The Lighthouse Writers Top-Secret Blog
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Letter from L.A.: “It’s Chinatown.”
I’m a writer.”
[slap]
“I’m an editor.”
[slap]
“A writer, an editor.”
[slap, slap]
“I said I want the truth!”
“I’m a writer and an editor. My book and I — understand? Or is it too tough for you?”
This is taken (substituting “writer” for “sister” and “editor” for “daughter” — apologies to Robert Towne) from the famous scene in Chinatown where Evelyn Mulray reveals her big secret: that the young woman she’s been hiding from her father, the evil Noah Cross, is in fact both her daughter and her sister, the product of an incestuous relationship with Cross. This scene is the climax of the film’s second act, the shocking point upon which the entire story turns. At this moment all the themes converge: power, corruption, how much of the world and our fellow human beings we don’t know and can never know. (For a great moment-by-moment analysis of the scene, have a look at pages 154–180 in Robert McKee’s screenwriting bible, Story.)
The dialogue substitutions I’ve made are perhaps a little too cute, but the point I want to make is that the two parts of the artist’s soul, the writer and the editor, are often at war: a lot of slapping goes on at the desk. Too much of the critic and the work is strangled. The irony here is that the more you know about what makes for good storytelling, the more inclined you are to beat yourself up. Too much of the creator, however, and your brilliance may remain inaccessible to mere mortals. Figuring out a way to manage the balance is crucial to the success of any project. There are some good books that address the dilemma. My favorites are Eric Maisel’s Fearless Creating, Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, and Kenneth Atchity’s A Writer’s Time (though this last is too programmatic; also it expects you to write 10 pages a day — gah!).
I’m going to be at Grand Lake this July (how ’bout you?), teaching a workshop on this subject, how writers can move more gracefully between the creator and the critic, how to use the two personas to get the best work you’re capable of out and down on the page, how to see your words as they really are and align them with your dream.
Ahh, you’re talking to me, aren’t you? It’s exactly that dilemma (usually the brawny editor bullies the writer) that explains all these bruises. And so I do these 1,000 words/day (which I keep telling people is REALLY easy to do if you hold yourself to low standards, which is part of the deal) and get tons of material, and then the editor gets all passive aggressive and feigns migraines and all of that. It’s a sad, sad show. I’d much rather watch Chinatown.
Thanks for this…
I find the same to be true for my two schyzo-franetic-personas as I diligently plug away at my fledgling story #1 (on Chapter 17 of ???). When I am in my creative zone, life is good, birds sing, and beer always seems to be free. I have no problems ripping off page after page after page. I smile a lot. But then, after just so long, the editor in me barks that he has to get his salty mits on something, anything, to finally make sense of it all. Feelings of “how long is this really going to take,” and “you’re not worthy, dude” commonly pop up. I whip myself a lot. And then, because I am writing an historical fiction story, the researcher in me elbows in to capture way too much time and teases both of the others (picture Harrison Ford swinging on a rope sticking his tongue out) …. Ahhhhh!!!!! How do mange the two well enough to finish, let alone the three??????? I would welcome a class on insight-finding or a roadmap-drafting to get thru these woods. Maybe it’s my year to trek to Grand Lake.
Okay… that was NOT a “pity party,” more of a “fret fiesta” I’d say. Help is needed, I can admit it , at least the writer in me can
Lane — Yes, come to Grand Lake! Fretters will be made especially welcome.
Andrea — All my posts are for you, which means they’re for me, and I know you’ll know what I mean by that.
We’ll forever have each other, our top-secret meeting space on WordPress, and enough collected change for a glass of wine. What else do we need? Can’t wait to see you in Grand Lake!