Happy Saturday, writers,
I have this long-held
fantasy of compiling my favorite responses from the hundreds of interviews that have run in the Paris Review, and using this compendium whenever I'm need of a motivational boost.
It's never going to
happen, of course. But it got me thinking: Over the past few years, I've been given the chance to conduct dozens of (painfully awkward) interviews with writers I respect and admire and, often, am an unabashed fanboy of.
Maybe drawing on that smaller pool of writer wisdom and inspiration will be just as useful,
and one helluva lot quicker and easier.
So that's my new pet project. Over the next few months, I'm going to post to the blog a running collection of the most interesting, informative and inspirational replies I've received during interviews with the likes of George Saunders, Heidi Durrow, Molly Gaudry and Steve
Almond.
This series will include writing wisdom on topics such as: process, product, economics, publication and promotion.
In today's blog post, I write roughly 400 words of blather about this idea (sorry), and then offer some inspirational quotes, including:
"I believe writers
should write what they love." -- Stephen Powers
"Anybody [can have] deep and important things to say about the art they love.” -- Steve Almond
"I worked
through the [writer's] block, and I realized that I was going to keep getting older, with or without a book." -- Heidi Durrow
At the end we ask for some feedback from you wonderful readers. Author interviews: love 'em or hate 'em? Do you have a favorite?
And also, who would be your dream author interview, and why?
You can join (or start, if you're the early bird) the discussion at the post itself, or reply to me if you prefer to stay off the public record.
Either way, I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
Have a wonderful and productive weekend.
