Know the rules before you try breaking them'
Last year's Booker winner Marlon James talks about his craft and his Facebook rants
Marlon James won the Man Booker Prize in 2015 for his third novel A Brief History of Seven Killings. Jamaican-born, US-based James teaches at Macalester College in Minnesota. On the sidelines of the Jaipur Literature Festival, he spoke to Mumbai Mirror about rejection, leaving Jamaica, breaking writing rules and that viral Facebook rant.How did you deal with the multiple rejections of your previous novel?
My first novel got rejected and the way I dealt with it was to not deal with it. I destroyed all the manuscripts. I threw it away. I forgot about writing. I went back to my old career [advertising]. I just erased all memory of being a novelist. And it was not until later that a friend somehow insisted I show her my novel and I had to find it in an old computer.
What was your reaction to being nominated for the Booker and also to the eventual win?
It was a mix of surprise and anticipation. I knew it was being entered. Of course I wanted to be nominated. I don't think you enter anything with the idea of not being recognised. But you're surprised. I'm still surprised. There were so many great books.
In a sprawling book like yours, with so many characters and voices, how did you keep track and make sure it was all distinct?
I do what my screen writer friends do. I put a chart up on the wall for characters. And what they have done, where they are, what do they want, how do they talk, where are they at 10 pm, 10: 30 pm, where are they at 11 pm? But I also worked on only one character per day.Because if I were working on more I'll be pressured by trying to move plot along as opposed to inhabiting that character's space. I liked what Atul Gawande was talking about when they are treating the dying. You think how can I make this person's life better today? It's very similar to how I write. What am I going to explore in that person's life today? What is she doing in this scene as opposed to how is this going to keep the machine of the plot moving?
You said you wanted to get out of Jamaica by coffin or by plane. Why did it come to that and do you miss it?
I miss Jamaica all the time. Why did it come to that? Because I'd run out of opportunities. There is a great saying that pastors use and I still believe it: you can reach the end of yourself. Meaning you run out of explanations, you run out of ways in which to cope with living ... and all those things applied to me. And I'd realised I wasn't going anywhere as a person, I wasn't going anywhere as an artist. I think I'd have died the slow death I see so many people living, when they've accepted a diminished life. They've accepted consistency and normalcy instead of happiness.
You've said you wouldn't teach your students to write a novel like you did.Why?
I'm a very mechanical teacher. I'm more interested in how you structure a sentence than what are your concerns as an artist.But I also teach very young students. I think you need to know the rules before you break them. And I think this idea that you can be this natural talent is actually quite ridiculous. Art doesn't work that way. So I teach a lot about the rules which I take great pleasure in breaking myself.But I know them.
Has there been more interest in Caribbean literature since your win?
I hope so. There is a lot of excitement for Kei Miller's upcoming nove. There is a change in the literature of the Caribbean. I think the last time the world paid attention the bulk was in response to Empire.In this new generation, not only do we look at it in a new way, but we have other things to talk about.
Your lasting impressions of India and your time here?
You know I've had a fantastic time in India [and Jaipur]. I love the city, the energy, I love the pulse, the food and the colours. I love how interested and curious the people are.
Did your Facebook post making such waves surprise you? [James put up a critical post after first landing in India complaining about difficulties he faced on landing.]
I was quite surprised because I was just making a joke. Anybody who knows me knows I rant on Facebook all the time.
My first novel got rejected and the way I dealt with it was to not deal with it. I destroyed all the manuscripts. I threw it away. I forgot about writing. I went back to my old career [advertising]. I just erased all memory of being a novelist. And it was not until later that a friend somehow insisted I show her my novel and I had to find it in an old computer.
What was your reaction to being nominated for the Booker and also to the eventual win?
It was a mix of surprise and anticipation. I knew it was being entered. Of course I wanted to be nominated. I don't think you enter anything with the idea of not being recognised. But you're surprised. I'm still surprised. There were so many great books.
In a sprawling book like yours, with so many characters and voices, how did you keep track and make sure it was all distinct?
I do what my screen writer friends do. I put a chart up on the wall for characters. And what they have done, where they are, what do they want, how do they talk, where are they at 10 pm, 10: 30 pm, where are they at 11 pm? But I also worked on only one character per day.Because if I were working on more I'll be pressured by trying to move plot along as opposed to inhabiting that character's space. I liked what Atul Gawande was talking about when they are treating the dying. You think how can I make this person's life better today? It's very similar to how I write. What am I going to explore in that person's life today? What is she doing in this scene as opposed to how is this going to keep the machine of the plot moving?
You said you wanted to get out of Jamaica by coffin or by plane. Why did it come to that and do you miss it?
I miss Jamaica all the time. Why did it come to that? Because I'd run out of opportunities. There is a great saying that pastors use and I still believe it: you can reach the end of yourself. Meaning you run out of explanations, you run out of ways in which to cope with living ... and all those things applied to me. And I'd realised I wasn't going anywhere as a person, I wasn't going anywhere as an artist. I think I'd have died the slow death I see so many people living, when they've accepted a diminished life. They've accepted consistency and normalcy instead of happiness.
You've said you wouldn't teach your students to write a novel like you did.Why?
I'm a very mechanical teacher. I'm more interested in how you structure a sentence than what are your concerns as an artist.But I also teach very young students. I think you need to know the rules before you break them. And I think this idea that you can be this natural talent is actually quite ridiculous. Art doesn't work that way. So I teach a lot about the rules which I take great pleasure in breaking myself.But I know them.
Has there been more interest in Caribbean literature since your win?
I hope so. There is a lot of excitement for Kei Miller's upcoming nove. There is a change in the literature of the Caribbean. I think the last time the world paid attention the bulk was in response to Empire.In this new generation, not only do we look at it in a new way, but we have other things to talk about.
Your lasting impressions of India and your time here?
You know I've had a fantastic time in India [and Jaipur]. I love the city, the energy, I love the pulse, the food and the colours. I love how interested and curious the people are.
Did your Facebook post making such waves surprise you? [James put up a critical post after first landing in India complaining about difficulties he faced on landing.]
I was quite surprised because I was just making a joke. Anybody who knows me knows I rant on Facebook all the time.
Source: Mumbai Mirror, 25-01-2016
