What’s a piece of writing advice that’s held true for you?
Finish the thing. Worry about its thingworthiness after.
What’s the thing you read when you want to remember how to write?
What’s a writing strategy you’ve developed that’s worked for you?
Nothing is reliable. Every time is different and it wrecks me. That said, once something is written it doesn’t really count as working until it works when read aloud.
What do you do with all the writing ideas that pop into your head? Where do they go?
They used to go in a note on my phone but since I am wildly disorganized and frightened by my own lack of organization this is actually where ideas go to die. Lately I’ve been creating a new Scrivener file for each idea that I populate with note cards that are separate and then grouped. It’s helpful because you can add pictures too. I used to also have hardcopy analog 3 x 5s that I put into a box but that was exactly the same as the phone. It was like trying to do expenses with the receipts of my mind which is to say that my ADHD won’t allow for it.
What’s your one tip (that doesn’t get discussed enough) for a writer trying to grow their audience in 2022?
This actually is something I can’t consider. I believe this kind of thinking to be corrosive and work-altering. If I sit in my own audience and look at who’s around me and start surmising what motivates this group and supposing how they could enjoy me more, I think I’d poison myself with worry. I am already so uncomfortable and anxious without having specific ambitions for reach. “Who am I writing for?” is one thing. “Who am I writing for and what would I have them do?” is too scary.
What’s your one tip (that doesn’t get discussed enough) for a writer trying to improve in 2022?
I always become fixated on writing enough words every day. And how I need a certain ratio of words that will be preserved in the final thing. And then I start to become wildly precious not only about time but about what I need my words to do and then it sucks all the thrill and experimentation out because of the parsimony that infects the work. Which is to say, I find that doing silly writing doodles is wonderful and fantastic for keeping that miserly joylessness in check. I took Sheila Heti’s writing course that was offered by the Shipman Agency and was so happy that there were sessions for this kind of scribbling. George Saunders’s newsletter is sublime and generous in this way as well.
Is there a thing you’ve written and have actually enjoyed going back and reading?
How would you describe your relationship with your readers? (especially if it’s evolved)
I love them and interact with them and even if I don’t always respond I read their letters and think of them and try to keep a light on in my heart when I talk to them about difficult things. I hope to honor them even if I can’t always keep them happy. I miss them. I miss book tour. I miss in-person.
