Being Written: A Novel (P.S.) [Paperback]

William Conescu (Author)

Book Description

Series: P.S. | Publication Date: September 9, 2008

Daniel Fischer has a secret. He knows he's a character in a book that's being written. He's the only one who knows, the only one who's aware of the author's presence—but what good does it do Daniel? He's just a minor character. The author seems much more interested in other people's lives. Now Daniel is determined to win a bigger part, and he'll do whatever it takes to get the author's attention and make this story his own.

Suspenseful, subversive, and hilarious, Being Written is an audaciously inventive literary turn that gleefully calls into question who we trust, what we believe, and how the stories of our lives are created.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this first novelist's promising foray into metafiction, on-and-off second-person narrator Daniel Fischer has a talent for hearing the sound of a pencil scratching whenever someone is being written about. Otherwise, he's your standard red-haired, freckle-faced nebbish. After a lifetime apparently consigned to being part of the scenery in other characters' stories, a one-night stand with singer Delia Benson puts him in the limelight. As he awkwardly maneuvers himself into Delia's circle of friends—including her boyfriend, Graham, a struggling musician making ends meet as a gay-for-pay hooker—he second-guesses the purpose and extent of his role in the novel of Delia and Graham (passages of which appear throughout). Daniel reads a writing manual to determine what he should be doing and where the book is taking him, and in an attempt to make himself essential to Delia's and Graham's stories, he pulls strings to change their lives, but his plans massively backfire. Conescu's light, swift and nicely structured dark comedy puts to the test a character's ability to outwrite his own author. In the end, the author wins. (Sept.)
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Review

"[A] promising foray into metafiction...Conescu’s light, swift and nicely structured dark comedy puts to the test a character’s ability to outwrite his own author. In the end, the author wins." -- Publishers Weekly

Part thriller and part essay on the relationship of writers and the characters they create.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (September 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061451347
• ISBN-13: 978-0061451348
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,301,677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Second Person Narration Yields Deliciously Discomforting Metafiction, September 19, 2008

By 

Webley Webster (Hillsborough, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Being Written: A Novel (P.S.) (Paperback)

Daniel Fischer, the main character of William Conescu's *Being Written*, occupies a rift--a fissure?--in his fictive universe. He knows/believes that he is a fictional character who can tell when he is--and when he is not--being written about. He is the only character in the book who "realizes" that he occupies a fictional universe, a realization that drives his obsession to capture the author's attention and increase his role in the action. Accepted on its own terms, Fischer's obsession makes complete sense. After all, once you realize that you live in a fictional space, what other purpose can there be to your life than to become a more compelling fictional character? And so Fischer sets out to integrate himself as deeply as possible into the action of the novel he knows is being written, a novel which may or may not be *Being Written.*

Is Fischer a self-aware fictional character or merely a lunatic? *Being Written* leaves the final determination up to the reader, as it can be read either way (or both ways if you really want to make your brain hurt). The book's niftiest trick, though, is its shift in voice: chapters detailing other characters' narratives are written in the third-person, but Daniel's chapters are written in the second person, forcing the reader to infer some degree of responsibility and empathy for a character who is socially awkward, obsessive, erratic, and amoral. Conescu's breezy writing style, excellent eye for detail, and above all sharp sense of humor ease the pain of occupying this guy's skin for substantial portions of the book and keep the proceedings moving along at a brisk pace.

This would be a fabulous book for a book group, because there are lots of layers to peel away and discuss. Think a less highbrow *If On A Winter's Night a Traveler...* or of Nabokov's unreliable narrators and you have a pretty good idea of what's in store for you with *Being Written."

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When Being Written is Being Read, the reader is in for a big treat!, September 17, 2008

By 

Bonnie Neubauer "NeuBon" (Suburban Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Being Written: A Novel (P.S.) (Paperback)

I picked up this book because I liked (related to - if I am being totally honest) the image of the huge pencil being carried by and weighing down a person. And before the first page ended, I was hooked. The concept of a character being able to hear the scratching of an author's pencil writing a book was beyond-intriguing. And when I got to the very last sentence, I was just as smitten with this book as when I had started it. I loved the back-and-forth switch from third person for all the supporting characters to second person for the main character. But that's not all. Here is some of the other stuff this magnificent metafiction delivers: great character development; clever plot twists; intellectually-driven suspense; and self-deprecating, dark humor. The glimpse it offers into the world of writing is the icing on the cake. So, if you know what's good for you, pick up this book - because when Being Written is Being Read, the reader is in for a big treat!
-Bonnie Neubauer, author of Write-Brain Workbook and Take Ten, www.BonnieNeubauer.com

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wanna be in a book? Maybe not., October 20, 2008

By 

Rebecca Lerwill (Utah, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Being Written: A Novel (P.S.) (Paperback)

Being written - what a concept!

After reading the last two pages twice, I was stunned. I just sat through one of the most exciting, strange, entertaining, and well crafted novels I've ever read.
In a layman's term: Holy cow! This one's a fun and exciting thrill ride from the very first page on. The concept is complex and oh-so-intriguing, the characters drip of flesh and blood, and the dialogue SOUNDS vividly real.

Protagonist Daniel always dreamed about being a - well - protagonist.
Throughout his life he's come across this scratching noise he could never quite place. Until he finally figures out what this noise is: a pencil on paper. His dream is coming true; he is in a story. He's BEING WRITTEN.
Of course Daniel doesn't know who or what exactly this book is about, nor does anyone else around him seem to realize what's going on. He assumes however, that Delia, a singer and his recent one-night-stand, is a big part of the book. To stay in the story Daniel has to be around Delia, which isn't that simple because she's encircled by a somewhat odd group of people, and her boy friend - a (boy) hustler and inspiring pianist.

I don't want to try to detail the story because I couldn't do it justice. Rather let me compare this great book with food; like a nice dessert or a wonderful side dish. What Conescu has created is an entire meal. Well rounded and easily able to satisfy any appetite of literary hunger. Fiction - metafiction if you will - drenched in deliciously dark humor, simmered in suspense, sprinkled with twists of thrill, and topped with the sweetness of sensible sex. Oh, and lets not forget the way Conescu delivers those nifty switches between narrating in second and third person. It's a mind (or tongue) tingling treat Chef Ramsey himself couldn't have composed better.
The ending of this thing... well, you'll see. You will come across so many unforeseen tumbles that, let me tell ya: the finale is grant and completely off the charts. It's something you will roll around the inside of your skull for more than just a day. Promise.
Like I said: I actually read the last two pages twice. Then I went on to yet another treat; an interview between the author and a side character. A nice touch Conescu added to introduce himself to the (book) world.
Nuff said - For me Being Written is the book of the year, hands down. If I could I'd give it six stars.

Rebecca Lerwill, author of the award winning romantic suspense Relocating Mia