there’s more than one answer to these questions, pointing me in a crooked line
Here’s my problem (well, one of them). All of these are truthful and accurate answers to the what’s-your-novel-about question:
1. “Well, it’s about this woman named Hillary who turns 40, gets a 25-year-old girlfriend, and buys a fast car.”*
2. “It’s about this couple, Hillary and Collin, whose marriage falls apart sort of inexplicably and they have to try to figure out to move on.”
3. “It’s about how sexuality is fluid. Whether you’re gay or straight or bisexual, you just go with the flow.” (Thanks, Shane.)
4. “It’s about Collin and Hillary and Ava and why can’t we all just get along?”
5. “It’s about this lawyer named Hillary who is a bad driver, cries when she sees Billy Joel in concert, has panic attacks, and is generally a mess. Oh, and she and her ex-husband are embroiled in a bitter custody battle over their cat.”
I like talking about Fluid. In fact, I am worried that I’m becoming obsessed with talking about it. Ask Bethany, whom I called basically in the middle of a conversation I was having with myself about whether or not telling the novel from Hillary’s perspective does a disservice to the story. But I am starting to dread people asking me what it’s about. It’s easier to talk to people, like Bethany, who are familiar already with Hillary and her drama. I want there to be a one-sentence statement that describes the thing, but of course I do not want to write a novel that can be described in one sentence, right? So there’s the problem.
*This is my personal favorite and the one I shall use from here on out.
Sep 27, 2007 @ 13:40:31
Katie:
I missed your birthday party, and I told Dave to tell you guys that I was sorry I couldn’t make it.
But I should have called you guys. I really wanted to be there.
And then, I got worried about calling you guys because I felt bad that I had missed the party and not even sent a card, and then I continued to feel so bad that I couldn’t even call anymore because I kept feeling worse and worse.
So this is my apology for not calling or coming to the party which I said I was going to go to. I still feel bad about it.
I hope things are going well. Things are crazy down here, but more on that later.
I just wanted to say that I understand how you feel in this post. After a while I quit writing Anthropolowhat for anybody but you, my sister’s friend Amanda, and myself. It was like–these people were there from the beginning, I don’t really care about the new people.
(P.S. I’ve started updating again).
So, I hope to hear from you. Please send me an e-mail. Please also tell Andy hello.
Sorry I went AWOL…pulled a Sir Agnes there and disappeared, but I’m trying to gget back.
Your friend,
Katie
Sep 27, 2007 @ 22:25:07
Yo-
delightful layout! raw, edgy yet subtle. Nice!
-I’ll try to get lunch with you on Mondays sometime soon. Things have been hectic with getting appt’s at school. I’ll try!