Salman Rushdie on Writing as a Process of Discovery

Summary

In this talk, the speaker discusses the fluid process of writing fiction, emphasizing how characters and narratives evolve during the creation of a novel. They highlight the importance of discovery in storytelling, using examples from their own works, such as 'The Ground Beneath Her Feet' and 'Shalimar the Clown.' The speaker reflects on how characters sometimes take unexpected paths, leading to richer storylines, like a hidden Bugatti plane in WWII France that inspired a unique twist in a novel. The process involves a balance between structure and creative flexibility.

Takeaways

• 📚 The author always has a clear idea of the book's architecture and the points it needs to cover.
• 🧠 Writing a book is an experience of learning about the characters and their development.
• 🔍 The final book is often different from the initial concept due to the discovery process.
• 🌟 The author believes in being open to the book's evolution based on what is learned about the characters.
• 📈 Sometimes, characters that were thought to be minor turn out to be significant, and vice versa.
• 🎭 An example of this was in 'The Ground Beneath Her Feet', where the initial part of the novel expanded significantly.
• 🌍 The author felt the need to fully develop the world the characters were leaving to make the act of leaving impactful.
• 👂 When writing 'Shalimar the Clown', the author focused on 'creative listening' to the characters.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The backstory of a character might require research, which can sometimes lead to unexpected and enriching discoveries.
• ✈️ The story of the Bugatti racer plane during WWII was a research discovery that the author incorporated into the narrative.
• 🎨 The author uses research to enhance the story, even if it leads to a more fantastical outcome than initially planned.

Q & A

What does the speaker mean by the 'architecture' of a book?

The speaker refers to the 'architecture' of a book as having a clear structure and direction, with key points or milestones that need to be addressed throughout the narrative.

How does the speaker describe the process of writing in terms of character development?

The speaker explains that while they have an initial understanding of the characters before starting, the writing process involves a discovery, where the characters evolve and reveal new aspects of themselves as the story progresses.

What does the speaker imply by saying, 'the book you finish is never the book you begin'?

The speaker implies that the writing process is fluid, and the final outcome of a book often differs significantly from the original concept due to the ongoing discovery of the characters and changes in the story.

What example does the speaker give to illustrate how the length of a section can change during writing?

The speaker gives the example of 'The Ground Beneath Her Feet,' where they initially thought the opening India section would be 50-60 pages, but it ended up becoming half the novel because of the richness of the world they were creating.

Why did the speaker feel it was important to expand the India section in 'The Ground Beneath Her Feet'?

The speaker felt that the act of leaving the world needed to have an impact, and for that to happen, the world the characters were leaving had to be fully realized and 'live' for the readers.

How does the speaker approach writing the characters in 'Shalimar the Clown'?

The speaker took a more intuitive approach with 'Shalimar the Clown,' sitting down every day and 'listening' to the characters to let them reveal what they needed, leading to a creative discovery process.

What unexpected narrative shift occurred while writing 'Shalimar the Clown'?

While writing 'Shalimar the Clown,' the speaker introduced a section about wartime France to explain the backstory of a character named Max, which wasn't part of the original plan but emerged as necessary to understand the character better.

What role does research play in the speaker's writing process?

Research plays an important role, often giving the speaker new ideas and 'fantastic gifts.' For example, while researching 'Shalimar the Clown,' the discovery of the Bugatti racer airplane added a more creative and entertaining narrative element to the story.

What is the significance of the Bugatti racer story in the context of 'Shalimar the Clown'?

The Bugatti racer story became a key part of the character Max's escape from the Nazis. The speaker found the idea of making the plane fly, something that never happened in real life, more entertaining than using a more realistic escape via underground networks.

What message does the speaker convey about the flexibility needed in writing?

The speaker emphasizes the need for flexibility in writing, being open to changes and allowing the story and characters to evolve naturally. This adaptability often leads to richer, more dynamic narratives.