Never did I think I would get to hear a successful author discuss her work as if she were having an informal conversation. The voice in How to Leave Hialeah becomes evident after a few moments with Jennine Capó Crucet. Crucet’s responses to each of the group’s questions made me want to discover more. While her struggles with publishing and writing were interesting, there was nothing like hearing new material. With a novel in the works, it will provide an opportunity to form connections with her short stories.
Equally as exciting, one question that I could not wait to ask was about her use of comedy. I would have never thought she had considered becoming a sketch writer. I admit that I had pondered over this career move. She explained the importance of comedy and how it helps heighten emotion after a tragic moment. In the spirit of the discussion, she read a few snippets of stories she normally offers at bars. Taking the structure from Latina magazine, she created her own advice columns. Women asked about problems related to dating and men in general. Though they were hilarious, they presented real issues, which, upon closer examination, lose its comedic value. In my writing, I want to do the same. Let the comedy tell the story but not outweigh the core message.
Crucet’s decision to become a writer also spoke to me. She noted that she would not have written these stories had someone else already done it. Writing has to come from a personal place but must also express an idea or emotion that describes the human condition. Nice descriptions and vivid language are only as effective as the theme that supports them. Therefore, I have stories that need telling and cannot leave them for someone else who may or may not care as strongly as I do. It is not about the potential of fame or notoriety, but creating something that will help future generations understand a particular time or event and its effect on the individual or society.
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