Toni Morrison, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature for her novel “Beloved,” was awarded the Medal of Freedom today. President Obama said of her, “Toni Morrison's prose brings us that kind of moral and emotional intensity that few writers ever attempt. From ‘Song of Solomon’ to ‘Beloved,’ Toni reaches us deeply, using a tone that is lyrical, precise, distinct, and inclusive. She believes that language arcs toward the place where meaning might lie.”
While preparing dinner yesterday I turned on PBS in the middle of an interview with her. As I seasoned the pork chops I heard her say: “I can write forever about anything of a character. But I wanted this to be -- it's harder to write less to make it more. And that's what was engaging to me when I was writing this book.” Write less to make it more. Whoa! I ran over to the notepad and wrote that down while thinking, oh, crap, I missed most of this interview, momentarily forgetting that I could watch it on line. Duh. I logged on tonight and read the transcript of the interview, and it was great (in the part of the interview that caught my ear the previous night she was referring to her new novel "Home") .
At one point in the interview Ms. Morrison talked about how she didn’t want her books to be in separate African American sections of bookstores, although many African American writers did. “I sort of wanted to be alphabetized.” It’s a wonderful interview, and you can find it here:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/jan-june12/tonimorrison_05-29.html
Okay, moving away from the interview, I’ve been thinking a lot about what she said about writing less to make it more. One of my biggest struggles in my writing is to say more. I’m a pretty straight-forward writer, and I’m not good with metaphors or similes or other descriptions of place and time. I’m a decent story-teller who is pretty good at plot but not the other stuff. I so admire writers who can turn a beautiful phrase and describe a feeling or a sunrise or a damn blade of grass in such a way to make me stop and think to myself, wow, that is some truly fine writing. Many of those writers are here on OS, and I just cannot believe sometimes that I am part of this amazing community. And so maybe I can come to terms with that. Do what I do but continue to appreciate and stand in awe of the writers who can write with such loveliness, who have that gift, and not beat myself up because I don’t. I can at least try to make my writing “more” even if it’s less.
AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
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Comments
I really feel that women, especially women of minority experience, will be the ones that tell us who we are.
Thank you for sharing. Do keep writing. You're appreciated.
You are a good story teller and engage the reader, and if you can't engage, it doesn't matter what you write.
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Only by reading good writing can you learn what good writing is. If you cannot recognize good writing in others, how will you know it when you're doing it?
She also said, if you're not learning, you're probably dead.
--r--
Much deserved, for you both.
If that counts for anything.
Thank you for this piece and for making me think harder about what makes a great writer.
Jan -- That's just beautiful. Even your comments are lovely.
Stathi Stathi -- I think for so many of us, writing is a way to cope with our grief, whatever the cause. Thank you so much.
inthisdeepcalm -- Thanks for thinking of me. I will end up on one of those monster fires out West before the summer is up. I really like your term "gem fire." So cool. She is so deserving of all her accolades. What a great thought about women telling us all who we are. Thanks.
asia -- You do not give yourself enough credit -- no accident. Thanks for your compliment -- it means a lot.
sky -- thanks, friend.
Deborah -- Thank you so much. I'm glad you like the interview, I believe every writer should watch/read it.
Margaret -- Thanks, it truly means a lot to me coming from you. I often feel that it shows I'm trying to hard when I do that, sometimes hard to step back. I love your grocery store analogy, it is spot on.
dunniteowl -- Your are fortunate to have that English teacher. Good stuff. Thanks.
Kate -- I know, I love that, too. What a nice wish for all of us. Thanks so much.
phyllis -- are you kidding me? That is HUGE! Counts for a lot, my friend, thanks.
Songbird -- I so agree. Thanks for reading.
ladyfarmerjed -- So glad you liked the interview as I did. I think we all strive to be better writers, and it's great when something really reaches out and taps us on the shoulder.
Chicken Maaan -- It IS so hard to learn and understand, at least for me. And I think you're right about it being sometimes about who we are writing to or for. That passage in the bible ALWAYS gives me chills, and I'm not much of a Bible person. Great writing is great writing. Thanks.
Less is not necessarily more, People Magazine comes to mind, and more doesn't necessarily add value, Atlas Shrugged is evidence of that excess. I'm looking for a balance in what I read and how I write that is confirmed in my level of enjoyment. For me the test of the best is when I read slowly and I'm left wanting more. That separates good writing from the "noise."
R.
'A Lawyer's Journey: The Morris Dees Story.' Apparent thumbnail cover jacket reviews are included by Jimmy Carter, Rosa Parks, and this by Kurt Vonnegut:
"Morris Dees has put his life on the line again and again to win for strangers in courts of law constitutional rights...No soldier has ever been braver, more honorable, and more patriotic than
Morris Dees."
I mention this as an attempt to further compliment your fine rendering, Firechick. There's much cyber-protein in your work, a measure of fearlessness and rightful inquisitiveness apparently wondering if there is one aphorism or 'method' scribes might employ. "...it's harder to write less to make it more..." in my view, is another of those 'nice' sounding bromides of interest, many of which are neat sounding and often revelatory for a pause, but at the same time 'better sounding' than practical. Like any craft or profession, there's an incessant cascade of advice. The current continued over-emphasis on brevity and anti-alliteration often confuses itself with the MSM/Corporate thirst for abundant, often insouciant profits. While critical, adroit thinking and KNOWLEDGE become nothing other than an anachronistic, knotted sideshow wherein the cartoon cannon explodes and HUMANITY disappears--rumored to stay gone.
R
r
There are as many ways to write as there are reasons to read ;).
Rated for worth is in the eye of the beholder..
and many here behold yours :).
I think toni is onto something. What you need to do, the only damn thing, is to get a Voice. A unique one. We on os know you well, so we know what you mean when u write. Others out there, reading/ ? they may or may not…
Ah say less to say more, eh?
Obama said a mouthful!
I shall make it less, to show you how..
“ Toni Morrison's prose brings us that kind of moral and emotional intensity that few writers ever attempt. From ‘Song of Solomon’ to ‘Beloved,’ Toni reaches us deeply, using a tone that is lyrical, precise, distinct, and inclusive. She believes that language arcs toward the place where meaning might lie.”
Or..
“Toni’s tone reaches us deeply. Why? She uses her words creatively to find meaning. Meaning is moral and emotional intensity, and few attempt it.”
Yes. I echo his response.
Rated
And isn't it about time Toni Morrison was honored in this way? I mean really! Time and past time!
We all write in our own style. Yours is good.
zanelle -- thank you so much for your really kind comments. I'm working on some new posts -- only in my head right now, but hopefully soon on my blog.
Bo -- you're awfully kind, thank you. It is a blast, isn't it?
jmac -- well, you're right, of course. It still has to be good, right? No matter how long or short, sparse or full. I like your "noise" analogy.
Steel -- you're absolutely right, even for a key-poker :)
JP -- thanks. I love your term "cyber protein." Thanks for the compliment. Like I commented to jmac, "more" or "less" the important thing is "good."
toritto -- thanks much.
Rosalind -- :) thanks
anna1liese -- appreciate your comment and your stopping by.
Rob -- Right on. And write on.
Belinda -- You're so right -- if we can set the hook that's most of it.
Seer -- That is a high compliment and you don't know how much I appreciate that. Gratitude.
KC -- I actually do a lot of technical writing in my job! Glad it shows. And you're so right about the practice. We all get rusty if we don't. Thanks.
James -- thanks. Aren't we all trying to find our Voice? Some have (you), some of us are still looking (me). Do you think Obama wrote that himself or did a speech writer do it all? I'd like to think he at least wrote part of it. But I LOVE how you pared it down. Though you always write about Dylan, I thought maybe you'd do something special for his medal. Yes?
Sheila -- Isn't that just the truth? Thanks for the kind words.
Poor Woman -- Thanks, I agree. And yes, what the hell took so long? Better late than never.
Ed I. Tor loves this post so much he put it on the cover in three different places! :D
Congrats! Your famous (X3!)
Jennifer -- Thanks so much for coming back to comment. :)
SBA -- Well, ain't that some shit!
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But I was very surprised by the conclusions you've drawn about your own writing. I have read posts from you that have made me think, reflect on life, feel immense emotion for the people you write about, see a huge blaze out of control. The gifts you say you lack, haven't struck me as being lacking.
Hot Shoe -- Thanks! You light the fire, baby, I'll be there.
Mary -- High compliment, thank you so much.
Alysa -- Thank you, friend. I really appreciate that and all your encouragement. :)