I love Anne Tyler quotes, but I’ve never, until now, heard her talk about the “writing elf.”
Early in Anne Tyler’s career–author of The Accidental Tourist (1985), Back When We Were Grownups (2001), and Digging to America (2006)–she decided she did not want to be a public person, so she stopped giving readings and only does occasional interviews, those she conducts in writing. This is my kind of woman.
She said:
Any time I talk in public about writing, I end up not able to do any writing. It’s as if some capricious Writing Elf goes into a little sulk whenever I expose him.
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I love Anne Tyler quotes. She gives me permission not to get down on myself for opting out of a lot of book signings. A lot of writers, like myself, are introverts. Book signings and public appearances are the last thing we want to do. But we also want to find readers and help readers find us. Perhaps the internet is the solution for introverted writers, poets, artists et al. Would you opt out of public appearances where you talk about your craft to avoid the sulking “writing elf”?
P.S. For those curious about the concept of introversion, a brief explanation can be found on Wikipedia.
P.P.S. I am an ex-shrink who writes award-winning novels. Check out my books here.
Thanks to Writer’s Almanac for the quote from Anne Tyler.
Once again you touch on a topic that’s the subjet of my novel. Welsey just wants to *act.* She wants to know why she can’t just do that, and not be a product, a brand, a breakfast cereal.
In fact, I just now finished writing the scene—the toughest in the book, so tough that I left it out of my last draft out of despair—where Welsey is meeting with her manager and publicist as they try to flesh out a new image for her, as the current perception of her has become negative. This scene is four pages long and took a week and a half to write. Every move they design for her is fake and ingratiating, and it makes her angry. But if she wants a career she has to do this. It’s especially terrifying for her because of a psychological condition she has, which our hero finds out about in the next scene, the climatic scene, and then, lo, I’m done! At least with this draft, the last major rewrite (I’m promising myself.)
I have no idea if I personally would be interested in opting out of public appearances—I’ve never had the luxury! I’d guess I would enjoy it if the audience were intelligent and perceptive. Tell you what: next time you get one, I’ll go as you and tell you if I liked it. 🙂
Hi John,
I would be happy for you to go instead of me. Let’s plan on it. Good luck with the last major rewrite!
Here is another comment from a facebook post reader:
C.C.: I guess as a performer and writer, I’m not shy of the spotlight. But I have no idea how I would be if someone were discussing my writing or songs as opposed to listening! Scary thought.
Ha ha, not sure if this is an issue I’ll ever have to face, but if so, I think I’d be okay with doing readings – as long as I got to pick what to read (which I assume authors do). As for interviews, etc., I think it would be okay. My main issue would be not saying too much. The more I talk, the more likely I’ll get into trouble!
I don’t think any of it would affect my “writing elf” though. I have to add that I love the idea of a Writing Elf, and I doubt I’ll ever be able to think about the inspiration and determination to write in any other way. 🙂