Novelist, Short Story Writer Edward P. Jones in 2005

New York State Writers Institute

19 Aug 201504:54

Summary

TLDRBorn in Washington DC in 1950, the narrator's early reading was dominated by comic books until a 1964 trip to South Boston introduced them to a 1930s British mystery novel. This pivotal experience led to a growing interest in literature, especially works featuring Black characters like 'Native Son' and 'His Eyes on a Sparrow.' High school and a 10th-grade English class furthered this shift from comics to classic literature. The narrator's journey culminated in college, where a creative writing course with Maurice Dage hinted at their potential as a writer, despite a lack of daily writing discipline.

Takeaways

📚 The speaker grew up in Washington DC in the 1950s, primarily reading comic books and illustrated stories from the library.
🎓 Despite the presence of television, the speaker still engaged in a lot of reading, indicating a strong interest in literature from a young age.
🕵️‍♂️ A pivotal moment occurred in 1964 when the speaker read their first non-comic book, a 1930s British mystery novel, which sparked an interest in creating their own mental images.
🏡 The speaker's reading journey continued to evolve through exposure to more diverse literature during family visits, including works by African American authors.
🌆 The books 'Native Son' and 'His Eyes on a Sparrow' resonated with the speaker, reflecting experiences and lives similar to those in Washington DC and the South.
📚 'Black Boy' marked a significant shift in the speaker's reading habits, moving away from comic books towards more serious literature.
🏫 In high school, the speaker's 10th-grade English teacher played a crucial role in furthering their interest in literature and reading.
📘 The speaker discovered Signet paperbacks, which introduced them to a wider range of books, including classics.
🎨 College exposed the speaker to creative writing, with Maurice Dage being a notable influence, suggesting potential in the speaker's writing abilities.
✍️ The speaker contemplated a career in journalism but stayed to care for their ill mother, highlighting personal responsibilities over professional ambitions.
🤔 The speaker emphasizes the importance of thinking in the writing process, suggesting that it is as vital as the act of writing itself.

Q & A

Where was the speaker born and raised?
-The speaker was born and raised in Washington DC.
What was the speaker's primary reading material during their childhood?
-During their childhood, the speaker primarily read comic books.
What significant event in 1964 changed the speaker's reading habits?
-In 1964, the speaker read a 1930s British mystery novel 'Who Killed Stella Pommel' which was the first book they ever read, marking a shift from comic books to other literature.
What was the first book the speaker read that was not a comic book?
-The first book the speaker read that was not a comic book was 'Who Killed Stella Pommel'.
How did the speaker's reading habits evolve during their summer visits to relatives?
-During summer visits to relatives, the speaker was introduced to more diverse literature, including 'Native Son', 'His Eyes on a Sparrow', and 'The Autobiography of EA Wers', which deepened their interest in reading.
What book in high school marked the beginning of the end of the speaker's comic book reading?
-The book 'Black Boy' in the 10th grade marked the beginning of the end of the speaker's comic book reading.
What was the impact of the Signet books on the speaker's reading journey?
-The Signet books with their red borders and nice paperbacks played a significant role in the speaker's reading journey, leading them to explore more books beyond comic books.
What was the speaker's initial intention after leaving college?
-The speaker initially intended to go into journalism school after leaving college.
What changed the speaker's plans after leaving college?
-The speaker's plans changed after leaving college because their mother took ill, and they stayed around to take care of her.
What was the speaker's first exposure to creative writing?
-The speaker's first exposure to creative writing was in a course taught by Maurice Dage during their second year in college.
How does the speaker view the importance of thinking in the writing process?
-The speaker views thinking as almost as important as writing, emphasizing the need to know what should come next in the narrative before attempting to write it down.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Early Reading Habits and Transition to Literature

The speaker recounts growing up in Washington DC in the 1950s, primarily reading comic books and illustrated stories from the library. Their reading habits were supplemented by television, but they still spent considerable time reading. In 1964, during a visit to South Boston, Virginia, the speaker discovered a 1930s British mystery novel, marking the first non-comic book they read. This experience was significant as it allowed them to create their own mental images, differing from the illustrations they were accustomed to. Despite this, they returned to comic books but later in the summer, during a visit to Brooklyn, they were introduced to more profound literature like 'Native Son' and 'His Eyes on a Sparrow,' which resonated with their own experiences and the stories they heard from adults around them. This marked a deepening interest in reading more serious literature.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Comic Books

Comic books are a form of literature that combines images and text to tell a story. They are a significant part of the narrator's early reading experience, as they were the primary source of literature until the age of 13. The narrator's transition from comic books to more complex literature marks a pivotal moment in their personal development and is central to the theme of the video, which explores the evolution of reading habits and the impact of literature on personal growth.

💡Public Schools

Public schools refer to government-funded educational institutions that are open to all students. The narrator mentions attending public schools in Washington DC, which likely provided a foundational education and an environment where the narrator was first exposed to reading materials such as comic books and folktales. This setting is important as it contrasts with the later discovery of more diverse literature outside of school.

💡Folktales

Folktales are traditional stories passed down through generations, often involving cultural or moral lessons. The narrator recalls reading folktales at the library, which were illustrated, providing a visual component to their reading experience. Folktales serve as an early introduction to storytelling and the use of narrative in the video's narrative about the development of the narrator's literary tastes.

💡Mystery Novel

A mystery novel is a genre of fiction that involves a plot where the protagonist must solve a puzzle or uncover a secret. The narrator's first encounter with a mystery novel, 'Who Killed Stella Pomeroy,' marks a significant shift in their reading habits, as it was the first book they read without illustrations, prompting them to create their own mental images. This experience is crucial to the theme of the video, which explores the transition from visual to textual storytelling.

💡Native Son

Native Son is a novel by Richard Wright that explores themes of racism and the struggles of African Americans in the early 20th century. The narrator's reading of 'Native Son' and other works by black authors deepens their engagement with literature that reflects their own experiences and identity. This is a key moment in the video's narrative, as it highlights the importance of representation and relatability in literature.

💡High School

High school is a stage of secondary education that typically follows middle school and precedes higher education. The narrator's entry into high school coincides with a shift in their reading habits, moving away from comic books towards more 'regular' books. This transition is symbolic of the broader theme of maturation and intellectual growth that the video explores.

💡Black Boy

Black Boy, also known as American Hunger, is an autobiography by Richard Wright that details his experiences growing up in the South and his move to the North. The narrator's English teacher introduces them to this book, which further distances them from comic books and immerses them in the world of literature that resonates with their own life experiences. This book is a significant part of the video's narrative as it represents a turning point in the narrator's literary journey.

💡Creative Writing

Creative writing is the process of crafting original written works, such as stories, poetry, or plays. The narrator takes a creative writing course in college, which is their first exposure to the idea of writing as a potential career or passion. This experience is integral to the video's theme, as it suggests the beginning of the narrator's consideration of writing as a serious pursuit.

💡Journalism School

Journalism school is an educational institution that trains students in the principles and practices of journalism. The narrator expresses an initial intention to attend journalism school, indicating an interest in writing and storytelling. However, personal circumstances lead them to delay this pursuit, which adds a layer of complexity to the video's narrative about the challenges and choices in one's life path.

💡Signet Books

Signet Books is a publishing imprint known for its affordable paperback editions of classic and contemporary literature. The narrator mentions ordering Signet books, which suggests a period of focused reading and a deepening engagement with literature. This detail is important in the video's narrative as it marks a phase of the narrator's life where they are actively seeking out and consuming literature.

💡Dell Publishing

Dell Publishing is another publishing company that produced a wide range of books, including many in paperback format. The narrator's venture beyond Signet to explore other publishers like Dell indicates a broadening of their literary horizons. This expansion is part of the video's overarching theme of the narrator's evolving interests and the diversity of literature that shapes their worldview.

Highlights

Born and raised in Washington DC in 1950, with a childhood filled with comic books.

Education in public schools and a love for illustrated fairy tales and folktales.

In 1964, discovered a 1930s British mystery novel, marking the first non-comic book read.

Experienced creating own mental images from text, a departure from relying on comic illustrations.

Continued to read comic books but also delved into deeper literature during summer visits.

Read 'Native Son' and 'His Eyes on a Sparrow', connecting with the characters and their lives.

High school introduced 'Black Boy', signaling the start of moving away from comics.

Began reading more diverse literature, including Signet paperbacks and classics.

Expanded reading to include a wider range of authors and genres beyond initial preferences.

Attended college with initial intentions of pursuing journalism.

Cared for ill mother, which led to a delay in formal education and career plans.

Never felt the urge to write daily but recognized the importance of thinking in the writing process.

Understands the significance of pre-thought in writing, valuing the planning over the act of writing itself.

Took a creative writing course in college, first exposure to potential as a writer.

Maurice Dage's influence as a creative writing instructor.

Realized the importance of thinking as much as writing in the creative process.