Thoughts on The Spooky Art by Norman Mailer - Part 2

The book has lost a lot of its structure in its past few chapters but remains interesting as ever.

One particular topic he continues to iterate on refers to style and the way it affects and qualifies writing. It seems to define and distinguish one writer from the next but not entirely in a unique sense, as he notes exemplary writers whose styles will alter with every page. It seems such a thing that is paramount, yet flexible and even elusive at times. And for the amount of time he spends worrying about it, his advice to us is to not, a difficult task upon reflecting on his material.

It would appear to be something that I must consider, more so for the sake of consistency with other elements, but not so beyond that, for fear of sabotaging that which would come more organically. I can only assume that it is something that really needs to be experienced before it can be understood. At the moment I’m just grasping at smoke.

The way he talks about his lifestyle is a little discomforting. Its sounds very often lonely and painful, isolated, and deprived of balance and at times, reality. It seemed to swing with every novel he wrote, being consistently inconsistent. He likens the ‘novel’ to a relationship with ‘the bitch’; a surprisingly useful metaphor. The impression I get is that this type of work, novel-writing, is very relational, whether with the book itself, the characters within, or the trappings of the author’s own mind. But I consider the books I have read, wherein character relations feel truest, and the insight becomes understandable.

One other thing that surprised me was how little he regarded the importance of plot, and knowing plot for that matter. His argument was that plot limits character. Even the decisions of each character are already predetermined, there are severe limits in ways upon which they can take on lives of their own, wherein they can grow and change. He does not say it’s impossible, but that in his experience, good character generates good plot.

This one thing that concerns me that seems to pervade the entire book. There is an element of literary elitism. I hardly blame or resent him for it. I think it is unavoidable. There are fineries to the art of writing, particularly in fiction, that will be lost on the masses. His greatest works I hadn’t heard of until reading this book, at least not in the forefront of my mind, and I doubt that the sum of all his sales come even near that of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, in spite of their literary brilliance. For all this man’s insight, I can’t help but feel his work remains somewhat irrelevant, perhaps because he wants to create an incredible world rather than tell a story or communicate a message.  That isn’t to say it is irrelevant. I’m sure his impact on the literary world is profound and lasting, but beyond that what effect is there?

I’m learning much from this novelist, but I’m remaining cautious as to what I should adopt as the norm. I’m very young and inexperienced, in worlds apart, so I think certain trepidation is understandable. There’s a disconnection that I’m hoping to understand more as I complete the picture of who this man is.

That’s all for now. I’ve missed so much, but it’s still all floating around my head somewhere.  I do recommend that if you have any interest in novel-writing, or even writing in general, to have a look at this book.

I shall return pen to paper when I have covered a few more chapters. (That was a joke. I’m typing)
Part 1 can be found here.

Thoughts on The Spooky Art by Norman Mailer - Part 1

This isn’t even a book review, as just a few reflections on some very interesting anecdotes.

I was loaned this book by Netna Ngyuen, and good friend of mine whom shares an interest in the literary world, and told to plunge its depths for some treasured motivation, a commodity I am consistently lacking.

It’s fantastic work so far. It is not literary genius, but rather a one-way conversation with a brilliant and experienced writer. The insights he has afforded so far have been delectable. Certain adages he serves up have wonderfully edified many of my own infantile theories regarding the truths of the industry. I have taken these as a sign that I am on the right track. Though I hesitate to be too presumptuous in my understanding of these things, for if I am a writer, than I am one who produces very little for all his mental rhetoric.

A particular succinct paragraph defined every writer as a closet philosopher. Such a sentiment ringed in such a harmony with my own mind; I felt myself flutter a little (though I would hardly call myself ‘closet’.) I think it is part of why I take stock in my own endeavour. Written form cannot be removed from the source that motivated its birthing, and the ideas that push me to write are great pearls of wisdom, handed down by giants, purged and refined by the great fires of reason. I have no doubt of their relevance, their potential; they have been proved many times over. It is merely my ability to convey them that now comes under trial.

One particular chapter that I have found quite relevant explores in depth the rewriting of his final draft for the novel The Deer Park. There are fundamentals of novel writing that he explores in such frank terms that I hope will do much to save myself from making similar mistakes. In particular he alludes to the writing style of the novel, which is narrated in the first person and how initially it failed to reconcile with the nature of the protagonist, and his significance in the plot.
These insights are really opening up the world of fiction writing to me, making it tangible and less alien.

It is worth mentioning that I have read none of his works, though I am now inspired to. He does however have credentials to his name, and so far it is on these wherein I hold my respect for his words. I look forward to approaching his works with his memoirs in mind, as I feel it will give me a more complete understanding of his lifetime as a writer.

This book I think will do much to set me on my journey. I shall share more reflections upon further readings. I will not be going through the book too systematically, as the book is itself far from systematic. I will probably just 'go with the flow' on this one.