Publish or Perish
Thursday, April 13, 2006
More On Writing
In my post regarding The City of Falling Angels, miXi's response regarding the whole James Frey issue was this:
"I've heard different things about Frey's book. According to a friend whose opinion I value: "who cares if it's fiction or nonfiction? it sucks either way." But then people I work with say the book has changed their lives...There's a problem with nonfiction selling so well now, which is that publishers want to market things as nonfiction. A novel about drug addiction really doesn't have the same pull as a memoir about drug addiction. This becomes a problem when you write a novel based on events from one's life (you know, like how the movie "Domino" is based on a true story, wink, wink). I mean, the guy spent about 3 hours in jail and wrote that he spent months in there. That's not "creative" nonfiction, that's fiction. In fact, were he truly a creative writer, he could have made those 3 hours feel like three months without ever lying."
It seems to me that publishers and the movie industry don't think that real non-fiction won't sell well. Hence the whole "based on a true story" thing. There's that element of truth but enough fiction to make it sellable.
But that's not creative non-fiction.
Creative non-fiction, obviously, takes a true event and places the reader in it. The author recreates certain conversations (because let's face it he or she cannot listen in on everyone while the event is taking place. It takes many interviews and being a dective to piece together a converesation) or situations and reconstructs them to the best of their ability. Again, take Capote's In Cold Blood he was not there to witness the horrible murder. What he did was interview the two accused over and over and over again to try to construc what happened. Not only them, but other family members, friends, the authorities. Anyone who had contact with the unfortuante family or the murderers.
And what chills me about that book is that I can see in detail what Capote is describing. That is good writing.
For James Frey to say that he went through what he went through in his book is a lie. Had he said it was fiction, no one would have batted an eye. It probably wouldn't have had the stellar sales but then it would have been more honest.
I'll let you know what I think of the book when I finish it. So, far I like it. His style of writing is interesting. There are no quotation marks and for time to time you lose sight of who was speaking.
But I'll give a more detailed review when I finish with the book.
Moving on,this post regarding Microserfs made me want to reread Copeland's book over again. It's set in early 90s Seattle where a group of people defect from Microsoft Biiiillllll!!!! in order to start a new company. A great read written in journal form - the initial thing that appealed to me.
Anyway, it's late. I have to go hunt Easter Eggs tomorrow. Happy Easter everyone!Or Happy Sunday for my agnostic/atheist friends.
Tags: creative non-fiction, James Frey, writing
"I've heard different things about Frey's book. According to a friend whose opinion I value: "who cares if it's fiction or nonfiction? it sucks either way." But then people I work with say the book has changed their lives...There's a problem with nonfiction selling so well now, which is that publishers want to market things as nonfiction. A novel about drug addiction really doesn't have the same pull as a memoir about drug addiction. This becomes a problem when you write a novel based on events from one's life (you know, like how the movie "Domino" is based on a true story, wink, wink). I mean, the guy spent about 3 hours in jail and wrote that he spent months in there. That's not "creative" nonfiction, that's fiction. In fact, were he truly a creative writer, he could have made those 3 hours feel like three months without ever lying."
It seems to me that publishers and the movie industry don't think that real non-fiction won't sell well. Hence the whole "based on a true story" thing. There's that element of truth but enough fiction to make it sellable.
But that's not creative non-fiction.
Creative non-fiction, obviously, takes a true event and places the reader in it. The author recreates certain conversations (because let's face it he or she cannot listen in on everyone while the event is taking place. It takes many interviews and being a dective to piece together a converesation) or situations and reconstructs them to the best of their ability. Again, take Capote's In Cold Blood he was not there to witness the horrible murder. What he did was interview the two accused over and over and over again to try to construc what happened. Not only them, but other family members, friends, the authorities. Anyone who had contact with the unfortuante family or the murderers.
And what chills me about that book is that I can see in detail what Capote is describing. That is good writing.
For James Frey to say that he went through what he went through in his book is a lie. Had he said it was fiction, no one would have batted an eye. It probably wouldn't have had the stellar sales but then it would have been more honest.
I'll let you know what I think of the book when I finish it. So, far I like it. His style of writing is interesting. There are no quotation marks and for time to time you lose sight of who was speaking.
But I'll give a more detailed review when I finish with the book.
Moving on,this post regarding Microserfs made me want to reread Copeland's book over again. It's set in early 90s Seattle where a group of people defect from Microsoft Biiiillllll!!!! in order to start a new company. A great read written in journal form - the initial thing that appealed to me.
Anyway, it's late. I have to go hunt Easter Eggs tomorrow. Happy Easter everyone!Or Happy Sunday for my agnostic/atheist friends.
Tags: creative non-fiction, James Frey, writing
4 Comments:
Cool link, PW. I like his mention of Apple and how it's been reborn so many times now.
Gates Rulez...The World!!!
I saw him in person for the first time last year when he was on campus to make a donation (and we're putting a building up in his name). He was a good speaker and he handled the razzing by some of of the anti-Windows kids very well.
Happy Easter!
I'm not surprised that y'all are putting up a building in his name. I heard that Google was coming there as well, right?
Despite Gates ruling the world, I like the fact that he gives so much to charity.
Happy Easter to you too!
Paperback, that really cleared up a lot of issues for me as far Frey's book is concerned. Great post!
Hey, Me: I'm currently reading his book right now and I have to say, I'm really enjoying it. Now, is that saying that I really enjoy it because I know it's a work of fiction?
I don't know. But stay tuned when I write my offical review of the book!
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