Can you recall any
moments when you felt particularly discouraged as a writer? What helped to
sustain your belief in your work and in yourself on these occasions?
There were certainly times where I should have felt
discouraged but even at those low points I was arrogant or hopeful or deluded
enough to put the bad news behind me pretty quickly, I think. I once wrote a 700-page book about a Mexican
wedding of a friend of mine, which was called La Boda de Eduardo. Roughly
translated: Ed’s Wedding. Enough said.
That one took about a year of work and lots of late nights at a time
when we had a new baby at home and I was working full-time. So when it turned out to suck, that was a
hard blow. But in my heart I think I
knew it sucked, so it was also kind of a relief—to find out I was right re. the
sucking and that my taste was still active, so to speak. And also a relief to put that book (or, libro, as I might have called it back
then) behind me and move on to something more worthwhile and...alive. There is something so wonderful about writing
in a way that feels new and authentic, that feels in line with your true taste
– trying to get that to that place is like seeking the Grail. Whatever hardships have to be endured along
the way, are fine – part of the larger quest, if you will. Although – I didn’t
feel that way the day after La Boda de
Eduardo went in El Garbago.
