The Notebook - By Nicholas Sparks Page 0,65
very old, as well as very young, people. How did someone as young as yourself acquire the insight to write about the experience of being old in such a moving way?
A. That’s what writers strive to do. Though I can’t describe the process of writing and how I do it (I don’t really understand where my ideas come from), I do keep a few general rules in mind, no matter what type of character I’m writing.
First, I tend to assume that most people— male or female, young or old—have largely the same types of thoughts. However, the difference lies in their perspective. So I try to put myself in their shoes and see the world the way they do. Then, I read constantly and see how other authors have written from varying perspectives, and I try to figure out whether they accomplished what they’d set out to do, or if they failed. Either way, I ask myself, “Why?” Finally, I work hard at it—I edit constantly, until it “feels right” to me. Only then will I accept it.
Q. Letter writing plays such a big part in The Notebook. Is there something about letter writing that intrigues you?
A. The epistolary form of writing has been around for centuries, of course. I’m neither the first nor the finest to use it. But letters are a wonderful vehicle for writing, if used effectively and sparingly. In the case of a novel written primarily in third person, for instance, a letter might allow for deeper insight, since a letter is written in first person.
Also, I’m fond of letter writing myself. Call it old-fashioned, but that’s how my wife and I fell in love. We lived a thousand miles apart in the early stages of our relationship, and I used to write her every day. She’s told me often that it was the most romantic thing that had ever been done for her.
Q. How has the success of The Notebook affected your life? Do you find that your family lifestyle has changed much? Or your values?
A. The success has been wonderful. It’s enabled me to concentrate on writing full-time, but more than that, it’s allowed me to spend far more time with my family. Financially, of course, there’s been a change as well and it would be dishonest of me to overlook that.
But other than that, our lifestyle is still largely unchanged. I coach soccer for my sons’ teams, we go to church every Sunday, we’re in a “Supper Club” with the same people we knew before, my wife volunteers at the school like every other mom, we still eat Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.
Nor have our values changed. We worry about the same things all parents do, and we’re doing our best to raise kind and confident children. Our relationship with each other, with our children, with our community, and with God will always be the most important things in our lives.
Q. What was it like going on your author tour and meeting and hearing from so many people whose lives were affected by your book?
A. That was truly wonderful. Writing is communication; so is talking to readers about their impressions of the novel. It’s one of the aspects I most enjoy about being an author.
Q. What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
A. My advice is four-fold. First, read as much as possible. Read all types of novels—don’t limit yourself to one genre. Each genre seems to have its own strengths and weaknesses. For instance, “techno-thrillers” are very good at describing action, not so good at describing romance or love. Romance novels are just the opposite.
Second, learn as much as you can about publishing. Learn how it works, how to get published, how to market your book, what editors look for, etc. There’s a wealth of information in any bookstore and it’s important to understand the business aspects of writing. Publishing is, after all, a business.
Third, have realistic goals for the type of writer you want to be. For instance, is your goal to sell a million hardcover copies of your novel? If so, you need to understand the conventions of so-called “commercial fiction.” Or is your goal simply to get published? If so, write what you want, but write it well.
And finally, write. You can’t be a writer without writing.
Discussion Questions
1. At one point in the novel Gus says to Noah, “My daddy used to tell me ‘the first time you fall in love, it changes your life forever, and no matter how