally overflowing with creativity. They don’t wonder how they do what they do. They just do it and have fun. No one ever asks them how they create. (smile) They are expected to “play.” Sometimes playing with an idea, a problem, a plan, can stimulate the adult imagination. So, playing can be an essential part of work!

A Book Reading/Q&A/Signing

Last month, I went to a poetry reading, something I hadn’t done in years.  This month, it’s an author reading/Q&A/book signing for a novel.  The author is Robert Alexander, the novel, an historical one entitled The Romanov Bride.  Robert Alexander is the pen name (for historical novels) of R. D. Zimmerman, who’s written 13 or 14 mystery novels under that name, and half a dozen children’s books under the name Robert Masters.  I’ve known RD for a long time — it makes me feel old when I think of how long.  I typed his first mystery book manuscript before he sent it off to his first agent.  So it was a genuine pleasure to attend the reading last Thursday evening at a Barnes & Noble store.

Book reading/signings are an important part of marketing a book.  The tours, however, can be grueling — the “if it’s Tuesday this must be Vienna, Virginia” variety.  People are curious about an author, and if it’s a group of avid fans and loyal readers, they’ll want to meet the author and have him/her sign their copy of the book.  I sat in an audience the other night of interested readers and fans, with one couple to my right who were simply curious about what an author reading is.  They left about halfway through.  I don’t think the subject matter interested them.

Barnes & Noble did a good job for RD.  They had set up a display table with books directly in front of the main entrance.  The sign on the table reminded customers of the reading.  The event area in this particular store is open, clean, very well lit, and the sound system worked.  They had set up another larger table to the right of the lectern for a display of all three of RD’s historical novels — stacks of novels.  A table and chair stood to the lectern’s left for the signing afterward.   I watched people trickle in — the majority female (unsurprising), middle-aged, a handful of younger women, a handful of middle-aged men.  I spotted book group materials on chairs, and the young woman to my left held an open notebook and poised pen.  The background for this event area was also pleasant: fine art books, an array of coffee table books directly behind the lectern. 

RD arrived at the appointed time for the reading to begin.  While he readied himself, the B&N employee in charge of events called us to order and outlined the evening.  He gave RD a short introduction and then RD was talking about how he became interested in Russia, creative writing, and how the two influenced his life, finally coming together in his first mystery book.  He told stories of his experiences living and working in Russia in the late 1970′s when the KGB took a great interest in foreigners.  My favorite story to this day is when he missed the bus to his job on the touring USIA exhibit in Kazahkstan.  No taxis, no alternative transport to get to the exhibit.  So, he returned to his room, looked up at the chandelier hanging from the ceiling and asked, “Could I have a car and driver, please?”  Clearly the KGB had bugged the chandelier.  When he returned to the main entrance, a car and driver waited for him. 

As I listened to RD describe what sparked his first historical, The Kitchen Boy, and his extensive research for it, I could hear excitement in his voice.  He loved turn of the 20th century Russia, the Bolshevik Revolution, Rasputin, the Romanovs.  I realized that it is true, anyone can write.  However, not everyone is a Writer.  RD is a great example of what makes a Writer: a lifelong obsession (Russia) with the desire to share it with others plus a passion for storytelling.  Then it takes time to hone the craft of writing: being able to utilize all the elements of narrative to tell the story well, and of course, memorably.  Not everyone can combine the two successfully. 

RD never got around to actually reading from The Romanov Bride after he’d shared some photos of her and outlined her story from his research.  I don’t think anyone minded.  RD handed out bookmarks he’d had designed in Russia, then sat down at the table to sign our books.  The B&N guy stood next to the table, asking each person if he or she wanted his book personalized.  I thought immediately, “crowd control.”  An effective way to insure an orderly line and not overwhelm the writer at the table. 

It was great to see RD and hear about his Russian experiences and novels (click on his name in the first paragraph to check out his website).  It was great to spend the evening with a Writer….

The Change, Again

Last October I wrote a post about the similarity between the economic troubles we’re experiencing and “The Change” in Perceval.  At that time, I thought that the losses would affect only the US and Europe, but this past week I realized that this recession is essentially global.  That makes it even more similar to “The Change,” which I envisioned as a global depression that started in the US and spread.

Spooky.

In the Perceval future, political upheaval accompanies the economic problems, and terrorists take advantage of America’s economic weakness.  As a result, Americans go to the polls and vote into power a political party that gradually creates a permanent majority.  In other words, a dictatorship. 

I really wonder if that could actually happen.  Americans can be an ornery bunch, skeptical, vocal and adamant about fairness and democracy.  Would Americans ever want security and economic stability more than democracy and freedom?

My job is to tell a good story, a fictional story, and to that end, allow my imagination freedom to explore the universe of possibilities.  And yet, readers sometimes gain inspiration and ideas of their own, triggered by a story, a character or situation.  Reading is important….

One Year Anniversary

Last Thursday, March 5, marked the one year anniversary for sending the Perceval manuscript to the literary agent who requested it.  I mailed another follow-up letter to him this past Monday, noting that real-life conditions today echo what Evan experienced in his childhood.   An interesting angle for selling it to editors…. 

It’s been tough to wait.  Especially tough to wait when there’s been no communication at all from the agent.  I remain hopeful that despite the economic troubles we’re having, we’ve come through the worst of it and we’ll begin to see some positive indicators.  I’m noticing already that the list of job postings has gotten longer at Publishers Marketplace.

In a related effort, I’ve completed a list of possible markets for the novel excerpt, The Shadow.  I need to research the most likely ones further before submitting the story to any of them.   I’ve targeted this week to complete the research.