Writing: myth, routine or dazzle? What writers really do

Is there a recipe for writing? The writer's work is surrounded by mysticism. Many of them have maintained rituals that have contributed to the mystery. Belinda Cannone, herself a novelist and essayist, went to meet 15 contemporary authors to find out how they write. There already seem to be two particular schools: those who compose in a flurry (i.e., in creative waves) and then stop, while others will impose a daily routine on themselves.

Not everyone uses a desk to work; some have no trouble writing in armchairs or lying down. Some will resort to substances (alcohol, drugs), but those interviewed by Cannone are often on an empty stomach to ensure that their minds are fit and clear to engage with their art. What's more, some, when they tell their stories, delve deep inside themselves to understand events in their lives, as Emmanuel Carrère does, for example. Some don't begin a writing project until they've worked out the entire story plan, while others start from an initial situation and develop the plot over time.

On the other hand, certain aspects are common to all of them. They all need to isolate themselves from life in order to take the time to write about it. It's the only way to gain some perspective. They also need to learn how to manage their schedules, because the vast majority of them have other jobs in parallel with their writing lives. Finally, those who want to be published generally set themselves a goal, a constraint to force themselves to get in front of their notebook and computer and put pen to paper.

Running time: 38 minutes

Image: Yerson Retamal from Pixabay