A story about everything that fills our world, and everything it lacks. Plus, a special New Year’s bonus: an audio version of the story, read by the inimitable Ira Glass. (Thanks, Ira!) | Fiction
Very unexpected. I wasn't sure what was going to happen para by para, which is a hallmark of a great story. Roger Rosenblatt told us (in class) that once the reader figures out what's next, it's done.
Etgar, (apologies for the long comment), but I'm wondering if you would be willing to share more details about the experience of writing this story?
I started to type "process" instead of "experience" but "process" doesn't feel like the right way to describe the creation of your stories.I ask this as someone who is trying to get better at writing short stories, and upon first reading this story in McSweeney's, I had the kind of reaction I typically have when finishing one of your stories, which is muttering something like: "Son of a bitch" and/or "How'd he do that?" and/or "I give up?" and “I’m grateful that story just wormed its way into my brain” and “Wow, in this moment, the world feels more vibrant, nutty, sad, open, and wonderful.”
You: *"I always wanted my work to have some moral implication, but I couldn’t tell the difference between being moral and being moralistic. Then I discovered Kafka and Kurt Vonnegut, two writers who break the force of nature, so to speak—or the force of habit, which, for me, is the most dominant force in life. I think that we do many of the horrible things we do simply because we’re not sharing the minute. We’re going through the motions. A good story—a good Kafka story, say—can disorient you, and wake you up to your life. A good story is like a slap. It makes you think, “Where am I? What’s happening?” I don’t want to write stories that will tell people, “Be good,” or, “Don’t be bad.” I want to write a story that will make people say, “Huh?” And then maybe look around and see things a little differently."*
When I first read that quote, I thought “yes!” It felt like the perfect description for what I aspire to do when writing fiction, but it also gut-checked me pretty hard into recognizing many of my own failures with trying to write stories that often feel like they veer off into moralistic nonsense (or sometimes just plain nonsense.)
So, I’d love (be forever grateful) to learn more about your experience in writing this story. From start to finish. Did you sit down to write this with an initial seed of something? An anecdote? A character? And did you get down a first draft of it in one sitting? You mentioned being surprised, did that surprise come in that first sitting? Or did you noodle on a draft of this story for a while and the surprise come after different versions/drafts, etc.?
I think what I wonder about most with your stories is what is your first draft “experience” like? Do you always get out a first draft (with an ending) in one sitting? And then revise? Or do you work on multiple drafts? The tight, compactness of your stories seems to work like magic. (I know you referenced this aspect of your writing in your Asthma post.)
And I recognize you’ve shared some of this before, but I think stepping through this story in more detail, in particular would open up a world of . . . I don’t know, something good? Helpful? (At least to me, so maybe I’m just being selfish, and if so, I apologize. And I’m aware that if you do share more about this experience, I’ll probably spend countless hours trying to imitate, or recapture it on my own, which I’ll do with the full knowledge that it will be futile (in trying to achieve writing a story like you write), but will still hope that maybe it will help me get closer to figuring out how to improve on writing the kind of story that I can write.)
So, thanks in advance, for considering.
PS: I’ve never really spent time on social media, commenting publicly, etc., so this feels super frightening, weird. I say that not to pressure you to respond, but only to just put it out there, and ask for forgiveness.
PPS: If you happen to have supernatural recollection power and want to really get into detail about your experience, like: when did you start this story (month, year, day of the week)?, where were you (Tel Aviv, NYC, at a desk, kitchen table)?, what were you wearing (just joking, I’m not a creeper, I swear)? Did you snack while writing it? Listen to music? Drink coffee?
All and/or none of the above may be disregarded. But seriously, thank you for what you do.
I try again as I see now that my inquiry is visible. : it is a wonderful story . I love stories that are about old fashioned concepts like God, or soul (or love). I don't know if there is a theological conceot that describes my own beliefs. I only "believe" in God when I want to blame someone for bad things happening. If good things happen I either credit myself , or the person directly responsible contributing to the good . Anyway loved reading this . Thank you
I have read quite a few short stories. Easily one of the best I have ever read. And it also makes me wander what or who is that we miss so much and we can't find or even imagine. Bravo!
Running into you today, on Berlin's grey streets made again the city glow in a blink of an eye, as being in a parallel world! And made me discover this site! Toda!
"Because at the moment of truth, when you have to face God and tell Him he doesn’t exist, it’s a lot easier to do it in front of someone else’s God."
Maybe there is a god and her name is Non-Debbie in this story. Thank you for this great plot and story!
Erm, 'Etgar, phone home'! :)
Very unexpected. I wasn't sure what was going to happen para by para, which is a hallmark of a great story. Roger Rosenblatt told us (in class) that once the reader figures out what's next, it's done.
This was so fun and immersive!!! Great reading by Ira! This one is close to being a new fav!!
Etgar, (apologies for the long comment), but I'm wondering if you would be willing to share more details about the experience of writing this story?
I started to type "process" instead of "experience" but "process" doesn't feel like the right way to describe the creation of your stories.I ask this as someone who is trying to get better at writing short stories, and upon first reading this story in McSweeney's, I had the kind of reaction I typically have when finishing one of your stories, which is muttering something like: "Son of a bitch" and/or "How'd he do that?" and/or "I give up?" and “I’m grateful that story just wormed its way into my brain” and “Wow, in this moment, the world feels more vibrant, nutty, sad, open, and wonderful.”
I often think of something you said (according to the internet) in a conversation with George Saunders (link here: https://pen.org/etgar-keret-george-saunders/ ):
You: *"I always wanted my work to have some moral implication, but I couldn’t tell the difference between being moral and being moralistic. Then I discovered Kafka and Kurt Vonnegut, two writers who break the force of nature, so to speak—or the force of habit, which, for me, is the most dominant force in life. I think that we do many of the horrible things we do simply because we’re not sharing the minute. We’re going through the motions. A good story—a good Kafka story, say—can disorient you, and wake you up to your life. A good story is like a slap. It makes you think, “Where am I? What’s happening?” I don’t want to write stories that will tell people, “Be good,” or, “Don’t be bad.” I want to write a story that will make people say, “Huh?” And then maybe look around and see things a little differently."*
When I first read that quote, I thought “yes!” It felt like the perfect description for what I aspire to do when writing fiction, but it also gut-checked me pretty hard into recognizing many of my own failures with trying to write stories that often feel like they veer off into moralistic nonsense (or sometimes just plain nonsense.)
So, I’d love (be forever grateful) to learn more about your experience in writing this story. From start to finish. Did you sit down to write this with an initial seed of something? An anecdote? A character? And did you get down a first draft of it in one sitting? You mentioned being surprised, did that surprise come in that first sitting? Or did you noodle on a draft of this story for a while and the surprise come after different versions/drafts, etc.?
I think what I wonder about most with your stories is what is your first draft “experience” like? Do you always get out a first draft (with an ending) in one sitting? And then revise? Or do you work on multiple drafts? The tight, compactness of your stories seems to work like magic. (I know you referenced this aspect of your writing in your Asthma post.)
And I recognize you’ve shared some of this before, but I think stepping through this story in more detail, in particular would open up a world of . . . I don’t know, something good? Helpful? (At least to me, so maybe I’m just being selfish, and if so, I apologize. And I’m aware that if you do share more about this experience, I’ll probably spend countless hours trying to imitate, or recapture it on my own, which I’ll do with the full knowledge that it will be futile (in trying to achieve writing a story like you write), but will still hope that maybe it will help me get closer to figuring out how to improve on writing the kind of story that I can write.)
So, thanks in advance, for considering.
PS: I’ve never really spent time on social media, commenting publicly, etc., so this feels super frightening, weird. I say that not to pressure you to respond, but only to just put it out there, and ask for forgiveness.
PPS: If you happen to have supernatural recollection power and want to really get into detail about your experience, like: when did you start this story (month, year, day of the week)?, where were you (Tel Aviv, NYC, at a desk, kitchen table)?, what were you wearing (just joking, I’m not a creeper, I swear)? Did you snack while writing it? Listen to music? Drink coffee?
All and/or none of the above may be disregarded. But seriously, thank you for what you do.
Strange I just wrote a comment here but I can't see it ?
I try again as I see now that my inquiry is visible. : it is a wonderful story . I love stories that are about old fashioned concepts like God, or soul (or love). I don't know if there is a theological conceot that describes my own beliefs. I only "believe" in God when I want to blame someone for bad things happening. If good things happen I either credit myself , or the person directly responsible contributing to the good . Anyway loved reading this . Thank you
very nice! אהבתי):
I have read quite a few short stories. Easily one of the best I have ever read. And it also makes me wander what or who is that we miss so much and we can't find or even imagine. Bravo!
I enjoyed the story very much. Kudos to the translator!
This was so good, I thing the best short story I've read in years (or ever).
Thank you so much.
Running into you today, on Berlin's grey streets made again the city glow in a blink of an eye, as being in a parallel world! And made me discover this site! Toda!
What a terrific story!!!
What a great short story! Makes you think :)