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notjustyna's review
3.0
This book is a good source of insight on the methods of various authors. Each writer featured was given the same questionnaire and the answers are organized by each "phase" of the writing process. Sure, some of the writers came off as super-pretentious and others as very down-to-earth (Stephen King has to be one of the most straightforward and coolest people out there, in my opinion), but overall it was interesting and inspirational to find out what makes some of these people tick. Is this a how-to guide on writing a novel? No. But it IS some validation that perhaps your desire to write a novel doesn't make you crazy.
timshel's review
4.0
Imagine a round table discussion with 54 well-known and fabulous writers: Aleksandar Hemon, Claire Messud, Rick Moody, Stephen King, Gary Shteyngart, Daniel Handler, Haruki Murakami, and so forth. A question is presented to the group about the process of writing a novel, and writers chime in with honest and thoughtful answers. This is The Secret Miracle.
What I found most appealing about this book was the variation in answers. From Writing 101, aspiring authors are told to do this or that--i.e. find a quite place, stick with a routine, keep a journal, etc. Many books on the subject repeat these tips, telling the reader the most conducive way to write. And when it doesn't work for the reader, the newbie author is to assume they are doing something wrong. The Secret Miracle destroys any hope that there is one method to write. "Absolutely," answers one writer, while the next replies to the same question, "No. Never. Wouldn't dream of it."
A little way into the book, I decided to keep a score sheet. I tallied answers I found to be good (1 point) and those which were right-on (2 points). It would be a way to discover my next favorite author, I hoped. The results: Aleksander Hemon scored the highest with 21, Jennifer Egan had 12 points, and Andrew Sean Greer, Tayari Jones, and Chris Abani tied with 5 each. Most authors scored at least one point, although a few did not. Murakami should have received a negative score for his highly evasive answers. Although entertaining, Murakami seemed to be dodging half the questions and giving snotty answers to the other half. My favorite, the Eeyore response, occurs when Murakami is asked if he has ever used a fictional character to draw a portrait of a real person (p. 183)? Murakami: "Sometimes I do. Nobody notices it anyway."
Well, at least I learned something from the other 53 novelist.
What I found most appealing about this book was the variation in answers. From Writing 101, aspiring authors are told to do this or that--i.e. find a quite place, stick with a routine, keep a journal, etc. Many books on the subject repeat these tips, telling the reader the most conducive way to write. And when it doesn't work for the reader, the newbie author is to assume they are doing something wrong. The Secret Miracle destroys any hope that there is one method to write. "Absolutely," answers one writer, while the next replies to the same question, "No. Never. Wouldn't dream of it."
A little way into the book, I decided to keep a score sheet. I tallied answers I found to be good (1 point) and those which were right-on (2 points). It would be a way to discover my next favorite author, I hoped. The results: Aleksander Hemon scored the highest with 21, Jennifer Egan had 12 points, and Andrew Sean Greer, Tayari Jones, and Chris Abani tied with 5 each. Most authors scored at least one point, although a few did not. Murakami should have received a negative score for his highly evasive answers. Although entertaining, Murakami seemed to be dodging half the questions and giving snotty answers to the other half. My favorite, the Eeyore response, occurs when Murakami is asked if he has ever used a fictional character to draw a portrait of a real person (p. 183)? Murakami: "Sometimes I do. Nobody notices it anyway."
Well, at least I learned something from the other 53 novelist.
beccak's review
4.0
I usually abhor those books with quotations from famous people, especially in reference to writing. Sometimes, the quotes are assembled from previously printed materials; other times, they simply don't address the needs of writers.
Alarcon's The Secret Miracle benefits from his well-worded and insightful questions on the process of writing, which come from his own perspective as a writer. Not only did I get some wise advice from me, but the book effectively provided balm when I was having a little moment of frustration and insecurity. It gave me a nice push towards completing my current manuscript just when I needed it most.
Alarcon's The Secret Miracle benefits from his well-worded and insightful questions on the process of writing, which come from his own perspective as a writer. Not only did I get some wise advice from me, but the book effectively provided balm when I was having a little moment of frustration and insecurity. It gave me a nice push towards completing my current manuscript just when I needed it most.
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