At Kepler's in 2008 (Photo: Mark Coggins)
Acclaimed novelist Tobias Wolff shares his own evolutionary path in the Los Altos Town Crier this week.
“The first step to becoming a writer is to be a reader,” Wolff said. “I remember being huddled under the blankets with a flashlight reading Albert Payson Terhune. I loved those collies. Being able to see the world through the eyes and the mind of a dog captivated me. I read all his books.”
As a boy, Wolff was also taken with with the works of Jack London. “I was so enthusiastic that I changed my name to Jack,” he said. “I was writing all the time and began to try to imitate London’s style. I learned a writer reads differently. He notices the form, language, sense of character and voice.”
In fact, he said:
“You need to imitate until you find your voice,” he told the audience. “It’s just like listening to great music before you play. I assign my students an essay to be written in the style of Henry James,” he said. “One of the most difficult parts of writing a book is selecting names for your characters. They need to fit like a suit of clothes.”
His final advice to those writing memoirs: “Tell the truth.”