Melissa Anne
asked
Elizabeth Gilbert:
Going through a similar journey in my life a few years ago, I have been trying to put pen to paper and I'm having a hard time not jumping around a lot in my writing. Did you jump around a lot while writing "Eat, Pray, Love" or did it come out fluid?
Elizabeth Gilbert
Dear One — Who are you writing your book TO? Do you have an imaginary reader? A single person? If not, then you are probably lost in the narrative. I never begin writing a book unless I know exactly whom I am speaking TO. Each one of my books was written to a different person in my life — and I write the book as though I am telling that person a story. So choose someone. Someone you love, ideally. Then sit down and tell the story to that person.
More Answered Questions
Heather Howes
asked
Elizabeth Gilbert:
First I have a comment: I enjoyed your book via audio CD while communing to and from work. I highly recommend that people "read" the book this way. Having you read it to me was a wonderful experience. I could feel the romantic affair you were having with food, and I fell in love with the word "Attraversiamo". Question: The book EPL was your most popular, but which book was your favorite to write and why?
Erica Villagomez-Cloutier
asked
Elizabeth Gilbert:
You are one very busy woman! "The Signature of All Things" was released last year, and along with that you were also the editor of "The Best American Travel Writing 2013." I'm guessing time management is very important. How do you decide what to fit into your schedule and how do make sure you actually get the task done? I hope you manage to sleep.
Ellen
asked
Elizabeth Gilbert:
Hi. Our book club read “Signature Of All Things” and it was a great discussion. We noticed that we were speaking about the book in sections; Alma’s early life, Tahiti, retirement in Amsterdam. It felt like each could have been a novel on its own. Did you approach these phases of Alma’s life differently as you were writing?
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