on writing

[thrihyrne]

I'm reading this very-interestingly-written novel by Fiona Maazel titled Last Last Chance, and on page 176 I stumbled across this truism that really hit home for me, as spoken by a recently-deceased character:

I once heard a writer say that though it's hard to get characters to perform basic functions without feeling like a jackass, it must be done. As he put it, "Even Proust had to open the window."

I've quite consciously in the latter years of my writing made sure that the characters did normal things like eat, go to the bathroom, be aware of time, pick up and put down pens/cigarettes/glasses. I just loved how this character in this novel phrased that.

Just wanted to share! Oh, and the book is quite the read. Maazel's style is quite unlike anything I've read before. Vivid and unexpected turns of phrase and descriptors. A lot of fun to read.