The Surrendered by Chang-rae Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I chose to read this book because of its roots in the Korean war, written by a Korean. Current events compel me to be very interested in Korea these days. Also, I'm writing a novel and a screenplayrefer hinged to the ongoing strife between North and South Korea as backstory.
In "The Surrendered" we first meet the protagonist, June, as an eleven-year-old refugee fleeing Seoul for Pusan and struggling to protect her two younger siblings against horrific physical and human challenges. Following June's life in a non-chronological way, we eventually come to know the other main characters, Hector and Sylvie, through their own stories. All are rooted in one way or another to the Korean conflict of the early fifties, but carry forward to the modern era as well. The author skillfully and meticulously weaves the characters' lives together through the second half of the book, creating at the end a cohesive tapestry of both yearning and fulfillment.
It's a well crafted, provocative story with some magnificent prose, albeit overly descriptive at times. Not as dialogue/action rich as other contemporary novels, it is worthwhile read nonetheless. I especially appreciated the well described insights about the physical and psychological effects of war on common people and young conscripted soldiers.
Some of the images are not pretty, but then neither is war or its aftermath. And sometimes life is just like that.
Indeed, it happened.
In twenty-six days I spewed 50,940 words onto 191 pages and called it a novel. Really a very rough draft of a novel, the product does contain the prototypical elements: Plot, characters, conflict, beginning, middle, end, and so on. This "novel" is no more publishable than a roughly hewed hunk of marble is a pieta. Many revisions must occur before it ever leaves the hard drive on which it now reposes. Yet even Michelangelo was once a rookie sculptor. I do not compare myself to the masters of art or literature, nor even to today's genuine authors, but I do relish the completion of something I'd never done and wasn't sure I could do.
This post is not to call attention to me. I really hope to share some observations for anyone who might consider a similar effort:
Like running, writing is a therapeutic passion. The investment of time and energy yields a positive return in self-fulfillment and self-knowledge. "Wow, I really had that stuff skulking around inside my brain? Yikes! Talk about catharsis!" Quite fortuitously that catharsis comes without the cost of a shrink to set it loose. And, it beats the heck out of PowerPoint briefs, be it reading or making them.
Regardless of the actual written result, the creative process compels a deeper and broader understanding of life and self. A scene begins headed in one direction, but then it comes out all different...usually but not always better than originally conceived. Where did that come from? What subconscious power drove fingers over keyboard in exactly that sequence to produce exactly those words? Curiously, the ripest sentient idea sometimes never bridges the gap from brain to fingers. Instead a more profound expression takes form, one not fully conjured until it splays itself fully across the page, seemingly on its own power. It becomes the tangible summation of multiple cerebral synapses firing faster than the speed of light, or even of dark.
The NaNoWriMo challenge promotes that creative, insightful process. With only 30 days to put those 50,000 words into some sort of story, the erstwhile writer cannot afford the time to self-censor. And with that overbearing superego set aside, novel things do happen. That's the beauty of it.
In the end, it does not require perfection or publishability. It simply is. Just as the real value of a marathon is in the training, the benefit of this challenge is in the writing. At the end of the day you realize you can do it, and you want to do it again...and better.
So, what is this "NaNoWriMo"? (Other than a reason why I may create fewer blog posts this month?)
The acronym stands for "National Novel Writing Month," a product of the Office of Letters and Light, which also sponsors "Script Frenzy" each April. NaNoWriMo promotes creative writing by challenging participants to complete a 50,000 word (or more) original novel in one month, between 1 - 30 November. Thousands of writers from all over the globe participate, many taking advantage of the resources available on the sponsoring web site, as well as support from writing groups set up in key locations throughout the world.
One "wins" NaNoWriMo by simply accomplishing the goal of writing that much original fiction in one month. The goal is to produce the words, so the products are rough drafts, not polished or publishable tomes. Serious writers may opt to rewrite their work into finished novels after the competition. Indeed, some past participants have gone on to publish their novels. But such is not the real intent. NaNoWriMo primarily encourages would-be novelists to venture beyond the dreaming and dive into the actual crafting. In the process many learn that they can, indeed, just do it.
Last April I participated in Script Frenzy, which had a similar goal of writing a 100 page script for either stage, screen, or comic book, within the 30 days of 1 - 30 April. I'd never written drama before, but figured nothing to lose by trying, especially with the ship underway and time on my hands. Much to my surprised delight, I completed a three act play a few days short of the deadline. (Not, however, ready for prime time even to this day after several rewrites.) More importantly, I really enjoyed the process. When it was all over, I continued to develop my interest in dramatic writing and recently completed a draft teleplay for for a one-hour television drama pilot. (Also not ready for prime time, pending a couple more rewrites.)
So now I've elected to try creative fiction writing in the novel format. So far it's an interesting and fun transition from present tense, dialogue heavy, action-based writing to past tense, descriptive narrative emanating from the minds as well as the voices of the various characters. Also a bit daunting, I might add, which makes me appreciate those true professional authors who turn out best sellers year after year. Much as with Olympians or accomplished musicians, we admirers usually see only the polished perfection that is the result of hours, days, weeks, and years of steadfast practice and hard work.
But, if creating beauty or entertainment were really easy, where would be the pleasure of watching a virtuoso performance, enjoying a fine movie, or curling up with a really great book?
Kudos to those committed, creative professionals whose ardent labors enlighten our lives through art, music, and literature!
