A Life of Spice

An interview with Elizabeth Berg

I had an opportunity to interview the very talented and prolific Elizabeth Berg. She has written several bestsellers. Her newest work is absolutely wonderful - “The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted: And Other Small Acts of Liberation.” I loved the stories – they were funny, sad, touching and made me want to reach out and hug some of the characters.

1.       Why do you write?

a.       The simplest way to answer the question why I write is to say that I have to. It's therapy; it's the place I feel best. It soothes me, it helps me make sense of the world, it entertains and sustains me. It is how I make myself feel like i belong here on planet Earth, if you know what I mean.

 

2.       What makes a good short story? How do you know that you have provided enough information in the story to make it “complete”?

a.       For me, what makes a good story are the same things that make a good novel, or article, or essay, or poem: an eye for detail, an integration of things seen with things felt; the sense that you've been somewhere (physically or emotionally) without having had to go there.  Most importantly, I like it when the author gets out of the way of the story and lets it speak for itself.  As for how I tell when a story is "complete," it's just a kind of internal shift that lets me know okay, I've said it, that's enough. It's intuitive; it's organic and it's natural, kind of in the same way that you know when you've finished a sentence. I believe in letting the unconscious be your guide. I trust my soul much more than my brain.

3.       Your characters are so real. Do you steal from real life? How do you shape them to make them so identifiable – I read your stories and walk down the street, observe people and think, “Oh, that lady could be Elizabeth’s Birdie!”

a.       My characters are never taken directly from anyone I know. They are either completely made up (as in the "Birdie' character you mentioned) or they are composite characters: a characteristic taken from this person, another from that one. But even when I'm pulling from "real life," the characters are transformed in order to serve larger theme of the story.

4.       What process to you follow for your writing? Do you write everyday?

a.       I write every morning for about three to five hours. I find it best to work as close to the sleep state as possible. I also find it best to let the story tell me, not the other way around. I don't plot; I like to be surprised by where a work takes me.

5.       My "top three nuggets of advice for aspiring writers"?

(1) Be yourself, be yourself, be yourself--don't try to copy anyone else.

(2) Write because you love to write, not because you think it would be swell to be out on book tour.

(3) READ. Read a lot and read widely: that's the best way to learn good writing techniques.

A date with Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, March 2008

One of the biggest perks of my job is getting to interview authors whose work I so admire. Who says you cant have your cake and eat it too??

I have been enjoying Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's writing for years and I have to confess that I am always sad when I come to the end of her novels -- it makes me sad to be at the end of such amazing writing and to have to wait endlessly (or what seems like an endless wait) for her next work. I want her books to go on and on. Her writing can only be described in one word - pure. It is pure magic, pure wonder, pure delight and pure pleasure. She weaves her way in and out of mystical worlds taking the reader with her - I love going into her world's, they make me come alive and rejoice. Such is the power of her writing.

And now, this lovely lady, who is as gracious as she is talented, has done it again in Palace of Illusions. The story of the Mahabharat told from Draupadi's point of view. You have to buy/borrow/beg/steal/do whatever you need to to get a copy of this book. Trust me, you wont be sorry.

I managed to steal a few precious moment's of the author't time in which she shared some of her insights into writing --

MB- Why do you write?

CBD - I write because it's fun. because it's the most creative thing i'm capable of, something that puts me in touch with a deep & sacred part of my being. i write to share great stories (as in the Palace of Illusions) with people like you who love literature. i write to share my culture and my world--with readers who know it intimately already, and with readers for whom the books are a discovery process. i write to establish unlikely connections.

MB-  How did you decide to write Palace of Illusions? I would venture to say that this is your best yet. The main character has such spirit, such oomph. I can only imagine that such character development would have been a major challenge – creating someone who was not well-defined in history… how did you do it?

CBD- Thank you so much. I spent a long time on Panchaali's character, especially trying to get her voice right. I'm so glad it worked for you. I did a lot of research on the Mahabharat--as well as books written on the Mahabharat. and that gave me the basic outline of the character. but mostly i spent quiet time imagining her, visualizing her, thinking of her motives and her responses to the great tragedies of her life. those are the areas where i strove to create something new.

MB- What is the process you follow when you write? Do you outline? How do you keep track of so many plots? How do you get so much detail into your novels - do you research, interview....? Specifically for Palace of Illusions, how did you manage to keep the research manageable?

CBD- I outline parts at a time, then wait to discover more. I know in my mind about the major characters, but not necessarily how they'll change or grow. I read widely in the subject when I'm writing a novel. For example, I did a lot of ayurvedic research when writing Mistress of Spices. but then I have to be quiet and imagine the world of the novel clearly in my head. for Palace of Illusions, there was so much to research, it was rather overwhelming. I made a list of the books I absolutely had to study. I also had to research the lifestyle of ancient india--clothing, food, entertainment among the nobility, etc. I would write parts, then do more research when issues came up. I must say the internet has really helped my research--even to come up with a bibliography was a lot easier.

MB- Do you wait for inspiration to strike in order to write or do you just write everyday?

CBD - I try to write everyday. it's important for me to think of writing as a discipline, such as for classical indian singers who do reyaaz every day.

MB -What is your advice for aspiring novelists - your top three pieces of wisdom?

CBD-

1. Read a lot--especially different kinds of books. Push yourself by reading books that are challenging.

2. Read like a writer, with a pen and notebook. underline, write in margins, take notes of writing techniques.

3. Make time in your life for writing regularly

and a bonus:find a writing community, at least 1 or 2 writer/reader friends you can share your work with. All these helped me.

Thanks again Ms. Divakaruni and please know that while I was really sad when I finished your latest novel, I am eagerly anticipating, as I am sure are millions of other fans, the next one!!

The Inimitable David Baldacci, November 2007

One of the major privileges of my job as a writer is the ability to connect with some of the world's best writers. David Baldacci needs no introduction to lovers of heart-pounding fiction - he has written sixteen novels ( Absolute Power, Total Control, The Winner, The Simple Truth, Saving Faith, Wish You Well, Last Man Standing, The Christmas Train, Split Second, Hour Game, The Camel Club, The Collectors, Simple Genius, and Stone Cold; and in his young adult series, Freddy and the French Fries: Fries Alive! and Freddy and the French Fries: The Adventures of Silas Finklebean.) And although he does not know this, he has - made me miss my metro stop 4 times, caused me to stay awake countless nights wanting to read just one more page, made me forget to go for a haircut and, once, even forgo a dinner party.

His work is flawless and just when you think he cannot get any better, out he comes with the next book! Here is a tiny Q&A with the genius behind the pen -

Q. Why do you write?

A.  I write because I'm a reader.  I remember reading as a kid and being enthralled by wonderous stories and people and places all over the world.  I knew I wanted to give that gift to others-- the sheer joy of reading.

Q. How long does it take for you to write a book?

A. I do a great deal of research for my books.  A novel takes me approximaty 12-15 months.  I start with the research and then make a mini outline of about 4 pages.  Then I let the story purculate in my mind as the words come.

Q. What are your top three tips for aspiring writers?

A.My top three bits of wisdom for aspiring writers:

* Keep at it and don't give up.  Working on a large project like a novel can be daunting so a writer has to be patient and relentless.

* Believe in your work. You know your work better than everyone.  And if you feel confident about your work, that will show in the pages.

* Write not so much about what you know but what you're interested in.

If you are interest in learning about it then the pages will usually reflect that passion.

Department of Lost & Found, November 2007

"The Department of Lost & Found" by Allison Winn Scotch is a wonderful journey through the ups and downs of a young woman suffering from breast cancer. What I enjoyed about this book was Allison's fresh, unpretentious voice. THe character does not lament, ask for self pity, for whine.. but has a brave, encouraging and uplifting approach. It is an intelligent book for today and an inspiring debut by a lovely new voice.

I interviewed Allison about her experience in writing this book -

There is so depth in your book – how much research did you have to do on your character to be so very specific about the types of symptoms cancer patients suffer. Specifically, I really was impressed with the fact that you talk of symptoms only a sufferer would know.

I did a lot of research because my biggest fear through this whole thing was that I would, in some way, having not experienced cancer personally, get it wrong.  I mean, I was terrified of that because what an insult to cancer survivors everywhere, you know?  I worked with an oncologist who specializes in cancer in younger women, and she really helped steer me in the right direction, in terms of the medical diagnoses and situations.  For example, when I first mapped out the book, I’d envisioned a mastectomy right off the bat, and when I spoke with the M.D, she said, “No, no, not at Stage III.  We’d probably instead try to shrink the mass first, etc, etc, etc.”  And then, in terms of my character’s mental health, I’ve been fortunate enough to interview cancer patients and survivors throughout the years as a health writer, so I was able to tap into their experiences and stories, and hopefully convey their emotions correctly. 

How long did it take you to write the book?

I wrote it pretty quickly – over about three months.  When I write fiction, it’s fast and furious – I just go, go, go, go, go because the momentum of mulling over my characters and their stories and their plots keeps accelerating in my mind, so once I’m on the fiction train, I just ride it until it’s done.  So my first draft took about three months, and then my agent and I spent another month or so editing it before it was truly complete.

How did you make the transition from magazines to fiction? Did you have to use different skills to write fiction?

Well, I made the transition just like anyone else: I wrote a novel, I blindly queried agents, and I was fortunate enough to land one.  I wish that I could say that there were some sort of insider tip, in terms of making this transition, but I really don’t think that there is.  You have to write a decent book; you have to find an agent who responds to it, and then he or she has to find someone who is willing to buy it.  It’s an incredibly difficult process – to be honest, until I went through it, I really didn’t realize how hard it is to get a book published – and I’m just very grateful that I was able to make this transition smoothly.  And yes, I do think that you use vastly different skills to write fiction.  For me, at least, the magazine work I do is much easier because you already have an idea of where you need to go and what you need to do with the article: a word count, certain experts to interview, a general outline of what the story encompasses.  With fiction, it’s literally a blank page, and you’re the one who has to figure out everything, from page one to page 300.  A lot more can go wrong when writing a novel, and you can really fly wildly off-track, whereas with a magazine article, I dunno, I mean, how much can it really suck?  So you have to really dig into your imagination and create something from nothing.  That said, I do think that my skill set as a magazine writer certainly helped me transition to fiction: I’m disciplined enough to write every day; I do know how to craft a good sentence (I hope!); I know the meaning of a deadline.  Things like that. 

What was your favorite part of writing the book? What did you like least?

I really enjoy writing the second parts of books.  The first parts?  Not so much.  The first 40k words are absolutely agonizing for me, probably because I’m faced with anticipation of actually having to write so dang much.  But once I’m over that hump, I feel like things snowball, and I can’t wait to spit everything out and see where I wind up.  Also, I should say that while the actual publication was such a thrill, it was also really stressful and agonizing.  You don’t really think about that part so much when you’re in your office by yourself pounding out the keyboard, but when the book is out there and people are reading it and judging you for it, well, it can create a lot of anxiety!  I’ve spoken to a lot of other authors who agree, so it’s not just me!

Can you tell my readers about your wonderful blog?

Well, I started  Ask Allisonabout a year and a half ago, partially as a promotional tool for my upcoming book release but also partially because I wanted to counter the Miss Snarks of the world and offer some insight into our industry from a writer’s perspective and a kind one at that.  Don’t get me wrong: Miss Snark provided invaluable information to so, so many readers and writers, but I’m not a huge fan of dismissing people or making them feel like idiots.  We all started out as newbies at some point, and man, I’ve certainly asked my fair share of beginner questions, so my blog hopefully informs and educates without belittling anyone.  These days, I’m not just answering questions, I’m chatting about anything and everything related to writing and my life in general.

Your latest book?

I’m so super excited about Time of My Life, which should be out next fall.  It’s about a woman who seems to have it all but who is haunted by her lingering “what ifs.”  And she wakes up one day seven years in the past with the opportunity to redo it all and discover if the path she chose was the one she should have chosen all along.  I’m totally fascinated by how even the littlest decisions can change the entire landscape of our lives, and I’m also a compulsive googler, so writing this book was a lot of fun for me.  I also think and hope that others can relate to it: a lot of us have flashes of what our lives might have been if we’d made other choices, and you know, I don’t really see any shame in admitting that.  It doesn’t take away from my current happiness or how much I love and embrace my current life, it just means that sometimes, it’s human to wonder about other roads you could have gone down.  I do hope that others agree!

Reflections of a writer in love, October 2007

I adore Deepak Chopra's writings and a few months ago was reading one of his many books that talked about "finding your muse" and asking it for guidance.

Well, I have found a writing mentor - I have found my muse.

He does not know me, my work, my name. Nothing.

Yet, his writings and his words have affected me in a way that no one else ever has. His prose is haunting. HIs words pierce my soul. After reading his books - The Attack and The Swallows of Kabul - I did not sleep for weeks. The works seep into your soul. They make you question everything - is there a God? How can people do what they do? If God is watching, why doesnt he make this stop.

I found the works of Yasmina Khadra while browsing at Borders one day. I normally dont pick up authors whom I have not heard of. But there was something about the cover of this book that attracted me. I read the first page, then the next and the next. Three hours later, I knew in my heart it had happened. I had fallen in love with the writer's prose. It is vivid, it has depth. It winds and unwinds up and down the depths of my heart. The character, oh the characters - they are so real, I can reach out and touch them. I know people like them. I don't want to know people like them. They are real, they are flawed, they are human, they are -- memorable.   

Yasmina Khadra, the nom de plume for Algerian army officer Mohamed Moulessehoul, I salute your poet and lyrical writing. I  hope someday I will meet you. People want to kiss the hand of the chef who cooks them a good meal. I would like to salute the pen of the writer who gave us such memorable prose!

Bravo!

So tell me, who is your writing muse?

My fav writer's blogs, October 2007

KC's Write for you

The Renegade Writer

Literary Chicks

A nurse turned writer shares her views

Got a Writer's Blog... tell me about it. I would love to read it!

Kabul Beauty School, October 2007

I have always loved Kristin Ohlson's essays and writings, so I was very excited when the book she co-authored on Debbie Rodriguez's experiences in Kabul setting up a beauty school for the enchanting beauties of Afghanistan came out. You should really read Kabul Beauty School to find out if Debbie succeeds in setting up the school so I won't give it all away here. (PS - She also has a great essay in Gourmet on Kabul this month).

I chatted with Kristin about her experience in Kabul and in writing this book.

How did you feel the first time you landed in Kabul? What the best thing about the city?
[Kristin Ohlson]

I was excited plus a little shaky when I first arrived. I had flown from Dubai and the last part of the flight took us low over some really threatening mountains-- I'm not usually a chicken in flight, but it was  daunting to look down. Plus, I was one of only three women on the plane-- that itself was daunting.

Once we landed--and Debbie had convinced all the guys with machine guns to let her through to claim me in the chaos near the luggage carousel-- I was overwhelmed by the sights of the city on the way to her house. By the men in various tribal outfits streaming down the streets. By the demolition-derby traffic. By the monotony of the gray, dust covered streets and the gray mud-brick buildings and the gray/brown/black clothes of the men, brightly punctuated by the beautifully painted signs in Farsi above each tiny little store. By the shops selling food everywhere: piles of melons, heaps of spices, newly killed goats bleeding all over the street.

Best about the city? I still can't say after three trips that I know the city well. I guess it always comes down to the people. They look rather grim from a car window-- all those men with their beards and turbans, the few women speeding along the sidewalks in burkas or scarves, everyone squinting against the dust. But unfailingly, when I was face to face with someone, I was always warmed by their charm and courtesy and friendliness.

One thing I did come to appreciate about Kabul was how vigorously its people are working at having normal lives in spite of great challenges. Even though much of the city was damaged the first time I visited in 2005, I saw people everywhere turning empty shipping containers into stores, putting lovely gardens outside crumbling mud brick homes, and so on. It seemed that every time I drove down a street, I saw new businesses bustling with activity. I was so impressed by the people's energy and fortitude and hope.

Tell me about your experience interviewing the women.. were they shy? Did they want to share? How did you capture their essence so well?
[Kristin Ohlson]

Some of them were shy and some would talk for hours.  Most didn't speak English well enough to tell their stories in detail so I was working with a translator, and that's always a challenge. You ask a question, the translator offers it to the woman, she talks for five minutes, then the translator tells me, "She was very unhappy back then." So it would take a while to work out a rhythm in which the translator stopped to tell me the story sentence by sentence. Often the translators' English (I worked with two different women) wasn't great, either, so she and I had to work hard to figure out the English words for the story.

But once we worked out all that stuff and the stories flowed, it was often a very emotional experience. These women have led tough lives and it was emotional for them to relive some of this. They'd cry, the translator would cry, I'd cry-- we'd drink tea and talk and cry and then laugh. Debbie was usually working in the salon when I interviewed the women, but she'd come in and cry with us every now and then, too.

What touched you most about the women there? How do they thrive in such a harsh environment?
[Kristin Ohlson]

The women who were working with Debbie in the beauty school and her salon were thriving--they had some of the best jobs in the city for women and a higher income than most professionals--but many of the rest of Afghanistan's women aren't thriving! It's still so hard to be a woman there. Most are cloistered, stuck inside houses because their fathers/husbands/brothers won't let them go out and get jobs or because there are so few jobs open to women. There are so few ways for Afghan women to socialize outside the home, period. All the things women here take for granted--movies, restaurants, coffee shops, parties, book clubs, Tupperware (or whatever) parties, shopping centers, even going to the grocery store-- are not open to most women there. They can go to wedding parties--each marriage involves two or three parties-- which are pretty much the core of Afghan women's social life. And they can go to beauty salons, which are nice little oases for women-- and the reason Debbie's work there fit the culture so well.

I was touched by how lovely the women looked when they did go out. I couldn't imagine how they managed to be so immaculately coiffed, made-up and dressed when they were often coming from houses that didn't have running water or electricity. And when I talked to them, I was touched by their eagerness for education-- their faces lit up when they talked about their own school days or about their daughters going to school. Most of the women I talked to had educations that were interrupted either by war or Taliban edict, and they were very sorrowful about this. Almost every one told me she had wanted to be a doctor! Not sure why.

What was your biggest learning as a writer after writing this book?
[Kristin Ohlson]

Hmm, I've never thought about it-- hard to pick out one thing when I learned so much. When the writing of this book changed my life so completely.

This is not terribly insightful, but it's one of the first things that comes to mind: I learned that I could write very very fast when I have to. Once I had all my "research" compiled--this was a bunch of stuff Debbie had written plus hours and hours and hours of interviews with her and the women-- I had a fairly short period of time in which to write the book. It seemed impossible, as if I were agreeing with Random House to catch a wild unicorn. But it was possible.

Jason makes me hungry!

Jason's amazing food porn always has me drooling! HIs pictures are outstanding. I am going to check out his podcasts this week... clickyty click here for OFF THE BROILER with Jason Perlow

Allison Winn Scotch on Writing

I am addicted to Allison's posts on writing. As an aspiring novelist, I find her posts motivating and informative. I love the honesty in her words - she lays it all out there and does not hide behind pretenses.

Check out her blog here.

Erik Sherman's informative blog

I check out Erik's blog at least once a week. He always has informative and insightful posts for writers. Today, for instance, he is blogging about 7 tips from Microsoft Outlook for Writers.