Nancy Kricorian
You hear all kinds of advice about writing, and there are dozens of handbooks offering guidance, most of it is abstract and pretty useless, or else it’s so specific that it doesn’t suit. Many years ago when I was a student, a poet and teacher gave me a piece of advice that didn’t mean much at the time, but which I understood much later to be the best writing tip ever offered to me.
“Respect your process,” is what she said, and she said it before “writing process” had become a registered trademark. Her words echo in my head at moments when I am annoyed with myself for how slowly I write, or for how much time I spend researching before I even start to write, or for the fact that I don’t have the book mapped out in my head before I begin, which means that I will have to do multiple drafts to get it where it needs to be.
What I have recognized lately, however, is that process, like everything else, doesn’t stay the same. I have written three novels, and each time, the process has been different.
“Respect your process,” is what she said, and she said it before “writing process” had become a registered trademark. Her words echo in my head at moments when I am annoyed with myself for how slowly I write, or for how much time I spend researching before I even start to write, or for the fact that I don’t have the book mapped out in my head before I begin, which means that I will have to do multiple drafts to get it where it needs to be.
What I have recognized lately, however, is that process, like everything else, doesn’t stay the same. I have written three novels, and each time, the process has been different.
More Answered Questions
Henry Pelifian
asked
Nancy Kricorian:
Our grandparents were living in Paris during WWII. Their name was Attanasian and did not survive the war. They had two sons, Garbis and Hrant who were tailors. Our mother married our father in Paris in 1930/31 and emigrated to America at that time. When she received word after or during the war that her parents and brothers died she never fully covered. How can we find out how they and their sons died?
Ann Phelan Phelan
asked
Nancy Kricorian:
Nancy, I was astounded to read the name of your book. My grandmother was Zabelle, born in Turkey, a survivor or the Armenian Genocide. She immigrated to Worcester at 14 and moved to Watertown. My grandfather, a much older man bought her from an orphanage and 9 months later, my mother was born, likely conceived on the boat. Is your story based on a real person?
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