Jul 07 2008
We All Have Multiple Partners
A few years ago, Peter, the facilitator of a writing group I sometimes frequent mentioned that every writer has multiple writing partners - her readers. This discussion came about because one of the writers in the group read her story and when she finished everyone in the room had a different interpretation of the character. Different scenes resonated with different people. We all filled in the backstory based on our own perception of the writer’s motive.
Once our work is made public its no longer our own. In a way, our orginal intention loses its integrity to the interpretation of others. Maybe that’s not a bad thing. Writers get what they need out of the story (i.e. developing an intriguing plot, creating believable characters) and readers get out of a story what they need (i.e. a mini vacation, reflection).
That’s so true, and it’s one of the things that sometimes makes me uneasy about getting published (well, not REALLY uneasy, not enough to scrap the whole idea). My characters have some issues and I’m sure some people won’t like them. Or will read too much into them.
Although if people are buying my book, I guess I’ll get over it.
I get excited thinking about others’ interpretations of my characters, just because wrong or right, it means they’re getting into my story.
I’m afraid I would not be satisfied wih just selling a book or knowing what I write is being read. I want my meaning to be clear, my characters so well defined that school children would know them. When writing a speech one must always remember it is a team effort, the audience being part of the team…know your audience so you can craft a final product that the majority will connect with. Art/paintings/sclulpture should be open to individual interpretation, but the written novel should take their readers down the same path. IMHO (A rose by any other name would smell as sweet)
I really like that sentiment. It’s so true, that once we put something out there, it’s really no longer ours. Which, in a way, makes what we do as writers, a kind of gift to our readers.
I completely agree with your post as well. But, you know, whether a reader loves or hates a character, if they’re getting that emotionally involved, then the writing must be good enough to provoke that reaction. If the writing was bland, the reaction would be disinterest. So, you know, you wanna hate my characters? Go right ahead!
Never really thought about that, but it’s very interesting and common sense really (duh, Doug) that everyone would fill in their own backstory, however the writer meant it. I like Erika’s take on it, though, as “kind of a gift to our readers.” I think. On the other hand, I see wanting what I’ve written understood the way I want it to be, and “f” off if you don’t get it. I’m all confused.