An Introduction to My Writing
Hello! This is my first time writing to you all from the studio. `I am an aspiring novelist from Houston, Texas. I’m currently a high school student, avid writer, and enjoyer of 20th-century literature. If you’ve landed on this page, you’ve somehow caught wind that I’m working on my first ever novel—A Self-Portrait.
I don’t remember how I got the idea to write this novel. Since middle school, I’ve been writing short pieces and poems, whether that be on assignment or for personal pleasure. That being said, A Self-Portrait will be my first official piece, so in preparation for such a hefty project, I’ve decided to outline some important things about my novel for your perusal.
A Few Things Worth Noting
- On Formation: Throughout my writing journey, I’ve always had one thought about what kind of person my hero would be. He had to be smart and ambitious. He had to have that quality in a person that stands out from the crowd. He had to live in a house by the sea. Most importantly, however, he had to seem like a person. The greatest compliment ever paid to me by a reader was that they could hear the words on the paper not as text but as thoughts in their own head. When writing works of fiction, my primary goal is to make it seem like a person would think the things on the page. All things considered, though, I am a sucker for flowery dialogues and chains of psychedelic thought. You may notice between chapters that I employ different styles of narration—I don’t do it to be jumpy; all of my writing decisions are deliberate.
- On System: A Self-Portrait follows Max Wolfe, a college freshman and aspiring professor of English Literature. The novel will start with Max heading off to his dream university to study English. Eventually, Max’s talent for prose will be recognized by one of his professors, who will make the young prodigy a proposal: full sponsorship for his novel’s publishing and publicity but with a cost. The rest of the novel will follow Max as he competes with other students for his professor’s sponsorship and with an unknown force seemingly trying to ensure his failure. Of course, A Self-Portrait includes all of the necessary elements of a young adult novel: mystery, allure, suspense… romance, perhaps. Moreover, in the interest of ironic banality, I’ll make the claim that Max is not like the others. What does that mean, you might ask? My answer is what I tell my friends—read the novel and find out!
- On Authorship: I find that the maxim of “write what you know” is often a great place to start. Sometimes, the most effective route to take is the most cliché. A Self-Portrait includes nuanced, and at times sensitive, topics about identity and culture. Without going too much into detail for the sake of spoilers and whatnot, there may be some parts of Max’s and other characters’ identities that you find confusing or strange. I ask that you approach such matters with an open mind. That is, after all, the best way to expand one’s literary horizons. Additionally, I’d like to “establish my own ethos,” as my English teachers might say. When conceptualizing A Self-Portrait, I purposefully chose matters of identity that I have personal experience with. One more thing: any resemblances to real life people or events are purely coincidental! As always, any questions about the vagueness of my explanation will inevitably be answered by the novel. 🙂
- On Criticism: Feedback is one of the most important things to me as a writer. I realize that I may not be the most masterful novelist. After all, I’m only a student. With that in mind, I’d love to hear your comments or suggestions about any elements of my novel, whether it be about the plot, the characters, or even the diction! One thing, however: I’d like to think there’s a clear line between constructive and destructive criticism. I find destructive criticism to be brutish and cruel and ask that if any does arise that you keep it to your own thoughts. I look forward to picking your brain!
One Final Note
I’m very excited to have this project go live! I hope that you enjoy reading A Self-Portrait as much as I have enjoyed writing it thus far. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, I’d love to hear and answer them! My goal for my blog is to make it a safe space to help each other grow and spread the kindness!
Also, if you haven’t already, make sure to go and follow my Instagram page, where I’ll post updates, polls, etc. about A Self-Portrait every now and then. Just go to Instagram and find @swjacobs0 to drop a follow!
Happy reading!
From the desk of S. W. Jacobs