When Reading Blocks Writing
I have started to write a new book. It may work out. It may not. If I knew in advance which, then of course I'd...
Meanwhile, what to read? This is really a problem because mostly I find that when I am writing fiction, reading fiction gets in the way. Either I find myself unduly influenced by what I'm reading, or - just as lethal - easily distracted.
For the moment the three novellas by Eugene McCabe will do (Christ in the Fields) because his extraordinary Irish voice could never be mine. Then I expect I will catch up with back numbers of the NYR, which have been piling up a little of late.
I have just listened to a radio programme about literary translation - in this case Madame Bovary, and it occurs to me that re-reading this taut, highly-polished work, in French, will either help me along or plunge into a total block. Hm. Which will it be?
Meanwhile, what to read? This is really a problem because mostly I find that when I am writing fiction, reading fiction gets in the way. Either I find myself unduly influenced by what I'm reading, or - just as lethal - easily distracted.
For the moment the three novellas by Eugene McCabe will do (Christ in the Fields) because his extraordinary Irish voice could never be mine. Then I expect I will catch up with back numbers of the NYR, which have been piling up a little of late.
I have just listened to a radio programme about literary translation - in this case Madame Bovary, and it occurs to me that re-reading this taut, highly-polished work, in French, will either help me along or plunge into a total block. Hm. Which will it be?
No comments have been added yet.
