I translated dozens of short stories into English this past year. And contrary to what I imagined, I enjoyed the time-consuming work, even though I was constantly faced with the inadequacy of translation. It was curious to laugh during the process, something that contrasts sharply with my mood when giving birth to those texts. I remember it well… After immersing myself in the creative process, the prevailing feeling was quite different. There is something indescribable that one experiences when giving birth to a work, while facing the difficulties of the task. Now, all that is in the past. I can remember it and relive it with a serene detachment, and laugh at the result of such intense distress.
Tag: writing
The Ease With Which an Author Approaches…
The ease with which an author approaches his favorite themes hides how dangerous it can be to imitate him. Reading him, everything seems very simple. But it is simple because the approach stems from an authentic inclination, and this cannot be imitated. To discover it, however, sometimes it is necessary to experiment. And even the best cannot escape this. A fine example is Machado de Assis’ Americanas. Certainly, to a friend who could see inside him, see his future works and creative potential, half a dozen verses would suffice for the jocular recommendation: “Come on, my good Joaquim! Drop this Anhangá and tacape stuff! You don’t even know what that is.” And, certainly, there would be no better advice: the author of those verses was not Machado de Assis. The hard part is that, in practice, it is only possible to say this because Machado, alone, walked the path of failure to discover himself and reveal himself to us.
Everything Involved in Creating a Literary Work…
Everything involved in creating a literary work, as well as everything related to the evolution of the art of writing, is irrelevant if not based on a commitment to regular dedication. This alone seems to be indispensable. And this alone seems to guarantee both the work and its evolution, even if one does not plan much, even if one does not study much. Practice reveals the truth of any theory, and without it, true assimilation can never be achieved. Thus, despite all their differences and particular inclinations, this is where the great masters of universal literature are identified.
A Writer Will Never Go Wrong if…
A writer will never go wrong if he focuses on his own themes, even if he leaves aside many others that could make his work more comprehensive. This comprehensiveness sometimes comes at the price of dispersion. And since the passages in which the writer expresses himself with all the intensity he is capable of are so striking, it is good for him to concentrate on them, to build around them whatever he has to build. Working in this way, even excesses will be diminished by the sincerity that will naturally abound in a work that consciously aimed at the essential.