HC: You’re obviously
comfortable reading and writing on both literary and scientific subjects. How
have you managed to bridge the communications gap between these two worlds?
AMJ: This
topic is (to me) so interesting I could write a dissertation on it... oh, wait,
I did: my PhD dissertation focused on the public’s perception of science.
When
it comes to communication about science, I think the problem is an
overabundance of garbled messages rather than a gap. The spillover from
academic bickering about the two cultures of science and literature or the rift
between science and religion as a way of explaining the universe only adds to
the muddle because it implies that you have to pick a side, which is just
silly. The situation is further confused because a lot of the chatter about
science and science education fails to make a distinction between doing science
and learning about science. The skills and frame of mind that make for good
scientific research are particular and specialized, but the average Joe or Jane
doesn’t need to be an amateur scientist, they just need to feel free to pursue
the topics that interest them.
I
interpret the idea of scientific literacy in a very basic way: reading about
how the world works. There’s a universe of popular science writing out there
that’s clear, accessible, and thought-provoking, and a lot of it is beautifully
crafted, too. I read mostly nonfiction, but I don’t want to make too much of genre
categories. I was a heavy user of science fiction in my youth. Natural history
frequently offers a seamless crossover into scientific topics. Biography,
memoir, and history can all weave writing about science in with their primary
subjects.
HC: As your editor, I appreciate the fact that you
are an editor yourself. How has this kind of detailed work on others’
manuscripts affected your own writing?
AMJ: I’ve
done some editing and proofreading in various capacities over the years, but my
focus now is on indexing, which is kind of a hidden niche in the publishing
world—a lot of people don’t realize that indexes (good ones, anyway) are a form
of written text, not computer-generated.
Editing
and indexing both emphasize the needs of the reader over the desires of the
writer. Now, I won’t say that I always live up to the ideal of clarity, but I
do aspire to bring the reader along with me, whether I’m following the trail of
an idea or trying to capture the look of a place or the feel of an event. When
I get stuck while writing, I’ll sometimes use the same technique I rely on when
I come across a convoluted passage in a book I’m creating an index for,
stepping back and asking myself, “What is this about, really?” If I can keep
the writing oriented so that it relates to the “aboutness” of the piece, even
if the narrative is moving around a lot, I stand a better chance of making it
work.
The
other question I ask when I get stuck is one that an editor might ask on behalf
of the reader: “So what?” Writing words down is a solitary activity, but
written communication is ultimately a social endeavor. Without readers the
process is incomplete. If I don’t offer something that matters not just to me
but to some reader somewhere, then the writing is bound to short-circuit and
fail.
HC: What are you working on now?
AMJ: My local terrain constantly offers up new
material, and I continue to work on essays inspired by the events and issues
around me. What I’m most focused on at the moment, however, is a project that’s
been steeping in the back of my mind for a long time. Like Between Urban and
Wild, the new book (tentatively titled Identity’s Edge) is about the
human relationship to the world, but in this case I’m exploring how
individuality and the sense of self emerge from the body’s interactions with
its environment. Don't miss your chance to meet Andrea Jones and hear her read from her new book! She will be in Boulder, Colorado tomorrow night to give a reading.
Reading
Date: Thursday, November 21
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl St., Boulder, CO
Between Urban and Wild: Reflections from Colorado, by Andrea M. Jones
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