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| how my stories sound when i try to write an interesting story about myself. |
Being able to write quality nonfiction, probably more than creative writing, seems like such a feat to me. With creative writing, you can create a character and a world that is interesting, tweaking it to your demands. In nonfiction, you have to make the existing world interesting.
Of course, when nonfiction tells the story of some historical event, culture or some renowned person, I suppose it is a little "easier." Those events are big enough to already have a story. But what about us? What about the people who just write about themselves? Tell their funny stories? That, right there, is my favorite type of nonfiction.
In my own writing, I've tried to make myself interesting to other people. But you know those moments in life, those "just had to be there" moments, where no one else gets it but you? That's how I feel about my entire life.
Some awkward, funny, weird things have happened to me. Or at least, I think so. My family is entertaining. But how does that translate to good writing, to an interesting story? I just don't know sometimes. I try. I write it. And then I think, no one but those involved are really going to think this is remotely interesting. What's the point? You have failed!
There are talented people, though, that can make their lives interesting. Or really weird things happen to them. One of the other.
If you've never heard of Sloane Crosley, I highly recommend you read her. Now! Her first book of essays, I Was Told There'd Be Cake, was a book I strictly picked up because of its title. And the very first essay has to do with her collection of ponies. How much better can you get? But she spins an already great story in such a way as to ask the question, "What will people think of me if I die and they find my collection of ponies?" She's not just talking about her ponies, but making her pony collection have a purpose, making it that much more interesting. It makes you wonder yourself, what would people think? The entire story takes place around something as mundane as a weird collection and becomes this entire life experience. How she got all of the ponies, how she dealt with wanting to get rid of the ponies, while at the same time wanting to keep them.
It often amazes me the subjects a good nonfiction writer can make interesting. A plastic pony stash is one of them.
Then, of course, there is the great David Sedaris. Who can take finding a giant turd in the toilet the funniest thing in his book of essays. David is a bit long winded compared to some essay writers, but when he writes, you think man, "this guy has an awesome life." He's lived a lot of places. He's done a lot of things he shouldn't have. His perspective on life is priceless. I think this is something really good comedic essay writers all have in common--their perspectives in life are so different from the norm. I'd like to think I have a somewhat similar perspective like a lot of the greats do; I'm just not as good at putting it on paper.
To write funny nonfiction about yourself, I really think you just need to be funny. Your life can be sitting at a computer all day, but if you are funny, you can turn an entire book of sitting at your computer into a humorous adventure.
So, it isn't necessarily that those of us who want to write interesting stories about our lives aren't interesting enough. It's all about spinning it.
Someday I will write a memoir. But first, I think I need to learn to be a comedian.
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