Cormac McCarthy on Writing Novels
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 29. 12. 2022
- Cormac McCarthy rarely gives advice on writing novels, but in this video today we will be reading a lost interview (until 2022) with Cormac McCarthy where he is more candid about his writing process than ever before.
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Cormac McCarthy is an American writer who we consider one of the greatest authors of all time. He was born in Rhode Island but was raised and wrote his initial works in Tennessee. However, his most famous (and best) works were written in the Southwestern United States. Below are some links and my opinion on all his books!
Book Name: Stella Maris
Author: Cormac McCarthy
Publication Date: December 6th, 2022
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Rating: 8/10
Purchase link to support Write Conscious: amzn.to/3YaZa5r
Book Name: The Passenger
Author: Cormac McCarthy
Publication Date: October 2022
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Rating: 8.5/10
Purchase link to support Write Conscious: amzn.to/3YiEdFN
Book Name: The Road
Author: Cormac McCarthy
Publication Date: September 2006
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Rating: 7/10
Purchase link to support Write Conscious: amzn.to/3xfGuW8
Book Name: No Country For Old Men
Author: Cormac McCarthy
Publication Date: July 2005
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Rating: 7/10
Purchase link to support Write Conscious: amzn.to/3JZD3KW
Book Name: Cities of the Plain
Author: Cormac McCarthy
Publication Date: May 1998
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Rating: 8/10
Purchase link to support Write Conscious: amzn.to/3lqAreJ
Book Name: The Crossing
Author: Cormac McCarthy
Publication Date: June 1994
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Rating: 10/10
Purchase link to support Write Conscious: amzn.to/3DVdlTX
Book Name: All the Pretty Horses
Author: Cormac McCarthy
Publication Date: May 1992
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Rating: 9/10
Purchase link to support Write Conscious: amzn.to/3ld0R3B
Book Name: Blood Meridian
Author: Cormac McCarthy
Publication Date: April 1985
Publisher: Random House
Rating: 10/10
Purchase link to support Write Conscious: amzn.to/3RKMEY2
Book Name: Suttree
Author: Cormac McCarthy
Publication Date: May 1979
Publisher: Random House
Rating: 9.5/10
Purchase link to support Write Conscious: amzn.to/3jGCwmD
Book Name: Child of God
Author: Cormac McCarthy
Publication Date: 1973
Publisher: Random House
Rating: 6.5
Purchase link to support Write Conscious: amzn.to/3jDOFc0
L.F. Celine said he wrote 80,000 long hand pages for 800 published pages. He said the difference between him and the other moderns is that he was a worker, essentially. A born worker, of necessity. He quotes Descartes: I have no more genius but I have more method.
It's all about deliberate practice.
Interesting comparison because Descartes was actually very lazy. He died from waking up too early
As a writer, Iâm constantly looking for the writing thoughts of those authors who I consider influences and inspire me. Personally, I donât really plan my stuff. I have an image or two and just see where it leads. I think McCarthy has a similar approach, and this act of discovery is a lot of fun.
Exactly. I feel like anyone who plots and plans their stuff must write a lot flatter material. Thanks for the comment Nicolas and good luck with your writing journey. You are doing great!
He used his grant to extensively travel from Mexico to Texas to California (the route the kid took) when he wrote blood meridian. Nothing is done on a whim. The man is a genius.
Sometimes I wonder how many words the wrote per day, how many novels he work at the same time and if he even writes every day. Nothing of that matters since everyone has a different process, but I am always curious lol
Up to five works at a time and for decades he did write almost everyday for about five to seven hours.
@@WriteConscious Thanks a lot! Also, amazing channel you have here, I will look some videos of yours
I'd love to have that feeling like I was meant to do something like be a writer. I've worked at several different art forms, including self publishing 2 books and working on my 3rd currently, and it's always a lot of mental anguish and emotional pain. It's only those little bits where I get into a flow state writing about an idea I have that feel worthwhile. I just want to record my ideas and writing seems like the only good option
For sure. I've heard from multiple people only pursue writing if it feels like the only good option. The reward you get isn't enough when other artistic mediums are more popular (if you are talented in them.)
Richard Walter who taught screenwriting at UCLA for many years says all writers hate writing.
Interesting thoughts. I've read four McCarthy novels and reading my fifth one now and have enjoyed them all so far, whether they be dark, bleak, mysterious, depressing. He never seems to not deliver. Anyhow, it's interesting to hear some of the background into his makeup and what his thoughts were about his craft. I liked his quote about "not giving a damn" about what people think (maybe I'm paraphrasing) when he is writing. I think some modern authors and most likely film producers of today are not of this mold at all and try their best to appeal to the masses. Anyhow, love the video. Great analysis and discussion here. I just subscribed.
Thanks Joe!
To be fair though, writers have the most important job in the film industry, which does pay more than most other arts. Without Nic Pizzolatto, there would be no True Detective season one, for example. Writing is important. Writers are the true original artists in the film industry, the most important minds. Even for activists, if you want to fight for or against something, you gotta be able to write about it, talk about it, and make films about it. If you can write well, using rhetorical techniques, for example, you can convince more people about your case. Writing is important. Look at Karl Marx. Your writing can literally change the world. Just make sure it is for the better.
LETS GOOOO!!!
This is basically now the Cormac McCarthy CZcams channel wth
Lol, don't worry. I will be covering a ton of other books and authors in 2023 :)
The Official Cormac McCarthy Grifter CZcams Channel.
where can i read this interview? can you share it some way with me Ian? Thanks!
Yeah, I have a bunch of people asking. I will find a copy somewhere online and reply back here when I get it!
I like this old interview. Honestly I would rather no interview, than an interview where a writer talks about other things that isn't his work or the themes of his books. I mean, I want to know about the Jacob Boehme epigraph, not other stuff.
Check out Julius Greve's book "Shreds of Matter" it's about Cormac McCarthy and German Idealism. Also interesting to note, a lot of authors used Boehme as epigraphs in their work because he wasn't copyrighted for them. I know of at least five really good books that use him.
@@WriteConscious Thanks, I'll check it out.
I've read all his novels but The Passenger was DNF for me after 140 pages
I would say you should try and finish. The first 140 are a little rough, but it does really expand in the last 150 into something very very beautiful.
At least he ain't Pynchon when it comes to interviews
agreed lol! Something is way better than nothing.
Actually, when it comes to writer interviews, nothing is better than something.
@@Mooseman327 what?
@@billyalarie929I think he means sometimes itâs better that a lot of authors donât release interviews cause they suck as people lol although McCarthy actually seems to be a pretty chill, down to earth and interesting guy.
What should I read after no country for old men
Are you reading that now?
@@WriteConscious I read it already
Pretty Horses and Road
How did you like it?? What did you like and not like? That answer will determine my answer. But, Joe is spot on too with his answer!
@@WriteConscious personally I thought it had a great ending I feel like the ending is over hated
Did you see the Cormac interview on Lawrence Krauss's podcast yet?
Yeah! Was more of a Lawrence Krauss monologue though lmao. Cormac was somewhat dismissal of literature, but was being led into those questions by Krauss. Planning to cover it though!
I get why he would be though, and I'd say it's better that he is.
I think McCarthy doesnât like other writers for the same reason many people donât like others in their professions, is that there is a sort of comparing that goes on, and writers, maybe more than a lot of professions, are very opinionated, and since writing covers such a wide range of topics and ideas and backgrounds, Cormac is probably just annoyed seeing people do things he wouldnât do, or say things he wouldnât say, and by being around those people, it basically volunteers oneâs self into being an equal where even the worst writers have the right to say something. When I was a personal trainer, I hated arguing with other trainers about squats or exercise programs, and when I was a cook, I hated working with some cooks who were sloppy or didnât clean their area, and now I hate when my current coworkers have an opinion but at the same time they are not good at their job so who cares what they think. By purposely hanging out with intellectuals he doesnât have to compete. He can be wrong because itâs more honest truth seeking conversations and heâ doesnât have money in the game, while also having respect because he is a famous writer. So it makes sense. I hate being around lots of types of people because Iâve had a very unique life and most people are under achievers, so I prefer to be around people who are professionals in other disciplines.
McCarthy is definitely a character. Heh.
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What a bizarre way to sit. You can find a cheap chair at any flea market.
Lol, sitting in a chair and letting your hips get tight is terrible for you.
I'm sorry but I can't agree with you in being a writer when you're not good at anything else because of different reasons. I am a published author in germany and I am also a painter (studied fine arts in germany). Both of these mediums include being alone while doing your job. Don't get me wrong. I agree that you have to feel lonelyness as a gift. But you can do two things wih the same intensity and passion. I love painting and writing. And I enjoy what I am doing. Both give me different opportunities and perspectives on life. Painting is a medium that can't be described with words. Stories are a medium that can't be presented with thousands of pictures. Both are art. So, if you put it that way: you're doing only one job: ART.