Summary: “The noun part of "writer" seems to require outside validation, but the verb part of it -- "writing" -- is something you're either doing or you're not.” –Matt Bell In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Matt talk about the importance of creative persistence and obsession (1:45); the importance of maintaining creative discipline and keeping concrete track of your progress (8:00); "swooper" versus "basher" writers, and approaches to revision (14:00); the importance of place to narrative, and its role in research (21:15); how point-of-view affects a narrative (30:00); the important of "inciting incidents" and other techniques of narrative structure (38:00); strategies for getting "unstuck" in a narrative (42:30); and counterintuitive strategies for revising a creative work (52:00). Novelist Matt Bell (@mdbell79) is the author of several books, including, most recently, Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts. Notable Links: National Novel Writing Month (creative writing event) Lauren Groff (novelist) IKEA (ready-to-assemble furniture) Anne Lamott (author) Kurt Vonnegut (author) Iceberg theory (writing technique) Appleseed (novel by Matt Bell) Scandinavian noir (genre of crime fiction) William Inge (playwright) Orpheus and Eurydice (Greek legend) Point of view (narrative mode) Graham Greene (novelist and travel writer) Poetics (work of dramatic theory by Aristotle) Amy Tan (author) The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.
