Unveiling

Jayne Anne Phillips made this essential point during the Q&A that followed her Lark and Termite reading at the Philadelphia Free Library this past Thursday: It is not until a book has been written and once again written that it reveals itself to the author—that the story itself becomes clear. For a long time one is only writing, only following the sound of words, the innuendo of character, the possibility of scenes.

Yesterday my own novel-in-progress revealed itself to me, finally. At last I understood just what is at stake, what must be raised up and made urgent.