Ann Patchett on Fiction vs. Nonfiction

Ann Patchett: "Nonfiction is so much easier for me...I mean, if you're writing nonfiction, you already know the story. You know the characters, you know the parameters. When it became interesting, when it ceases to be interesting in fiction, you have to do absolutely everything yourself...So research for fiction is like walking into the La Brea Tar Pits. What you will always discover is that you don't know enough to write the story. So if it's if it's something small. For example, I remember in my first book I had a character who went to basic training before World War II in Parris Island in North Carolina, and he's horsing around with a gun and he gets shot. So then I have to find out about Parris Island and the time and and the gun and all of that. If you go ahead and write the scene, you can then go back and and ask someone, do your research, find out. But if you start from the place of research, no, if I start from the place of research, I'm going to spend six months. I'm going to feel like I have to go to Parris Island. I'm going to have to learn how to shoot that particular gun. And and then all hope is lost."

SUNDAYAmerica's Book Club with Ann Patchett 6pm ET on CSPAN

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