Writers on how they write: Michael Ondaatje
The Wall Street Journal has a great article: “How to Write a Great Novel”, reflections by 11 novelists on how they approach writing. I’ll feature one writer per day, highlighting their process with a key excerpt from the article.
Today’s writer is Michael Ondaatje, whose novels include The English Patient and poetry collections include The Cinnamon Peeler.
Words come easily for the author — the bulk of the work is arranging and rewriting sentences. “I don’t understand this whole concept of writer’s block,” says Mr. Ondaatje, who says he is working on a novel at the moment but declines to elaborate. “If I get stuck, I work on another scene.”
Seems simple enough: If you’re blocked, work on another scene.
[Originally posted November 13, 2009]