I recently spoke to Elizabeth Gilbert, who just came out with her new book, The Signature of All Things: A Novel (Viking Adult, 2013). Her 2006 memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, was a #1 New York Times bestseller. It has been published in more than thirty languages and has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, and in 2010 was made into a major motion picture starring Julia Roberts. Gilbert's first two books, the short story collection Pilgrims, and the novel Stern Men were New York Times Notable Books, and her most recent work, Committed - a memoir of marriage - was a # 1 New York Times bestseller. In 2008, Time magazine named Gilbert one of the most influential people in the world. You can follow her daily updates on Twitter @GilbertLiz or on Facebook.
In this interview, Gilbert talks about how she comes up with the characters in her books, what her writing process looks like, her best tips to aspiring authors, and information about her new book.
How do you come up with the characters for your books and what is involved in your writing process?
I'm a heavy-duty researcher. My plots and characters begin with the vaguest and most simple ideas, which only take on weight and authority as I do my research. With "The Signature of All Things", I was taking on so much that I researched for three years before I even began. And I also wore a 70-page outline of the novel before I began, just to make sure I had every bit of the novel in place before beginning. I left little to chance!
What changes does Alma Whittaker go through as she moves from childhood to adulthood in the 1800's? What can people learn from her experiences?
Alma has an unusual and rarified childhood. She is the daughter of the richest, most cunning, and most ambitious man in Philadelphia. Her mother is an over-educated botanical savant. Her childhood playground is the family's lush estate, including all its libraries and greenhouses. She is spirited and bright, and captivated by the mysteries of nature and science, but essentially (and innocently) selfish. She is so focused on her work and her world that she is blind to the sufferings of the others - even those closest to her. Her maturity begins when she finally looks up from her own passions to notice others. I suppose we could all learn something from that...
In the book, Alma finds her calling as a botanist. How did you originally decide to be a writer and how can others figure out what they want to do in life?
I never wanted to be anything but a writer. I grew up on a small family farm in a house filled with books and stories, and though I had never met a writer, I knew that was what I should aim to be. I survived the years of early rejection by simply hanging on stubbornly to my love of the work. And I got lucky, to be sure. But I also didn't quit. I think whenever possible you should try to pursue a course in life that excites and delights you more than anything else. Also (and I know this is positively unAmerican at this point to say) if you are pursuing an odd dream, try to live frugally. A less expensive life gives you broader options for yourself. You can stay in the game longer when you stay out of debt, and you won't have to make so many comprises. Try to lead a smaller, bigger life, is what I always advise - if that makes sense. Smaller materially, bigger in spirit and freedom.
I read everything I could get my hands on about 19th century botanical trade, commerce, science and art. I read through hundreds of diaries and private letters by scientists and common folk alike, to try to grasp the subtleties of lost language. I was most surprised by how accessible 19th century science was to the people of the day - many of whom carried on quite sophisticated debates about the big scientific questions in their private homes. Science has become so specialized and technical and out of our reach these days, but there was a time when any bright and thinking layperson could keep up with everything that was going on in the scientific world. And bright amateurs could make huge contributions to science as well, which is something we don't see anymore. That notion - The Golden Age of The Amateur, you could call it - surprised and delighted me to learn.
What are your top three tips for aspiring writers?
1. Don't negotiate with the terrorists inside your head who tell you that you are unworthy.
2. Learn early on that neither rejection nor failure nor criticism will kill you.
3. Remember that to be successful in the arts you need to be talented, lucky and hard-working. But you have no control over how much talent or how much luck you have been given by destiny. So focus on the one thing you can actually humanly control: HARD WORK. Always make sure that you are working harder than anyone else. It's no promise that you'll succeed, but it's your best shot.
Dan Schawbel is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, Promote Yourself: The New Rules For Career Success (St. Martin’s Press).
