I know. This is probably not the groundbreaking admission I think it is, considering the Twilight books have been out for so long they've already started taping the third movie in Vancouver, and almost everyone has already read the entire saga. (A bonus for me; I don't have to shell out for hardcover.) But I have an excuse: over the past few years, I have been a little busy, what with having two kids and writing one and a half books and a slew of freelance articles, while trying to have a life and make sure the house doesn't disappear under a layer of filth. Thus, I haven't had much time to read. (Which is profoundly sad. Almost as sad as falling in love with a painfully beautiful vampire you can never be with. Because I really love to read.)
Having a life is going to have to wait, though. For the next month or so, I'll be neglecting my domestic duties (more than usual) and staying up far later than I should reading the next three books in the saga. (Which is as it should be. Vampire books should always be read at night, while everyone else in the house is asleep, and the house is full of dust and cobwebs, yes?)
I must know what happens with Edward and Bella. (Oh, and I totally get the Robert Pattinson thing now. When I first started seeing pictures of him in the tabloids, I alternated between thinking, "What on earth is Twilight?" and "Hmmm, that guy is kind of odd looking. What's the appeal?" But now I understand. Were I not happily married, I, too, would meet him for dangerous trysts in dark forests. I am NOT on Team Jacob. No way, no day.)
Edward, Edward, rah rah rah!
Ahem. Sorry.
As a writer, it's difficult for me not to read a book and edit it in my head as I go along. I'm sure that sounds terribly literary-snobbish of me, and I don't mean to. I know I'm no Martha Gellhorn (or John Irving, or Audrey Niffeneger, or Emily Giffin for that matter). However, I have been writing for newspapers and magazines for almost a decade, so editing and rewriting are as natural to me as breathing. (Ooh, or if I were a vampire, I might say as natural to me as craving human blood! Shiver.)When I can become so absorbed in a story I forget all about critiquing the writing and plot, or thinking in a high minded way, "Ugh! I could do better than this!", that's big.
That's what's happening to me with Twilight. I know it's not Pulitzer Prize-winning stuff, but who cares? It's a bloody good story - pun intended. I feel like Meyer has succeeded in capturing every fantasy I ever had as a ripped jean, Doc Marten-wearing, Jane's Addiction and Cure-obsessed teenage girl.
.
Of course, now that I have a new obsession, I've spent a great deal of time Googling Twilight and catching up on what I've been missing the past few years. And I've been reading about Stephenie Meyer, the Twilight author. I especially liked this section of the Twilight website, where she does a Q&A.
http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilight.html
I once heard another writer critique Meyer, saying she's an average writer who doesn't deserve the fame she's enjoying. I strongly disagree. Anyone can have a great idea, but actually writing a book is hard. Writing a book while taking care of kids is quite another matter. Writing a bestseller that becomes an international phenomenon ... I'm in awe.
Go Stephenie! Rah rah rah!
I'd love to write more, but I have to go now. Edward is waiting for me. Swoon.
xoMarissa
No comments:
Post a Comment