Or: Should I subject my art to deconstruction?
My debut novel took me ten years to research, write, and publish. Perhaps its production was like the return of Jesus–taking an awfully long time but appearing at the right moment.
I dunno.
What slowed things down (for me, not Jesus) was grappling with the scale of a novel, only to have editors deconstruct it over and over.
For example, here’s a note from my editor Matt Machin:
“This section felt like a man rode by on a horse yelling something very important about the British, but since I couldn’t comprehend him and he never stopped riding, I have no clue what he actually said. And the British came and took over my town.”
In other words, slow it down, add some detail, but not too much.
Brilliant. But write even slower . . .? So be it.
I trust my next books will come together more efficiently, but I’ll still need time to process feedback/deconstruction. Whether I’m writing fiction or non-fiction, involving others in the preparation ensures that what’s in my heart/mind reaches other hearts/minds.
When Jesus arrived two thousand years ago, his life, words, and actions confronted and deconstructed our assumed narratives, and at the same time, welcomed us into his collaborative and regenerative story. Maybe he’s biding his time before closing the book because the plot and cast of characters aren’t ready yet?