A conversation with David Nicholls plus a giveaway
I was lucky enough to participate in a webinar with David Nicholls and I was able to ask him a few questions. If you haven’t read his latest book, One Day, be forewarned that there may be some spoilers! Here’s what I asked David:
The structure of One Day is so unique. I’m wondering how you got the idea to structure it that way and what challenges you faced in writing it that way.
Well, I always hesitate before I answer this, because there’s no way of answering it without giving away the ending. One of my favorite books is Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, and I read that when I was about 17. And there was a passage, a sort of throwaway remark in one of the paragraphs that really struck me, a very powerful idea, which obviously don’t give away in your blog. It was this idea that every year we have this anniversary of the day on which we pass away, the day on which we die, this kind of hidden anniversary. And I thought, especially as a 17 year old, that was an incredibly profound idea and it stuck in my head. So, when I sat down to write the book, I had this idea that we would take a day, a day that seemed to have no significance, and just look at that day, find the significance in an ordinary day. The passage from Tess of the d’Urbervilles is quoted towards the end of the book, but that was the starting point. I think I’ve never written something with quite such a large scale, something quite so epic. And I was a little daunted at the idea of writing something with that kind of scope. And it just seemed a good way of controlling the material and focusing the material and sort of narrowing the parameters in a good way, in a way that was fun. So, before I started writing One Day, I planned out the 20 days very carefully. I made sure I knew exactly what happened both on July the 15th and also on the days in between, the days that we don’t see. And it was a little like putting a puzzle together, but I really loved doing that. I loved that aspect of the writing.
So, you did know the ending before you even started writing?
I did, very much so. Absolutely. Yes. It was always right there. And the beginning was in the ending, if you see what I mean. I also knew what the last three years would be as well. So, I knew that we’d flash back to the beginning. Yes, that was always part of the plan, though obviously don’t give it away.
I noticed cultural references throughout One Day. You talk about the fashion they were wearing. At one point, there was a “Studio 54″ party. There are references to public figures. How much research did you have to do to get all that correct, in the right years and everything?
Well, when I started writing it, I went to the British Library a lot. And the British Library have this incredible archive of newspapers and magazines. And I looked at all the newspapers on the 15th of July for each year, and actually not with an eye to introducing lots of kind of current affairs or news events into the action, but really just to provoke my own memories of what July in 1992 felt like and what July in ’89 felt like and what July in ’96 felt like. So, it was as much about kind of conjuring the mood as finding material to put into the book. But, what I really found actually was it wasn’t so much the news events that called up those memories as the music, as looking at the TV shows. If you really, really want to remember a time and place, go find the TV guide and look and see what was on TV that night, and suddenly you’re there. In other words, I found pop culture just as useful in conjuring up a period as I found newspapers. I looked at a lot of old photographs of myself and my friends and I listened to a lot of music, and I was surprised at how much of it came back. But, I was also very wary of not cramming the novel too heavily with cultural references, because I think there’s a danger that you run into of stereotyping and exaggerating and kind of being jokey and cartoonish about it so that everyone in London in 1991 is wearing white jeans and listening to acid jazz. You can be too broad. And actually, when I wrote the second draft of the book, I pulled out a lot of the more heavy-handed cultural references and tried to tone that down a little bit, because that was a little too jokey and a little bit too over the top.
To celebrate the release of the movie version of One Day (on August 19), Focus Features is allowing me to give away a fabulous prize pack! One lucky reader will win:
- Copy of the movie-tie in edition paperback book
- Clear cosmetic case
- Necklace
- Moleskin Journal
To enter to win this wonderful prize pack, simply fill out the entry form. Contest is open to those in the U.S. and Canada. I will use random.org to determine the winner. Contest ends at midnight EST Saturday, August 27, 2011. Winner will be announced on Sunday, August 28, 2011. Comments are welcome (and appreciated) but will not get you an entry in the contest.
I hv a teacher friend who uses When the Whistle Blows with her 7th gr honors student; it takes place each Oct 31 for 9 yrs. I bought her One Day! I enjoy learning how authors come up with their ideas. Now I need to read Tess of the D’Urberviles!
I haven’t read this book, but your interview has me very intrigued. I am wondering if I should read the book before I see the movie?
How lucky you were to be able to chat with him! Sounds like it was great fun. I hope you enjoy the movie. Good luck to the giveaway entrants.
Actually the bit about Tess o the D’Ubervilles really adds something to the idea of his book, because I always thought of it in a forward sense, not in a backwards sense.
Great questions! I love getting some background on the writing process.
I really enjoyed reading this interview; how nice that you were able to participate in the webnar. I found it very interesting that he used Tess as a model — I loved that book, and actually wrote my first college English paper on it, so I guess it make sense that I loved One Day too
I am so excited to read the book!! I’ve heard so much about it, it just seems to blow everyone away!
I love his answers, and it does add to my already over-spilling love for the book. Methinks my daughter and I will have to see the movie when it comes out.
Thanks Kathy for the opportunity to meet David Nicholls and now I am really looking forward to reading the book soon. I have the book next to me and I can’t tear my eyes away now. Oh going to slip it up to priority now.
So, so exciting that you got the chance to talk to Nicholls about the book! I also think it’s pretty cool that he wrote the ending first. I actually am starting to wonder how many authors do that!
I’m with zibilee; I think writing the ending first is pretty cool (and probably made it more of a challenge to write!) Thanks so much for the chance to win!
What a neat way to get to interview the author! You can DEFINITELY count me in on this giveaway.
Though, sadly, I never ever win!
I really want to read Tess of the d’Urbervilles now. Thanks for the giveaway
Just stopping by to say hi after a long absence! I didn’t want to read the whole post because I haven’t read the book yet. I’m really looking forward to reading the book and then seeing the movie!
What a fun and informative post…
Great post! I hope to start David’s book soon!
I really enjoyed the author’s words and the movie clip. I’m not going to sign up for the giveaway. I have the book beside me. I shelled out pennies. Bought this one. Will have to read it….
Seems like a love story to remember.
I’ve seen the ads for the movie but had no idea what it was about until your interview. I read your review of the book and it sounds interesting.
I am interested in this movie. AND what a great giveaway!
Awesome giveaway
Great interview. Thanks for the giveaway. I haven’t read the book, but the movie looks fun and romantic.
As always, Bermuda – what a great interview.
I didn’t know that David based the book around a quote from “Tess of the d’Urbervilles.” To me, that’s fascinating.
I also like how he was able to time travel by listening to popular music and watching what was on TV at the time.
This was wonderful and I loved how he answered your first question. Having read the book, it made perfect sense. And I love his description of approaching the book as a puzzle … I imagine it would have to be pretty thought out to get to the end point that you want.
What fun to chat with him…I have been trying to wait patiently for this one from the library. I want to see the movie too but I want to read the book first! =) I love that there is a bit of “Tess” in it, one of my favorites of all time. Now I want to read it even more.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
So excited to see this one, please please please pick me! I really want to see the movie too, but my weekends are ridiculously busy…
It makes me feel much more favorable about the ending now that I know the rest of the story was constructed around this concept. I was not happy with that particular near-the-end plot twist, though I enjoyed the book overall. Also, I did think Nicholls’ struck a good balance with the cultural references. The referneces were there, but he didn’t go overboard with them. Thanks for posting this interview!
I am envious that you got to interview him! Great questions. I read the book last year and am looking forward to the movie.