Wise Words from Zadie Smith

Published Mar 26 2008, 06:54 PM by Sharon Steel

Zadie Smith: "Put it in a drawer."

One of PopSerious's correspondents was at a lecture at Columbia University yesterday, where writer Zadie Smith (White Teeth) gave a lecture on "Feeling Fraudelent." Below, some wise words by the author. We love this kind of thing. So far, the best advice about writing we ever got was "Sometimes you just have to puke over the side and keep rowing." This is close competition:

On the subject of finishing a novel (or for those writers out there squeamish about the N-word, “a piece”), Smith said you should “step away from the vehicle.” Put it in a drawer. Do not publish it–-do not even read it–-until you absolutely have to. The most important reader of your work is not yourself who has written it, or an editor who has seen ten drafts of it already, but a complete stranger, and if you can keep the thing in a drawer long enough chances are that you’ll become that stranger yourself.

Filed Under: How to Win Friends and Influence People, Lit Gossip, On Writing, Things We Love

All the Sad Young Literary Hotties

Will White People Buy Stuff White People Like, the Book?

Follow the Phoenix

All Blogs

On The Download (2,244)
Laser Orgy (86)
Phlog (1,510)
Dont Quote Me (561)
Talking Politics (1,599)
Outside The Frame (326)

Filed Under: How to Win Friends and Influence People, Lit Gossip, On Writing, Things We Love

Boston Phoenix
Works in progress
Published 1/15/2010 by GREG COOK
Photography after Facebook at the PRC, 'Boston Does Boston III' at Proof, and Taro Shinoda at Gardner

Boston Phoenix
He's Just Not That Into Your Library
Published 3/31/2008 by Sharon Steel
Did you read Rachel Donadio's NYBR back-page essay about literary dealbreakers yet? Or her subsquent...

more by Sharon Steel

Interview: Leanne Shapton | March 24, 2009

Interview: Joss Whedon | February 09, 2009

Review: Dollhouse | February 09, 2009

Faking it | January 06, 2009

Bad girls | October 16, 2008

See all articles by: Sharon Steel

Latest Comments

Tell us more about what happened to Phoebe Prince - Using Facebook is not illegal, but harassment is irregardless of what form. This girl was obviously trying...

By Camille Tuason Mata on 02-07-2010 in Dont Quote Me

The Touching Tale Of Labor And Scott Brown - Blocking nominations is a time honored tradition that both parties partake in, most recently by Barry...

By Fake Name on 02-06-2010 in Talking Politics

MP3 of the Week: Vikesh Kapoor, "Newspress Scare" - stream the 7" here: vikeshkapoor.bandcamp.com/.../newspress-scare-7-2 tickets to the show here:...

By hootenanny on 02-05-2010 in On The Download

Dear Rush Limbaugh: Please Drop Dead. Love, Twitter - Shows the kind of exemplary trash that festers under the banner of the Democrat party. Wishing ANYONE...

By pirogue on 02-05-2010 in Phlog

Thugs and goons: Howie Carr explains--updated! - Can someone please explain to me what the heck a "moonbat" is supposed to be - I know Carr...

By Derek on 02-05-2010 in Dont Quote Me

Latest Comments from WordUp

Wise Words from Zadie Smith

Leave a Comment