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In this episode we look back at the man who can lay claim to having written the longest sentence in American Literature. He also wrote the story, "A Rose For Emily" which is a play that our host, Randal Wallace, once played the part of Homer Barron, the unfortunate beau of Ms. Emily, who they would later find dead in her bed years after he disappeared.
William Faulkner offered extensive advice on writing during his time as a writer-in-residence at the University of Virginia and in various interviews. His tips emphasize passion, discipline, and a ruthless dedication to craft over commercial success or style.
Core Philosophy
- Be writing, not "a writer": The act of writing is about movement and activity; adopting the static label of "a writer" can lead to stagnation.
- Write for pleasure, not money: Relying on writing for income or external approval can compromise artistic integrity. Keep your writing amateur in spirit and get another job to pay the bills.
- Embrace failure as growth: You will never achieve absolute perfection, and that is a healthy condition. The goal is a "splendid failure" that drives you to improve with each new work, always striving to be better than your past self.
- Be ruthless for your art: The writer's only responsibility is to their art. Everything else—honor, pride, security—goes by the board to get the book written.
Craft and Technique
- Focus on core human conflicts: Faulkner believed that enduring stories focus on "the problems of the human heart in conflict with itself," such as love, honor, pity, and sacrifice.
- Prioritize character: According to Faulkner, if you understand your characters, they will drive the narrative, and the writer's job is to record their actions and words.
- Don't overthink style: Style should serve the story and is not a goal in itself. There are no mechanical rules for writing.
- Use dialect sparingly: A few touches of recognizable dialect are better than extensive use, which can confuse readers.
Process and Habits
- Read extensively: Faulkner advised reading all kinds of literature, good and bad, to learn from other writers.
- Stop while you're inspired: To maintain momentum, stop writing for the day when you're in a good flow and know what you'll write next.
- Make time for writing: Faulkner contended that anyone claiming they lack time to write is mistaken; even ten minutes can be used, and ideas should be written down immediately.
- Combine experience, observation, and imagination: These elements are crucial for a writer, and they can compensate for each other's absence.
Questions or comments at , Randalrgw1@aol.com , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/
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