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is there a genre of written work specifically concerned with the conception and procedure of literary works, or is it all random interviews or annotated guides? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by [email protected] to c/asklemmy

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i like watching "making-of" or "behind-the-scenes" featurettes and documentaries about the behind the scenes machinations of movie making, but in terms of literature, I'm not sure what to look for if i want to learn about the process Martha wells went through to conceive the murderbot diaries, for example.

i can search for making-of The Matrix and find documentaries, but not making-of project hail Mary and find similar literary results.

is there a section of literature like this?

should i be reading annotated editions?

thanks

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[–] Boozilla 3 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Oh, sorry! I did sort of misread your question/post. There's a book by Lawrence Block called "Write for Your Life" which as a lot of accolades. Of course, he is more of a pulp fiction writer not a literary writer. There's also "Hero of a Thousand Faces", a famous collection of writings by Joseph Campbell. I think books like these are closer to what you are looking for but still not a slam dunk.

For Tolkien's work, there is the twelve volume "The Complete History of Middle Earth" which is about as inside baseball as you can get for Tolkien. It's intimidating, though. And has numerous notes and revisions in it, which are a bit overwhelming. "The Making of Middle-Earth" by Snyder is a more approachable read at 368 pages.

So if I finally get it through my thick skull and understand your question, you are looking like a book more like these, but not necessarily for Tolkien?

[–] Audalin 2 points 3 months ago

For Tolkien's work, there is the twelve volume "The Complete History of Middle Earth" which is about as inside baseball as you can get for Tolkien.

I'd replace HoME with Parma Eldalamberon, Vinyar Tengwar and other journals publishing his early materials here.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

thanks, I appreciate it.

I read hero of a thousand faces, which of course is a great book, I'll have to look into "write for your life".

Yes, not specifically for tolkien.

in the same way someone might make a documentary of se7en and explain from the filmmakers point of view why spacey was chosen for John doe or why wrath was chosen as the final sin, I'm wondering if there is a genre of books focused on the real-life reasons behind the creation and production of a particular litrary work, why was the abbe named faria in count of monte Cristo, or why was edmund so deliberately flashy instead of becoming a secret assassin?

there are so many documentaries and behind the scenes features for cinematic work that explain why a scene looks a particular way, either by the position of the camera or the number of people on set, or how they came up with the very specific look for the xenomorph in alien, I just wondered if there was an analogue pool of behind-the-scenes looks at the creation of literary works.