Recently, author Kate Forsyth was asked how long it took her to write a book. This is her answer:

“It depends on the length of the book & on what challenges are thrown up by each story … One of my books took thirty years of writing, re-writing, discarding it, resurrecting it, re-writing it again…”

Needless to say I found this immensely reassuring, at the same time as I was thinking, “thirty years: wow!” Then again, the WALL world has been with me for at least that long (in fact, it’s longer), but I didn’t embark on writing it until years later.

Two Mondays ago, I posted on the book booty that came my way over the holiday break, including Haruki Murakami’s Novelist As A Vocation.

Unfortunately I haven’t yet had a chance to dip further into the book’s series of collected essays, but the whole notion of writing as vocation put me in mind of some reflections that I posted some years ago — and am revisiting today.

On Writing As A Vocation

In 2010, Zadie Smith published her Rules for Writers in The Guardian newspaper, one of which was:

“Don’t romanticise your ‘vocation.’ You can either write good sentences or you can’t. There is no ‘writer’s lifestyle.’ All that matters is what you leave on the page.”

I completely agree that in terms of writing, all that matters is what you leave on the page. And certainly there is no one writer’s lifestyle—the lifestyles will be as diverse as the writers themselves. I also agree that it does aspiring writers no favours to romanticize the art.

….inside the writing life…

However, I do believe that writing is a vocation. A vocation, deriving from the Latin vocare, to call, is by definition something one feels called upon to do. Traditionally, the implication was of divine calling, for example, to a  religious life.

Dedicated pursuit of any occupation that is as artistically and economically uncertain as writing can only be regarded as a vocation—something the writer feels called upon to do. And my own experience of consistently waking up at nights, haunted by the recurring: “Why aren’t you writing? You should be writing!” is certainly in the nature of a “calling” or “summons”, whether one chooses to regard the source as an external muse or inner creative drive.

Photo credit: Andi Buchanan

I think such callings contain an element of mystery, but not necessarily one that is restricted to creative occupations: I have met  people who feel equally called—or compelled—to practice medicine, to teach, and to cook, for example.  In acknowledging that sense of vocation in relation to writing, one is no more romanticizing one’s pursuit and practice of the art, than a doctor or nurse, teacher or chef, would be.

Nonetheless, I have experienced the process of writing as “mystery.” Mostly, as has been famously said, although the creative process needs inspiration, the bulk of what follows is perspiration, ie sheer hard work. But there are still transcendent moments: e.g. when an impossible plot conundrum suddenly falls into place; when a detail that seemed small in Book 1 suddenly becomes vital in Book 3 or 4; when you alter your original idea to remain true to the way a character has developed—and simultaneously illuminate previously obscure motivations and behaviours. Sometimes, too, the mystery can be as simple as why a name change alters not only the character but also their part in the story.

More hard work, than romance.

I suspect many of those practicing other occupations, such as the medical practitioners, the teachers, and the chefs, can point to similar experiences: the “eureka” moments that are often the source of breakthroughs in skill, learning, or knowledge.  My own experience suggests that wherever there is inspiration, hard work, and creativity, there will also be “mystery.” And to the extent that breakthroughs and eureka moments are serendipitous and exciting and amazing, I think it’s OK to romanticize a little–while still keeping one’s feet firmly on the ground.

Because Zadie Smith is still 100% right: no matter how hard one may work or how many moments of mystery one may experience, in terms of the writing, all that counts, in the end, is what is left on the page.

It’s always one word & one page at a time…

Some of those other matters may still matter a great deal, of course, in terms of the satisfaction in living one’s own life well, regardless of the writing outcome—but that’s another matter entirely.

“The Heir of Night” :– Morningstar Award

Toward the end of last year, I was delighted to be visited by Marion Drolsbach, who translated The Heir of Night (The Wall Of Night #1) into Dutch.

Marion Drolsbach, translator extraordinaire 🙂

As well as being a professional translator, Marion is also a dab hand at photography, so over the next while I’ll be sharing some of her photos, taken at one of Canterbury’s braided river mouths.

All in the spirit of continuing the “inside Middle Earth” theme that I kicked off in my New Year’s Day post on Supernatural Underground. Those were my photos — but now, I feel, it’s time for some fun with friends. 😀

I can think of no better place to start than with a sunrise image. Enjoy!

Photo Credit: Marion Drolsbach

…chiefly because I forgot one of the holiday season arrivals last week! Too many books in too short a space of time, clearly. 😀

The omitted book is The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro, which was first published in 2015.

First edition cover

I recall it being a little bit contentious at the time (among some readers, anyway) because of the way it bridged the fantasy and literary fiction genres. Not surprisingly, I’m interested to read it to find out more, and am only sorry it’s taken this long to get around to it.

Not that I have gotten around to it yet, but it is now on the TBR table—although as last week no doubt made clear, there are a few ahead of it in the queue.

Plus books to be written, as well as all the usual swings and roundabouts of everyday life to be navigated, but it’s always good to have new tales to look forward to reading. 🙂

Audio book cover

USA

The About The Characters post series focuses on the minor characters in The Wall Of Night series, in large part because:

“I think it’s the presence of the smaller characters that “makes” a story, creating texture around the main points of view.”

~ from my Legend Award Finalist’s Interview, 2013

Initially, the series focused exclusively on characters from The Heir of Night, but now I’m continuing on with minor characters from both The Gathering Of The Lost and Daughter of Blood — in alphabetical order, by name, of course!

And I “think” the end may be nigh in terms of the letter “M”! 😉

—

UK/AU/NZ

Murn: secretary to Lord Nimor, the Sea House envoy

...the activity—and curses—around the foundered vehicle were not a repair attempt. Instead, the Sea Keepers were endeavoring to prevent the wagon tipping the rest of the way into the riverbed and smashing apart, while they removed its contents. These appeared to be necessities for the road, together with personal possessions, which were being ferried to waiting mules. …“The envoy’s state robes.” Murn, Nimor’s secretary, winked as they helped him with a particularly unwieldy sailbag…although Kalan thought the bag was too heavy for clothes.

~ from © Daughter of Blood, The Wall Of Night Book Three – Chapter 40, Shadow Moon

When it comes to holiday season booty, my haul was decidedly bookilicious. I’ve already mentioned AK Wilder’s much-awaited Curse of Shadows arriving immediately pre-Christmas.

Now, here’s what Santa, along with various other friends and wellwishers, have brought–and bought!—me since:

Something Old:

Dogside Story by Patricia Grace (first published 2001.) Those who visit here regularly probably already know I’m a Patrica Grace fan. Yes, right from here very first book, Mutuwhenua: The Moon Sleeps.

I haven’t read Dogside Story, though, and a friend in reading has been telling me it’s her favourite — so now I have my opportunity to find out for myself.

Something New:

OK, several somethings new, but first and foremost there’s Novelist As A Vocation (2022 in translation; 2015 in Japan) by Haruki Murakami, who is another author whose work and philosophy I heart greatly. So as you can probably imagine, I’ve already dipped into the series of collected essays that make up this work.

And yes, so far it’s just as good as I expected it to be. 😀

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo, published in 2019, is considerably less new than Novelist As A Vocation, but as fan of the Crows duology and Leigh Bradugo’s writing generally, I was pleased to find it in my Christmas stocking. Definitely a new-to-me read!

Something Borrowed:

A friend felt my holiday would be enriched by the company of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club novels, so kindly loaned me Books 2 and 3, The Man Who Died Twice and The Bullet That Missed respectively.

I can confirm that she was not wrong and that they are highly entertaining light reading.

Something Blue:

That would be Demon Copperhead by the great Barbara Kingsolver, which comes with a gorgeous royal blue cover (here in NuZild, anyways!) It also ticks the Something New box, being a just-out, 2023 publication, I believe.

Am I looking forward to reading it? Given her much earlier (2000) novel,  Prodigal Summer, was my top read of 2021, you bet I am!

So as you can see, I now have lots of reading to do! 😀

I had hoped to get the “ten most-read posts” roundup to you before the old year rolled over into the new, but it was not to be. However, 2023 is still very young, so ’tis not (I feel!) too late to share them now. I do hope you agree! 😀

The year is yet new…

Last year, the posts grouped reasonably neatly into four themes, but 2022 was more diverse in terms of what you, as readers, were focused upon — with one exception.

Once I began my review, it very quickly became apparent that the one subject you were vitally interested in was progress updates for The Wall of Night #4, with the top three spots going to my updates of:

• January 6
• April 11, and
• August 22

In terms of the other seven posts, two book reviews got your attention:

• February 28: The Shipping News by Annie Proulx; and
• July 18: Maus by Art Spiegelman

You also showed some interest in the Daughter of Blood Q&A series, which I refeatured this year:

• March 31: Phoebe’s Question (on Narrative Planning)
• October 6: Robin’s Question (on Tuckerization)

USA

The final two posts of the “Most-Read” ten, both fell in May:

• May 9: “It’s A Truth Universally Acknowledged…” — a post pertaining to the direct correlation between the numbers of point-of-view characters and settings in a book, and its length.

UK/AU/NZ

Last but very far from least:

• May 16: In Memoriam: Patricia McKillip, 1948 – 1922

Those of you who visit here regularly will know that I number several of Ms McKillip’s books among my all-time favourites, and consider myself greatly influenced by her writing. Putting together a personal tribute was a big deal for me, so I was very glad to see that it struck a chord.

And now onward, into 2023: may it deal kindly with us all!

Sea haze; evening light

Happy New Year, one and all!

And yes, I’ve posted a Happy New Year on the Supernatural Underground, too, it being the first of the month and all.

I’ve taken a chillax approach and posted some “inside Middle Earth” pics that I hope visitors will enjoy. The two photos shared with you here are by way of bonus New Year goodness.

Both trees featured are pohutakawa (Metrosideros excelsa), but the first photo features a tree with relatively unusual yellow flowers, whereas the red is both more common and the reason why it’s sometimes called the “NZ Christmas tree.”

Over the past few years I’ve posted on themes:

2019 – Romance

2020– Worldbuilding

2021 – Magic Systems

2022 – What Makes A Hero?

Note: The links are to the final post in each series, for the excellent reason that links to all the preceding instalments are listed at the end of the post. 😀

I’m still mulling whether to go with a theme for 2023, or not, so if you’re keen to know the outcome, check back on 1 February!

Meanwhile, to check out a new year from “inside Middle Earth”, click on:

Supernatural Underground: Happy New Year

PS: I’m sure you’re all savvy to New Year being a midsummer festival here in the Southern Hemisphere, but in case you’re wondering at the summery theme, that’s why. 😀

On Monday, I mentioned receiving a parcel from AK Wilder, enclosing a gift of her books Crown of Bones and Curse of Shadows.

Since Kim resides in Australia, the envelope bore the legend “Australia Post” — which of course reminded me of my poem of the same name. 😀

Hence sharing it with you today: enjoy!

—

Australia Post

The location on the postmark
looks Aboriginal –
a smudged box number
provides no assistance.

I search for you in the gaps
between internet
and dog-eared telephone books,
the drift between continents,
listen to echoes,
bounce off satellites …

torn open,
your letter
lies unanswered.
.

© Helen Lowe

Published in The International Literary Quarterly, Issue 14, February 2011

Look what I found in my post office box on Christmas Eve — an initially mysterious parcel stamped “Australia Post” that turned out to contain two beautiful hardback books: Crown of Bones and Curse of Shadows by AK Wilder.

Respectively, they’re Books One and Two in Kim’s Amassia series, and although I read Crown of Bones in e-format when it first came out, Curse of Shadows was only just published on 6 December.

So it’s literally hot off the press — and arriving at the perfect time for holiday reading!

Not that there’s too much reading time for me currently, being so close to the end of WALL #4 and feeling the need to keep going. Still, like any keen reader, I’m always delighted to receive a “next exciting series instalment” — especially one that School Library Journal has given a starred review, with this to say:

“Wilder has created a magical, enthralling world that keeps readers engaged from the first page.”

I do love these covers and the hardback format, too. But irrespective of format and ‘look’, nothing ever beats the gift of a fellow author’s books.

So a big thank you to Kim. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to diving into the continuing story of Ash and Kaylin, Marcus and Salila, and the rest of the “band of friends” in the Amassia world.