Madeline Miller
It's important for me to touch base with the story every day. Even if I know I don't have time to write, taking ten minutes to think about it, or reread a chapter, helps to keep the fictional dream firmly in my mind. At the same time, I think there's nothing like perspective--taking a break from a particular scene, and coming back to it a week later. I also swear by long walks outside. No matter how stuck I am, I always figure something out from a walk-- something about the motion of my body gets my mind moving as well. And finally, I love to read literary criticism of ancient texts. Hearing scholars argue with each other helps to clarify my own thinking, and spark new ideas.
More Answered Questions
Carly Lyn
asked
Madeline Miller:
Song of Achilles is my all-time favorite book and now Circe is as well. What I love about them both is the complexity of the characters' relationships. Both books are un-put-downable but also super character-driven. What's your approach to creating that page-turning ability in books that are mostly about feelings? What's your revision process like? Do you do a lot of cutting? Restructuring? Filling out?
Alexw
asked
Madeline Miller:
Madeline-thanks for taking questions which adds to the magic of reading of your writing. Two questions please? First- in Circe- when Pasiphae is impregnated by the sacred bull-she tries to pass it off as an "accident" but my feeling was that she wanted the bull to impregnate her so a song could be written about her. 2nd -on cover of Circe-the eyes flash when tilted in light-looks like she is related to Medusa?
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