Christina Westover's Blog - Posts Tagged "christina-westover"
"What does Kurt Cobain's memory mean to you as an artist and how does his influence carryover into the book, beyond what's in the narrative?"~~asked by Ren Garcia, Author of "The League of Elder:Sygillis of Metatron"
Interesting questions. The book is first of all about men--what I think of men, what I think it would be like if I were a man,and how I don't think men are much different than women, emotionally.This is my first novel written with a man as the main character, and I wanted to write a man who was emotional and sensitive, but not a pushover. I always thought Kurt Cobain was the sort of man I would want to be--aside from the drug use. I think he was thoughtful and loving, driven by something beyond himself--that passionate love which causes all artists to create, and this I admire about him. I also mention him because he came from a simple life, and worked diligently to make a name for himself. My character Virgil understands, if one person can do it, he can do it--he can make his dreams come true. Virgil is a dreamer who understands that love is everything, and I envisioned Kurt Cobain as I wrote him.It just so happens--Virgil, Me, and Kurt Cobain all share the same birthday of February 20th.
Interesting questions. The book is first of all about men--what I think of men, what I think it would be like if I were a man,and how I don't think men are much different than women, emotionally.This is my first novel written with a man as the main character, and I wanted to write a man who was emotional and sensitive, but not a pushover. I always thought Kurt Cobain was the sort of man I would want to be--aside from the drug use. I think he was thoughtful and loving, driven by something beyond himself--that passionate love which causes all artists to create, and this I admire about him. I also mention him because he came from a simple life, and worked diligently to make a name for himself. My character Virgil understands, if one person can do it, he can do it--he can make his dreams come true. Virgil is a dreamer who understands that love is everything, and I envisioned Kurt Cobain as I wrote him.It just so happens--Virgil, Me, and Kurt Cobain all share the same birthday of February 20th.
If there is a message in Precipice, it is that love is love--gay, straight, or lesbian, love is the ultimate goal of any relationship.I wanted to present characters who would be liked because of their personalities, their interests, regardless of their sexuality.This was mostly accomplished with Jackson, who is bisexual, and with Amber, a lesbian who falls in love with a man for the first time.I wanted to write a mainstream novel about sexual diversity without having it labeled a gay or lesbian novel, as I felt this greatly limited the audience it would reach.Besides, sexuality isn't the focus of Precipice.No, sexuality only makes the characters more life-like, more human, more honest.My favorite thing about Precipice, was that I finally found a way to write the multi-dimensional characters which interested me without limiting them to a certain genre of book.In this respect, writing Precipice was a period of total artistic freedom for me.
It is a well known fact that Kurt Cobain supported gay rights, another reason why this novel is dedicated to him.
It is a well known fact that Kurt Cobain supported gay rights, another reason why this novel is dedicated to him.
Murder in literature is always a fascinating subject.Whether by sword or having a bookcase fall upon the main character, causing a weakened heart to give out--as is the case in "Howard's End" by E.M.Forster, by being cooked alive by steam from a pipe as is the case in Jeffrey Deaver's "The Bone Collector," or by the poisonous blood of a deadly spider found in the pages of Stephen King's "The Eyes of the Dragon,"experiencing the demise of others in the safe contained pages of a novel can be a thrill!
In "Precipice," I wanted to show that in everyday life, murder is much less complicated than it often is in movies or in some contemporary novels.I wanted to stress the point that death comes easily, unexpectedly, and more often than not, it is simple.
I have always been under the impression that if we were individually aware of how many times we have come close to death during our lifetimes, we would probably be paralyzed by fear. Exploiting this fear by writing about it was something I had never previously experienced. While writing scenes of emotional intensity or anger, I was often plagued by nightmares caused by purposely provoking intense emotions while getting into character.I learned that the dark places you take yourself to when contemplating and planning out a murder in a story are both scary and freeing. I learned I was afraid of violence, and thinking about murder was so unnatural I had to often fight my own inclination to avoid the thought process so as to be able to pretend I was a part of the story. I hope some of this anxiety comes across in the pages of "Precipice," since sharing emotion is one of the greatest things about art.
In "Precipice," I wanted to show that in everyday life, murder is much less complicated than it often is in movies or in some contemporary novels.I wanted to stress the point that death comes easily, unexpectedly, and more often than not, it is simple.
I have always been under the impression that if we were individually aware of how many times we have come close to death during our lifetimes, we would probably be paralyzed by fear. Exploiting this fear by writing about it was something I had never previously experienced. While writing scenes of emotional intensity or anger, I was often plagued by nightmares caused by purposely provoking intense emotions while getting into character.I learned that the dark places you take yourself to when contemplating and planning out a murder in a story are both scary and freeing. I learned I was afraid of violence, and thinking about murder was so unnatural I had to often fight my own inclination to avoid the thought process so as to be able to pretend I was a part of the story. I hope some of this anxiety comes across in the pages of "Precipice," since sharing emotion is one of the greatest things about art.
I recently had a business man ask me if I wrote "love stories?"
"Is that what you read?" I asked him.When he didn't say anything, I proceeded to tell him precisely the sort of literature I am accustomed to reading."Just because I am a woman doesn't mean I read or write love stories."
The truth is, I was livid about his assumption that all I am interested in are love stories, and thought it a sexist and ignorant remark.However, as I got to thinking more about it, I realized some of my favorite stories are love stories, and they happen to be written by men.
Dostoyevsky's "White Nights." F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Beautiful and Damned." Hemingway's "A Farewell To Arms." Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables." D.H.Lawrence's "Lady Chatterly's Lover." E.M.Forster's "A Room With A View."
If writing a love story means writing a novel with characters who assume a full range of emotions and whose interpersonal relationships are compelling and moving, then "Precipice" is certainly a love story--and proudly so!
As Fitzgerald once wrote: "Only the romanticist preserves the things worth preserving."
"Is that what you read?" I asked him.When he didn't say anything, I proceeded to tell him precisely the sort of literature I am accustomed to reading."Just because I am a woman doesn't mean I read or write love stories."
The truth is, I was livid about his assumption that all I am interested in are love stories, and thought it a sexist and ignorant remark.However, as I got to thinking more about it, I realized some of my favorite stories are love stories, and they happen to be written by men.
Dostoyevsky's "White Nights." F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Beautiful and Damned." Hemingway's "A Farewell To Arms." Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables." D.H.Lawrence's "Lady Chatterly's Lover." E.M.Forster's "A Room With A View."
If writing a love story means writing a novel with characters who assume a full range of emotions and whose interpersonal relationships are compelling and moving, then "Precipice" is certainly a love story--and proudly so!
As Fitzgerald once wrote: "Only the romanticist preserves the things worth preserving."
As a newly published author, I've had both favorable and unfavorable reviews.I am aware that not everyone is going to like how I write, what I write, or even deem me worthy of being published--some will even write reviews on my novel without having read the work in its entirety.
As literary artists, one cannot allow the fear of what others may think to hamper the creative process.Some of the world's best known pieces of literature have been criticized or banned for reasons as trivial as making the region of the book's setting look bad--as is the case in John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath." Lewis Carroll's "Alice In Wonderland" was banned at one time in China for depicting animals which were as complex and intelligent as humans. "Animal Farm," "Candide," "Madame Bovary," "The Da Vinci Code"--they're all novels which were at one time banned or censored by people who did not like them for various reasons, or who viewed them as some sort of threat.
What it all comes down to is this, you'll never be able to please everyone and you shouldn't even try.Be passionate about what you write, believe in your ability to convey timeless ideas, and let no one tell you what what you're capable of.After all, what would the world be like if Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck had allowed the opinions of others to stop him?
As literary artists, one cannot allow the fear of what others may think to hamper the creative process.Some of the world's best known pieces of literature have been criticized or banned for reasons as trivial as making the region of the book's setting look bad--as is the case in John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath." Lewis Carroll's "Alice In Wonderland" was banned at one time in China for depicting animals which were as complex and intelligent as humans. "Animal Farm," "Candide," "Madame Bovary," "The Da Vinci Code"--they're all novels which were at one time banned or censored by people who did not like them for various reasons, or who viewed them as some sort of threat.
What it all comes down to is this, you'll never be able to please everyone and you shouldn't even try.Be passionate about what you write, believe in your ability to convey timeless ideas, and let no one tell you what what you're capable of.After all, what would the world be like if Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck had allowed the opinions of others to stop him?
As someone who has been depressive since childhood, I have always found literature and music to be the only escape from the darkness. Writing "Precipice" was the only thing which made me feel happy during moments of extreme depression, the only thing which allowed me to sleep at night. I am not the only one who has endured this. Edgar Allen Poe, Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf, Vincent Van Gogh, Lord Byron, and William Blake,and Kurt Cobain among others were known for their depression and creativity.
Studies linking creativity and manic-depressive illness, known as bipolar disorder, have shown that because of fluctuations in mood, thought, and behavior, those with bipolar disorder sometimes have moments of unusually focused and creative thinking which result in higher levels of creative productivity. Abstract thinking is a shared trait between creativity and psychopathology often found in writers, especially poets. This correlation is not new and dates back to the time of Aristotle.
"Touched with Fire:Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament" by Kay Redfield Jamison is a fantastic and intriguing read if you wish to expand on this topic. I am certainly not implying that all artists, literary or otherwise, suffer from manic-depressive illness. I simply think it important to recognize this phenomenon, to educate ourselves on psychological issues which affect many of those in our lives, and to remind those with such disorders that they are capable of accomplishing truly amazing things!
Studies linking creativity and manic-depressive illness, known as bipolar disorder, have shown that because of fluctuations in mood, thought, and behavior, those with bipolar disorder sometimes have moments of unusually focused and creative thinking which result in higher levels of creative productivity. Abstract thinking is a shared trait between creativity and psychopathology often found in writers, especially poets. This correlation is not new and dates back to the time of Aristotle.
"Touched with Fire:Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament" by Kay Redfield Jamison is a fantastic and intriguing read if you wish to expand on this topic. I am certainly not implying that all artists, literary or otherwise, suffer from manic-depressive illness. I simply think it important to recognize this phenomenon, to educate ourselves on psychological issues which affect many of those in our lives, and to remind those with such disorders that they are capable of accomplishing truly amazing things!
It is National Writers Month, and I am feeling inspired by so much creative activity surrounding me.I was pondering over what literature--art, actually means to me, the importance of it in the grand scheme of things.
Literature is an art form, and art is the most universal form of communication which exists.Not only is it a means for expressing one's imagination, but for expressing political, spiritual, and philosophical ideas. Art is also a medium used to provoke strong emotions in others, by appealing to the senses. Art reveals much about the state of the world and environment during the time it was created. In fact, it could be said that art is a reflection of society, and society a reflection of art.
Lynn H. Nichol's book "The Rape of Europa" tells about the destruction of Europe's art by the Third Reich during World War II. A failed artist, Adolf Hitler decided to take over the world one country at a time, and found it helpful to destroy a culture by destroying its art. Sometimes, countries were invaded and destroyed based on their wealth of art pieces. Many of the pieces currently housed in the world's great museums only exist because art historians, curators, and heroic individuals put their lives on the line to hide and save these treasures.
What happened during World War II is only one example of the significance art plays in history, in war, in politics--how it affects the world, how it touches lives, and how some have died for it.
Next time you are writing a poem or story, painting a picture, dancing, playing an instrument, or pursuing some other creative activity, remember that these things do matter. These creations are more than hobbies--they're the voices of a society which will be remembered. They have the power to influence masses of people, to sway emotions, to inspire, and they do make a difference.
Literature is an art form, and art is the most universal form of communication which exists.Not only is it a means for expressing one's imagination, but for expressing political, spiritual, and philosophical ideas. Art is also a medium used to provoke strong emotions in others, by appealing to the senses. Art reveals much about the state of the world and environment during the time it was created. In fact, it could be said that art is a reflection of society, and society a reflection of art.
Lynn H. Nichol's book "The Rape of Europa" tells about the destruction of Europe's art by the Third Reich during World War II. A failed artist, Adolf Hitler decided to take over the world one country at a time, and found it helpful to destroy a culture by destroying its art. Sometimes, countries were invaded and destroyed based on their wealth of art pieces. Many of the pieces currently housed in the world's great museums only exist because art historians, curators, and heroic individuals put their lives on the line to hide and save these treasures.
What happened during World War II is only one example of the significance art plays in history, in war, in politics--how it affects the world, how it touches lives, and how some have died for it.
Next time you are writing a poem or story, painting a picture, dancing, playing an instrument, or pursuing some other creative activity, remember that these things do matter. These creations are more than hobbies--they're the voices of a society which will be remembered. They have the power to influence masses of people, to sway emotions, to inspire, and they do make a difference.
A recent how-to guide for pedophiles found an audience on Amazon, creating controversy and resulting in boycotting of the online retailer. Amazon defended the right to sell the book stating it “believes it is censorship not to sell certain books simply because we or others believe their message is objectionable.” Amazon felt it was okay to sell a book teaching pedophiles techniques for luring and preying upon children, because the book did not contain photographs or pictures considered child pornography, and did not break any laws. This raises the question, how far is too far? Where is the line drawn when protecting someone's first amendment rights?
I find this entire subject troubling. As a mother with two daughters, I find it appalling that someone would even entertain such thoughts, let alone write about them and market them. Literature is a means of communication, but it is also an expression of humanity. Literature exposes the heart of society and immortalizes feelings, emotions, ideas--all of those beautiful elements which drive us to stay on this planet, which compel us to protect those vulnerable creatures around us. Remove your love of humanity, and all that is left are meaningless laws which can be manipulated to suit the base desires of selfish individuals. If I am ever remembered as being an Author of something, I want it remembered that I was an Author with heart, an author who believed that love conquers all and that to nurture and protect one's children is to protect the human race from destroying itself.
I find this entire subject troubling. As a mother with two daughters, I find it appalling that someone would even entertain such thoughts, let alone write about them and market them. Literature is a means of communication, but it is also an expression of humanity. Literature exposes the heart of society and immortalizes feelings, emotions, ideas--all of those beautiful elements which drive us to stay on this planet, which compel us to protect those vulnerable creatures around us. Remove your love of humanity, and all that is left are meaningless laws which can be manipulated to suit the base desires of selfish individuals. If I am ever remembered as being an Author of something, I want it remembered that I was an Author with heart, an author who believed that love conquers all and that to nurture and protect one's children is to protect the human race from destroying itself.
Readers often ask me if I am my character Virgil, the hero in my novel "Precipice." I always reply with the same answer, "The book is fiction." In reality, pouring your heart and soul into your writing requires understanding of what you have experienced in life. It requires knowing where you have been, where you are now, and where you want to be in the future. It means writing about those things and people you feel most passionately about.
Charles Dickens worked at age 12 to help support his family while his father was imprisoned. He later recounted his impoverished childhood in his novel "David Copperfield."
Pulitzer Prize winner Margaret Mitchell, Author of "Gone With The Wind" wrote a scene in which Scarlett O'Hara receives news of her mother's illness only to return home to find she had already died. This happened to Mitchell.
J.R.R.Tolkein often visited his aunt's farm of "Bag End," using the name and scenery in his books. His wife Edith was the inspiration for much of the "Simarillion," and he often referred to her as "my Luthien."
"Ham on Rye" is the semi-autobiographical account of Charles Bukowski's coming-of-age in Los Angeles where he grew up during the Great Depression. The characters in the hero's family all mirror actual members of Bukowski's family.
Fiction is often autobiographical or semi-autobiographical in nature. Writing what you know brings depth and vulnerability to the characters and storyline. It is also a way of preserving the memories you keep close to you. "Precipice" is fiction, though everything Virgil remembers and feels about his grandmother is not!
Charles Dickens worked at age 12 to help support his family while his father was imprisoned. He later recounted his impoverished childhood in his novel "David Copperfield."
Pulitzer Prize winner Margaret Mitchell, Author of "Gone With The Wind" wrote a scene in which Scarlett O'Hara receives news of her mother's illness only to return home to find she had already died. This happened to Mitchell.
J.R.R.Tolkein often visited his aunt's farm of "Bag End," using the name and scenery in his books. His wife Edith was the inspiration for much of the "Simarillion," and he often referred to her as "my Luthien."
"Ham on Rye" is the semi-autobiographical account of Charles Bukowski's coming-of-age in Los Angeles where he grew up during the Great Depression. The characters in the hero's family all mirror actual members of Bukowski's family.
Fiction is often autobiographical or semi-autobiographical in nature. Writing what you know brings depth and vulnerability to the characters and storyline. It is also a way of preserving the memories you keep close to you. "Precipice" is fiction, though everything Virgil remembers and feels about his grandmother is not!
I recently came across a blog with a posting about Cutting titled "To Calm A Seaweed Monster"
https://lestylofontaine.wordpress.com/
. Written by a young California woman named Ariela, I was blown away by the fact that she had the courage to candidly write about such a dark topic, when I myself have refrained from speaking about such things for years.In truth, I have always been afraid that if people found out I used to self-mutilate, if they understood how self-destructive I have been in the past and how the urge still remains (even though I no longer give in to this), they would be afraid of me--be afraid to be around me, or they would view me as unstable.
The fact remains that we live in a world where people just do not know how to treat one another. Abuse happens on a daily basis on many levels, and some people become consumed with such suffocating and raging emotions that they turn to drugs, alcohol, or other compulsive behaviors to help them to cope. Self-mutilation is just that, a coping behavior, something used to help an individual to LIVE--a sort of distraction which localizes the pain, turning emotional pain into a physical pain which may then be cared for.
This self-destructive behavior can range from cutting, scratching and burning to even hitting oneself. I once had a therapist tell me, "Don't give yourself airs, you're an extremely violent person, but you're only violent to yourself." It made me appreciate that while I wasn't allowing anyone else to abuse me, it wasn't right that I continued to abuse myself.
Ten years of therapy later, I am pleased to say that I am happy to be alive, happy that I am no longer violent to myself. There are still so many out there who are--they're your sons and daughters, your husband or wife, your mother or father, your friends. Let's start this new year off with compassion and love for one another--because, when people are writing about these topics, they're a warning sign to every member of society that we need to be more kind to each other and ourselves.
https://lestylofontaine.wordpress.com/
. Written by a young California woman named Ariela, I was blown away by the fact that she had the courage to candidly write about such a dark topic, when I myself have refrained from speaking about such things for years.In truth, I have always been afraid that if people found out I used to self-mutilate, if they understood how self-destructive I have been in the past and how the urge still remains (even though I no longer give in to this), they would be afraid of me--be afraid to be around me, or they would view me as unstable.
The fact remains that we live in a world where people just do not know how to treat one another. Abuse happens on a daily basis on many levels, and some people become consumed with such suffocating and raging emotions that they turn to drugs, alcohol, or other compulsive behaviors to help them to cope. Self-mutilation is just that, a coping behavior, something used to help an individual to LIVE--a sort of distraction which localizes the pain, turning emotional pain into a physical pain which may then be cared for.
This self-destructive behavior can range from cutting, scratching and burning to even hitting oneself. I once had a therapist tell me, "Don't give yourself airs, you're an extremely violent person, but you're only violent to yourself." It made me appreciate that while I wasn't allowing anyone else to abuse me, it wasn't right that I continued to abuse myself.
Ten years of therapy later, I am pleased to say that I am happy to be alive, happy that I am no longer violent to myself. There are still so many out there who are--they're your sons and daughters, your husband or wife, your mother or father, your friends. Let's start this new year off with compassion and love for one another--because, when people are writing about these topics, they're a warning sign to every member of society that we need to be more kind to each other and ourselves.
