Ian Rankin, author – portrait of the artist
From an interview with Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin in The Guardian:
How do you know a novel is finished?
When the deadline is approaching. I finish a first, second and third draft, then my wife reads it and suggests changes. The next draft goes to my editor and agent, who suggest more changes. I’m often still tweaking after it’s been typeset – so it’s finished only when it’s published and you can’t make any more changes. If you take it down off the shelf again, you’ll always see things you’d have done differently. That’s one of the things that keeps writers writing: the fact that there’s always more you can do.
What’s the biggest myth about being a novelist?
That we’re introspective, sensitive souls and have arcane knowledge. I used to think that: whenever I heard that someone had taken 10 years to write a novel, I’d think it must be a big, serious book. Now I think, “No – it took you one year to write, and nine years to sit around eating Kit Kats.”
. . . .
What’s been the low point of your career?
My first novel was turned down by half a dozen publishers. And even after having published five or six books, I wasn’t making enough money to live on, and was beginning to think I’d have to give up the dream of being a full-time writer. I remember going into a bookshop in Edinburgh in about 1992, and they had none of my books on the shelves. I walked up to a member of staff and said, “How come you’ve not got any Ian Rankin books?” And he said, “Oh, he’s just not very popular.” It made me more bloody-minded than ever.
. . . .
Is there anything about your writing life you regret?
It’s a lovely pair of furry handcuffs to be in, but the more successful you get, the less time you get to write. It seems that the actual writing is taking up less and less of my life, and I’m not happy about that.
Link to the rest at The Guardian
, Amazon will pay Passive Guy a small affiliate commission on any of your purchases.
“I’m often still tweaking after it’s been typeset – so it’s finished only when it’s published and you can’t make any more changes. If you take it down off the shelf again, you’ll always see things you’d have done differently.”
If I see something I should have done differently, I change it, upload the new version and it’s live in less than 12 hours.
“Indie publishing is for suckers and losers”–anyone in tradpub.
Personally, I think you have to resist the temptation to make too many changes. While ebooks allow typos and factual errors, to be changed, which is fine, they also allow authors the potential to keep messing with their work and risk annoying readers. Just like George Lucas when he makes changes to Star Wars when its released in new formats. Its either seen as a messing with a classic, or a money grabbing opportunity to make people get the new version. I think once a work is done, its done, and you should learn from your mistakes and put your efforts into a new work.
I love what he says about the myth that writers are introspective and sensitive souls, and it’s definitely true. It’s an image we like to project, but I’m about as sensitive as a cactus. More true would be that most of us have egos of crystal, where we want people to enjoy our work but are scared that someone will trash it.
I think there are many kinds of authors, as in all other walks of life. Two or three adjectives is too few to define most people, let alone authors and artists. I’d agree with RD about the ego… and add too ego is the organizer, the one who edits, has certain logical skills… and yes, also records criticism that is aimed personally at the work, without knowing the author personally, and often without opportunity to respond in kind as one wishes. There is often the bind, the public shaming of another for no critical or life-saving reason.
Sometimes reading this or that ‘critic’, at least the first paras before I find it repetitive and boring, essentially saying in 1200 words what could be said in four words: I didnt like it. >>>
I think, some critics of poetry, song, books ought first go be in a real shooting war as a combatant, so they know what is truly horrendous, truly confused and fogged… and have the scar tissue to show for it.
I saw the following line in an article about badass pacifists on Cracked.com yesterday:
“After being put to work by the Khmer Rouge laying mines by hand when he was 12 years old, he was captured by the Vietnamese, who… promptly put him to work doing the same damn thing. Keep that in mind the next time you’re disappointed by anything, ever.”
Robert, from your lips to the writer-God’s ears.
also, just noting that Ian Rankin has pub’d 18 books, is 52 years old, and no doubt has many other books in process at the moment; heck of a dedication. His Scots ancestors far back, no doubt too– hard working craftsmen of many kinds. Just my .02: Ian has inherited.