23 Comments
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Louie Cronin's avatar

Actually I think those toddler pictures are pretty cute. And I just realized when you mentioned having 80 different browser windows open, that for those of us with ADHD, the browser windows are the cabinet doors of the computer.

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Rebecca Makkai's avatar

YES, it's a combination of a) wanting to click on every link because everything is interesting, b) not finishing any of the things that you opened, and c) worrying that you'll never remember to come back to it, so it's best to just leave the tab open for all eternity.

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Tracy Owens's avatar

That's a brilliant comparison!

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Harriet Chessman's avatar

You're killing me with these photographs and commentary, Rebecca! Absolutely amazing. Congratulations on your new draft! and I'm always here for your writing advice!!

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Tamar Belkin's avatar

Can't wait to read your next book!

I have a question for your AMA, although I'm not sure you can answer it. I have a book in progress but recently took a quick detour (based on a random opportunity that came my way) towards translation (fiction book, local best seller, won't win any prizes but still a fun exciting book, translated from my language into English).

The "problem" is I loved the process - sort of like solving a logic puzzle which has multiple factually-correct answers, but only a couple that truly "solve" for author intent, cultural differences, sentence rhythm, etc.

Any thoughts on whether literary translation may be a viable path for a second career, especially considering the progress of AI (still far from adequate in terms of literary translations but who knows where it'll be two years from now...)? Maybe something you've heard through the translators of your books or some other industry connections?

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Eating My Words's avatar

I do know several translators who have made it a decent career. Here's my friend Alta Price's page: https://www.altalprice.com/ She might be willing to answer questions if you reach out?

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Tamar Belkin's avatar

Thank you, Rebecca!

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Portia Elan's avatar

These photos 🤣 For the AMA — how do you find your way into a new book? (I just turned in copy edits on my debut and am starting to think about Next Book…)

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EFHM's avatar

Hooray for a Writing Advice AMA! If you had queried your manuscript pretty thoroughly, gotten significant interest from agents but no takers, would you 1) put the book in a drawer and query the next one when it's ready, with the hope that a future agent will also be interested in your past projects, 2) query small presses, 3) query hybrid publishers, or 4) something else? I'm stuck.

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Rebecca Makkai's avatar

This is a good one -- will answer in the next post, but in the very immediate future: Write a short story or some poems or something just for joy. It helps a lot. I mean it doesn't help the manuscript, but it helps YOU.

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Caroline Smrstik's avatar

Happy belated birthday!

For the AMA: where does a non-American author writing in English start to query— US publishers? UK publishers?

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dinesh's avatar

Thanks so much for the AMA.

1) There are lots of ways to end the stories, which you’ve given in the “Let’s end things” posts. But any tips to know if one short story ending is good or better than the other one (I mean, if I have multiple ideas to end the story)?

2) Like or dislike epiphany in short story endings? Any thoughts on Charles Baxter’s “Against epiphanies”?

3) Does an epiphany in short story endings always mean a revelation/realization for the main character? Could an epiphany also be the moment the whatness of the character or situation is revealed to the readers, like Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own”? (In other words: could an epiphany also be the moment in which a person or a thing reveals its true character or essence?)

4) Do you have a take on anecdote vs story? (Or: what converts an anecdote into a story?)

5) Finally, are the chances of getting published in top-tier magazines like The New Yorker better if we have an agent?

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Melissa Trask Davy's avatar

These are really cute toddler pictures! You don't look haunted, you look thoughtful. Like you are seized by a thought, in all three pictures.

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Pamela Erens's avatar

I adore these photos!

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Shereen Cook's avatar

This was a journey...not sure if it was the prime numbers or eerie toddler that was scarier.

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Rita Dragonette's avatar

RE Haunted baby photos--your eyes are still the same, but they have learned to smile.

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Kim Reynolds's avatar

I came for the brilliant advice on craft. I am forever hooked by your sense of humour. :)

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Marsea's avatar

For AMA: How do you figure out how to get into and out of a chapter? I find starting and ending the toughest bit. Thanks! (Also, just signed up for your masterclass in Hawaii ... can't wait!)

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Dawson White's avatar

For AMA: Would love to hear more about your outlining process (pre-draft, retroactive, and beyond!). Tips, traps, anything you'd want someone to know to get the most out of the outlining process and product. Many thanks!

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Larry Writes in Portland's avatar

Rebecca: your layer cake about interiority has really inspired me to push myself to explore the lowest layers of interiority. I love jumping forward in time. What grammar rules apply there? Where can I learn more?

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Bailey's avatar

For your AMA: I’m curious about how you decide the right POV for your novels. Is it instinct? Specific questions you ask yourself about what you’re trying to accomplish? Have you ever decided it wasn’t working part way through and changed?

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