This provides an insight about the process of writing a book that though sometimes, authors use eloquent words and various different metaphors to describe a single thing, in the end they are also human beings like everyone who is going to read their books. Zadie says that the fact that the word ‘craft’ is used here to describe the way she writes most of her story in her pyjamas seems bizarre to her. The fact makes sense as to why Zadie Smith does not want to lay her writing process and insights out in the open. The reader understands this dilemma because writers often don’t like to share their innermost thoughts and feelings with others unless it’s in the form of a story.

Smith tells the audience that even if she was writing a novel for ten years and was asked to give “some aspect of the craft”, she would be unable to do so.

The writers feel rather uncomfortable sharing their innermost thoughts and their writing process with the world. The second one causes a disconnection because every writer has a different writing style which the others may or may not understand. The first kind of lecture is best given by critics and academics whereas the second one is given by authors who want to say something profound about their novel. The author further classifies the lectures on craft in two categories where the first is more useful and practical than the second one. The author feels honest about writing about craft only when she is writing about her own creations or when she has a specific piece of fiction as a reference. The author advices the reader to never read something called “The Art of Fiction,” unless it is about some specific books and not generalized because she believes that each piece of fiction is unique and different. Fiction doesn’t necessarily have to change someone’s mind or influence them whereas a paper or lecture is presented to make people understand things better so it is understandable to the reader or the listener why the author was rather anxious. The author finds writing fiction comparatively easy than presenting a paper she finds writing fiction something she is able to do.

Smith opens the essay and the lecture by admitting that she was indecisive about the prospect of presenting a paper and telling people about “craft”. That Crafty Feeling | Summary and Analysis – Introduction

White teeth zadie smith sparknotes