Heart

[cathschaffstump]

I’ve learned something from the last three books I’ve read. The people who know me are going to all laugh at me, but it’s a new revelation for me, so lay off, okay?

I’ve discovered that what I like to write are books about relationships. I like to study two people or more revolving around each other like planets. Books can be about world building and unique environments. Books can be about action and plot. My books also have these things. But mostly, my books have a relational heart.

I like to read and write about how people bounce around in each other’s orbits, how the tugs and pulls of one affect the actions of another. I want everything in my stories to revolve around the relationship. From there I’ll bring in what it takes to make that relationship work.

I want to spend my literary career writing about Frodo and Sam. About Schmendrick and the Unicorn. About Kavalier and Clay. About Kate and Cecy. About the Count of Monte Cristo, Mercedes, and the 3 guys who set them up. And everything else sort of falls out from around the heart.

I notice that this is not what all books are about. I’ve read some very successful books that weren’t recently, and I just couldn’t do them. As a reader, a book without a relational heart turns me into ADD lass. I can only do plot and worlds and even pretty writing so long without a heart, regardless of genre. That’s probably my new question to ask before I pick up a book to read. What kinds of relationships does this book have that will keep me interested?

The next set of questions I have inevitably lead me to what does this mean for me as a writer? Lots of different kinds of books sell. Where does a relationship writer go? Especially one who isn’t naturally inclined toward romance.

Two questions then, for all of you:

First, what characterizes your writing, do you think?
Secondly, what are your favorite books, or who are your favorite writers who focus on relationships?

Catherine

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[in-the-blue.livejournal.com]

1. Happy birthday, you.

2. I'm going to skip to the first name that comes to mind when you ask about writers who focus on relationships, and that's Louise Erdrich. She wins hands down as far as I'm concerned. It isn't because she slaps people in the face with a whole this is all about relationships, okay? type of thing but because she infuses everything she writes with so much heart.

[david-bridger.livejournal.com]

First, what characterizes your writing, do you think?

I'm a big hairy romantic bloke and I'm with you in this: it's relationships every time. I don't write "romance", but love (romantic and/or non-romantic) is always a major motivator for my main characters. Relationships and magic and mystery are the things that make my worlds go around.

And both my novels share the theme of a relationship that reaches beyond normal boundaries.


Secondly, what are your favorite books, or who are your favorite writers who focus on relationships?

My favourite book of all time is The Discovery of Heaven by Henry Mulisch. There are several relationships in this story, but the most important one is a lifelong non-romantic friendship between two men whose brilliant conversations cover religion, philosophy, politics, history, music and science. However, their relationship isn't a vehicle for these discussions on the page. It's a magnificent and memorable friendship.

[awelkin.livejournal.com]

What would you say would be a good first Erdich book?

[awelkin.livejournal.com]

I'll go looking for a copy, David. Thanks for the recommendation.

This, of course, makes me want to read your novels as well.

Catherine

[david-bridger.livejournal.com]

You're welcome, and I hope you love The Discovery of Heaven as much as I do.

This, of course, makes me want to read your novels as well.

This could be arranged, if it pleased you. :)

[erised1810.livejournal.com]

poof!!! that explaisn why i forget what the klarions look lie kbut know exactly whatt hey act and move lie kand how their voices sound (of al lthings!) adn why i didn't fel the urge t oask you or beg you to describe erro lto me or whutshisname inthe prologue. i was liek 'hey, what does he lok like/" and the ni wondered wh ythe hack i kept thinking it doesn't matter.
that's more than character-driven, or at least more tha nwhat character-driven has always meatnt to me. i cn never figure otu what'sthe mai nfocus o f a story. especially sicne it's been ages sicne i ws defining those terms wit hhelp of a text book adn pinned the estuff down for my school reading. because i' mostl yreadign books as a whole. its' a story, period. i mght need to really figure out what interests me beyodn genres i like. i do know that i'm bound to sort of drift off when there's more narrative tha ndialogue. especially if it's long sectiosn of introspective stuff i thin i want a plot wit hevents mostly. adn iwantto knwo how the characters go throug hthe story. but that might be because ican't remember many srtill-life kidn of books or grotesque things or well...reading much big stuff at all.
so icna't be sure what kid nof books to suggest here. i' mreading 'the poisonwood bible' now but i'm not far enogu hin to see if itfigures or not.
but it is gonna help me perhaps reduce 9yet again) my own to read list...

[erised1810.livejournal.com]

wow...that-oen is translated i nEnglish? i thought it was merely filmed..
Sorry.it's just i'm dutch and i recognized the author who's dutch. i hope more of his stuff is translated too.

[in-the-blue.livejournal.com]

Love Medicine.

[david-bridger.livejournal.com]

Yes, the English translation was published in the UK about ten years ago. He's wonderful, isn't he?

[david-bridger.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday, Catherine!

[erised1810.livejournal.com]

well i haven'tthat one. i read another thoug hbutthat's been ages andi have no idea if it's out in english. that-one wsa awesome though. although it'ssort of heavy-handed too.

[cathschaffstump.livejournal.com]

I will message you privately about it. Thanks.

Catherine

[cathschaffstump.livejournal.com]

I've read Poisonwood Bible, and it is a relationship book, all the way.

Mind you, it is a thoroughly unpleasant experience, but because the relationships make you feel *so* uncomfortable.

But it's well written.

Catherine

[erised1810.livejournal.com]

yes, it feels compleel yskewed alreday and i'm nto even halfway in. but it's a compenllign story still.

[ashavah]

My writing is very focused on relationships too. Though I usually think of it as being focused on character. But what good is one character without another to relate to? I'm not a world builder, and I'm certainly not an action writer. My writing takes a fairly slow pace because of that focus on character rather than action.

Interestingly enough, a lot of my favourite authors aren't necessarily relationship-focused. Though I can't stand books where I don't care deeply about the characters. But my favourite relationship-focused author would probably be Jane Austen.