Lately I’ve been thinking of something that my late friend Barbara Seranella said on my show (it’s in one of these interviews). She said when she was reading, to friends or to her critique group (of which I was a member), she didn’t want to just hear, “Interesting,” or “I like it.” She wanted to silence the room.

That’s a tall order, I know, and yet I find I’ve arrived at another crossroads with this novel I’ve rewritten for the umpteenth time. Who cares? I find myself thinking, and saying. And mostly I’m looking into myself and trying to figure out if I indeed care. The theme of this latest novel has grown stale, and now I’m thinking of shelving the entire thing. (And probably thinking entirely too much, which I always tell my students and writer friends: Stop thinking so much!)

It doesn’t help that I receive so very many books in the mail to be considered for the show, and so many of them, while formidable, do not silence the room–especially the self-published books. (I really wish folks wouldn’t send me self-published books. There are just not enough filters–editor, copyeditor, proofreader, etc. etc.–to polish the work to a high sheen.)

Yesterday on a long car ride, I found myself saying to Brian and Travis: “I just don’t want to waste more paper on something that doesn’t silence the room.”

Of course they both thought I was outrageous. Writers use paper, Brian said.

True, true.

But still.

When I wrote Pen on Fire, I, in effect, silenced the room. And I didn’t care which editor or agent said there were too many writing books on the shelf, I was going to get it out there, no matter what. My students needed it–well, wanted it, anyway–and so there was a greater good.

I’m not sure I have that same drive with this novel. And that drive is what carries you over and through.

As Judith Thurman said on my show in this wonderful interview, it’s like the Shawshank Redemption, digging your way through a brick wall with a fork. You’ve got to be committed to your project this deeply.

So as well as enjoying the holiday and cookie parties and Christmas Eve Mass and hopefully more snow in the mountains, I’m going to spend these next couple of weeks dwelling, and playing around with a few ideas on the page.

What will you be doing? And what do you think about silencing the room? Is this something you think about?

…………………….

Out at my brother-in-law’s, his sweet horse, lovely dog Max, and a snowball tree.

Marrie Stone interviews David Francis, author of Stray Dog Winter and Jon Fasman, author of The Unpossessed City.

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(Broadcast date: December 3, 2008)

On Wednesday’s show (12/17), my guests will be photographer Pete Souza, author of “The Rise of Barack Obama,” Triumph Books, and Elizabeth Strout, author of the novel “Olive Kitteridge.” The show airs at 9 a.m. Pacific, KUCI-FM, accessible via iTunes/public radio.

A student asked:

“When do you know when you’re ready to write a book?”

Most new writers, I think, start with short pieces–essays, articles, short stories. There’s the gratification of starting and finishing. Jumping into a book length manuscript takes a ton of commitment and new writers don’t know how committed they are, generally. It’s a little bit like running: Before you run a marathon, you will run around your neighborhood, run longer routes, and get in shape before you attempt a marathon.

You may find, in writing short pieces, that you want to say more, that short pieces are, well, too short. That’s when you know.

Or you have a burning passion to tell a story that needs more room than a short piece can offer.

My short stories became longer and longer, which is when I knew it was time for a book. I still write short pieces, but I always seem to need a book-length project in the works.

What about you, out there? When did you know it was time? Or do you remain loyal to the short form?

Marrie Stone moderates a poetry panel with Linda Pastan, author of Queen of a Rainy Country, Martha Serpas, author of The Dirty Side of the Storm, and Lisa Williams, author of Woman Reading to the Sea.

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(Broadcast date: November 5, 2008)

Today my guest will be Julia Glass, author of I See You Everywhere. Tune in at 9 a.m. Pacific at KUCI-FM, 88.9 in Orange Co., CA. Listen via iTunes at Public radio, or at www.kuci.org.

Podcasts of past shows can be heard here.

Thanks for listening!