Startle and Illuminate: Carol Shields on Writing

by Carol Shields, Anne Giardini (editor), Nicholas Giardini (editor)

In the course of her extraordinary career, which included the novels The Stone Diaries, Larry's Party, The Republic of Love and Unless, as well as poetry, short stories, biography and plays, Carol Shields was unfailingly encouraging of other writers. She read and commented on her friends' manuscripts. She taught writing classes and she spoke and wrote on the craft of writing. Her own discipline rarely faltered. Her daily practice was to write a new page, then edit the page written the day before, then repeat, until, after a year or so, her book was finished. Now in her own words, as clear and straightforward as a glass of water, comes Startle and Illuminate, the best possible guide to the writing process, from conception to publication. This essential work, drawn by her daughter and grandson from her voluminous correspondence with other writers, essays, notes, comments, criticism and lectures, is a last gift from one of our finest novelists meant for both aspiring and established writers. It helps answer some of the most fundamental questions about writing: such as, why we write at all, whether writing can be taught, what keeps a reader turning the pages, and how a writer knows when a work is done.
     For Shields's devoted readers, Startle and Illuminate reveals her own thoughts on why we read--to be the other, to touch and taste the experience of the other; and why we write--for the joy of the making, to reimagine our world, to discover patterns and uncover forms that echo our realities as well as interrogate them, to imagine alternate worlds. It is a beautiful legacy.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Canada, Crafts

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 12, 2016

About the author

Carol Ann Shields was an American-born Canadian author. She is best known for her successful 1993 novel The Stone Diaries, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction as well as the Governor General's Award. Her novel Swann won the Best Novel Arthur Ellis Award in 1988.

Reviews

[Shawn Mooney (Shawn Breathes Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Carol Shields—her personal warmth and her writing, both inflected with a whimsical twinkle—when I was in my 20s. Having recently read her debut novel for the first time, I was stunned by how awful it was. These essays about the writing craft were really good, and conjured up everything I love about her. But I am still left with this question: for all her wisdom and whimsy, was Carol Shields too nice on the page to be a truly great writer?

[Rena Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to hear Anne Giardini and Nicholas Giardini read from this terrific offering recently in Vancouver. As daughter and grandson of the late, great Carol Shields, they have taken exquisite care with a small (and very carefully edited) part of the work she left behind. The contents are organized to make a teaching point in each chapter and end with an "In Brief" list of what was covered in that chapter. The section at the end are excerpts from letters Carol Shields wrote to her students and drive home what she considered important. There is also an index - this is a book on writing and is meant to be used as a teaching tool - and a lovely introduction by Jane Urquhart.

With 18 flags in my copy, I have plenty to go back to and will do so often. I believe all writers would benefit from what this book offers.

[D.A. Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over my life of wanna be writer, I’ve bought and tossed many a book on writing. So few of them offer any real insights or wisdom; so many are more about pumping out books or variable merit.

I should have started here. I know Carol Shields’ writing and love it- this book, compiled by her children, is full of her down to earth magic. Carol started writing late, but succeeded in her goal of portraying truth through fiction.

I don’t want to write a book. I want to have written a quality book. Startle and Illuminate gives me the courage to go on, to aim for truth in my work.

[Andjelka Jankovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to unknowingly stay with Carol Shield’s daughter and become good friends when I was travelling across Canada. She gifted me this book when I left and it’s a true treasure, my favourite quote is: “The discovery that privately held experiences are real, that is what literature is about. We’re not alone.”

[Kim(berly) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning more about Shields’ approach to and thoughts on writing. I want to now re-read her work, and read those I’ve not read before. She was so talented and yet, like most writers, experienced self-doubt about her craft. Inspiring and relatable.

[Kathy Stinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gave me new ways of thinking about my current writing project and sent me back to reread some of CS's wonderful fiction.

[Salli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not one hundred percent sure this was worth sourcing from Canada. It was a lovely read, a super back story to it, and clearly written by a person who understood her writing skills, but...
I thought it was a little disorganised, more like a chum advising me than a published author, which was lovely but at the same time not fulfilling, at the lighter end of text books, almost a good beach read. She was clearly a supportive friend to developing authors and was willing to criticise which I admire. It is a pity that the criticism is not seen in the context of the criticised writing, this would have been more illuminating. I am glad I read it.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always loved hearing authors talk about writing. It inspires my own writing, but above all, I think it makes me a better reader. It's like I am pulling back the curtains and seeing the mechanics behind a story, like a car enthusiast might enjoy sneaking a peek inside the hood of a car. Carol Shields was undoubtedly knowledgable about the mechanics of writing, and I think this book would help anybody interested in writing or even those, like me, who simply like to hear about how a story is made.

[Ann Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for any fan of Carol Shields (which, quite frankly, is most of us, right?) as well as a deeply personal and highly practical guide to writing well.

One minor quibble: I could have lived without the summary notes at the end of each chapter. The notes seemed out of place in a book that is more literary memoir than how-to guide. They gave the book more of a "Dummies Guide" feel than this otherwise excellent book deserved.

[Dan Lalande · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-stitched compendium on writing, lovingly and carefully culled from the author's lectures and letters by her novelist-daughter and a devoted grandson. Most of the How-To is at the back; the bulk is a series of idiosyncratic meditations on reading, responsibility, and fellow practitioners past and present, imparted in a wise, maternal tone.

[Selim Ulug · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't a huge book, but it's so jam-packed with wisdom that it's going to take several reads to absorb it all. One thing that fascinated me was Shields' thoughts on men as editors and critics, and the impact they have had on women's writing.

[Marilyn Kriete · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at a writers conference as my singular purchase (money was tight), and was not disappointed. The title alone is brilliant, and conveys a pure goal for any aspiring or accomplished writer.

[Dessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great essays, although you can tell quite easily that they’ve been pieced together from the archives. Lots to chew on and return to here — although the pages of selected correspondence that finish the book were a strange and repetitive addition and definitely anti-climactic.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful collection of insights on the writing life from writer Carol Shields. I really enjoyed it. Highly recommended to anyone who writes or is a Shields fan.

[Selaine Henriksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book on writing. I found it particularly timely. I'm working on a novel and I can hear her gently telling me "to thicken" my scenes:)

[Canuck Mom of Three · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part memoir and part literary philosophy. This is not a "how to" book but a "why" book, with lots of reflection and rabbit holes.

[Sebastian]

First read: February 28, 2022, Monday

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow...

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read with rich, sensitive advice. Can foresee that I'll be dipping into this book regularly.

[Charise Jewell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned maybe one or two things from this book. It did not startle or illuminate anything for me. Mostly felt like a cash grab for Carol Shields’ daughter and grandson.

[Rod Raglin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting tips and insights, but nothing to "startle and illuminate"


Carol Shields, novelist, poet, short story writer, lecturer, playwright, teacher and winner of numerous prestigious literary awards died in 2003 at the age of sixty-eight.

Though born in Illinois she married a Canadian, became a citizen and went on to become an icon of Canadian literature.

Startle and Illuminate, Carol Shields on Writing, has been drawn from her letters, essays, notes and comments and edited by her daughter, Anne Giardini and grandson, Nicholas Giardini.

Shields was not a big fan of structure - goal, motivation and conflict, the story arc and other such literary devices. She said write first and structure will follow.

Shields maintained there was a dichotomy between reality and fiction. In reality people are not always beset with problems and to present a story as such (conflict) is not a true reflection of reality. She wanted to explore what happened to ordinary people, how they thought and reacted in everyday situations, particularly women.

Which might be one of the reasons I was never drawn to her fiction.

Much of the book is not about how to write but about the state of writing/literature in the world, specifically Canada. There's even a chapter on what Shields' read as a child. At the end of each chapter there's a brief summary of themes and ideas addressed which is helpful if you're not interested in say, why women are particularly suited to the short story form.

Even if the subject matter of a section is not of interest to you it may be worthwhile to read them just to experience her wit and humility.

There's also a section of letters - to colleagues, students, and friends some actually taking the form of mini critiques.

By far the most informative chapter for me was the one entitled, Be Bold All the Way Through. This is made up of "quick notes", succinct sentences or short paragraphs that address a specific writing issue.

Shield provides some interesting tips and insights, but nothing to "startle and illuminate" this reader.

[Patricia Filteau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Startle and Illuminate: Carol Shields on Writing
Edited by Anne Giardini and Nicholas Giardini
Random house Canada 2016

I read this book with a sense of lusting and desire wanting to take in, absorb, consume and integrate all that it has to offer. I think I underlined – to emphasize; circled – to verify and added margin notes – to make directly relevant to my writing and reading – and thoughts about the works of others – more than any other book I have read. It has been a long time since I plowed voraciously through a book about the craft of writing. The Giradinis rendering of Carol Shield’s work in this form made me want to reread those novels I have read years ago and read the ones I never read at all and give a brush at the poetry of Carol Shield’s that I never read.

The organization, that is, the interior design of the book makes it a keeper for readers, the students of the craft of writing, writers – everyone who can use a few guideposts along the way. The contents of the forward (3); the chapters, the sources and the index made it a handy format to refer to again and again. The writing is superb and exacting – in other words, the editing is remarkable.

This could have been a very large volume packed full of reference material. Instead the editors chose through exacting research to make it accessible and relevant and a size that can readily fit into a tablet pouch.

Thank you Anne Giardini and Nicholas Giardini. You have given literature a lasting contribution.

[Maryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carol Shields was a gifted writer who knew her craft and shared her enthusiasm and knowledge to the many that sought her out. Her daughter and grandson took on the mission of pulling together her thoughts, writings about writing and letters she sent to those she was mentoring. The highlights at the end of each chapter and the free falling list of advice in the last chapter provide bites of wisdom. An accessible read from one of Canada's best.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some beautiful thoughts on writing and literature. A collection of short essays compiled by Shields' daughter and grandson.

This is definitely geared towards writers, and may not be of interest to a non-writing reader.

[Ioanna Sahas Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful compilation of advice from one of my favourite authors! So nice to hear her voice again, even though she's gone.

[Margaret Fast · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better books on writing. Practical, thoughtful and Carol's interestinandempathyforsyudentsofwriting very obvious. Nice to know that the story arc is not everything

[Susan]

I found this book a creative overview of writing by Carol as a writer. It is entertaining and a few good leads on writing and writers.

[Pam Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

So uplifting and inspiring; loaned out to a friend right now....keeping the fires of creativity burning.

[Brian Yee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. I enjoyed the collection of letters more so than the chapters on process and reflection.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at how Carol Shields structured her novel. I happen to be studying outlines at the moment, so the timing was interesting for me.