Novelist and Macarthur 'Genius' Kelly Link - The Book of Love
Mar 1, 2024
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Kelly Link, acclaimed writer, discusses her transition from short stories to novel writing, capturing the essence of youth in narratives and exploring the intersection of love and horror in storytelling. She shares insights on her writing process, the transformative power of the ocean, and hints at future projects during the insightful interview.
Short story writers face pressure to write novels, influencing Kelly Link's transition.
Kelly Link embraces creative freedom in novel writing, exploring love in various forms.
Deep dives
Kelly Link's Transition from Short Stories to Writing a Novel
Kelly Link, known for acclaimed short story collections, has transitioned to writing a novel after three decades. Link discusses the pressure on short story writers to eventually write a novel and how this questioning influenced her decision. She highlights the process of writing a novel, emphasizing the exploratory nature where each novel presents unique challenges and learnings that may not predict the next project.
Embracing Maximalism and Novel Writing Challenges
In her transition to novel writing, Link discovers her tendency towards maximalism. Despite primarily being a short story writer, she delves into the intricate process of crafting a large-scale novel. Link's friend's observation that she would inadvertently end up writing a novel by getting progressively longer stories resonated with her. This realization led Link to intentionally explore the creative freedom that a novel's length offers, presenting a fresh and exhilarating challenge.
The Transformative Nature of Love in 'The Book of Love'
In 'The Book of Love,' Kelly Link conveys love as a central theme that binds characters to their existence in various forms, beyond romantic love. Through portraying different facets of love, including familial and everyday acts, Link underscores how love serves as a significant anchor in life's journey. Moreover, Link honors the romance genre by showcasing predictable patterns that offer reassurance, aligning with the idea that love, in its various manifestations, aids survival and societal harmony.
Kelly Link is the author of ludicrously acclaimed genre-defying short story collections including Magic For Beginners and the Pulitzer nominated Get in Trouble. Now, after almost three decades at the top of her game, she's written a novel: The Book of Love. It's very funny, smart, and already certain to be one of the books of the year for both literary and genre critics.