Ask the Author: Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling
Answered Questions (6)
Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling
I think the term writer's block only applies to creative geniuses, which I am certainly not (if such a thing even exists!). Sure, the words flow more easily sometimes, and that's a form of inspiration. But nothing about "writer's block" prevents the average writer from revising a page, transcribing interviews, fact-checking, rewriting sentences, or organizing a batch of messy ideas into an efficient flow. And that grunt work is what writing is all about.
Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling
In another example of life's absurdities, when I do a good job of writing an article or book, I get complimentary emails from strangers. Meanwhile my wife, who literally saves lives every week while doing high-stress work as an operating room nurse, toils thanklessly.
I used to feel guilty about this praise disparity.
But happily, I've convinced myself that the guilt I feel proves that I'm a great guy, and therefore clearly deserve the disproportionate amounts of praise.
My wife is an understanding partner.
I used to feel guilty about this praise disparity.
But happily, I've convinced myself that the guilt I feel proves that I'm a great guy, and therefore clearly deserve the disproportionate amounts of praise.
My wife is an understanding partner.
Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling
I think a lot of great talent dies on the vine, for want of being noticed.
Some people are fortunate enough to have the two vital ingredients: good writing skills, and a network of connections that can help get those skills noticed and published.
Then there's the rest of us, who have to claw our way up. When I started, I literally wrote stories for 10 cents (which was worth about a dime back then).
Aspiring writers should:
1) Put constant thought and energy into pitching new outlets
2) See 1)
Over time, the magic will happen. Editors and gatekeepers will give you a chance. If you do a good job, some of them will give you another chance. Your skills will improve. Some of the editors and writers you know will move up to better positions, and you will get better opportunities as a result.
The important thing is to never stop knocking on new doors, to never stop pushing yourself upward. The first time you turn down a gig that you would have accepted in the past, you'll know you're on the right path.
Some people are fortunate enough to have the two vital ingredients: good writing skills, and a network of connections that can help get those skills noticed and published.
Then there's the rest of us, who have to claw our way up. When I started, I literally wrote stories for 10 cents (which was worth about a dime back then).
Aspiring writers should:
1) Put constant thought and energy into pitching new outlets
2) See 1)
Over time, the magic will happen. Editors and gatekeepers will give you a chance. If you do a good job, some of them will give you another chance. Your skills will improve. Some of the editors and writers you know will move up to better positions, and you will get better opportunities as a result.
The important thing is to never stop knocking on new doors, to never stop pushing yourself upward. The first time you turn down a gig that you would have accepted in the past, you'll know you're on the right path.
Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling
I have a variety of longform magazine articles in the works. They cover a wide range of topics that I find interesting -- everything from how Canada's hydropower industry is clashing with its indigenous residents, to the plight of the North Atlantic Right Whale, to the financial considerations of people who plan to be cryonically preserved after death, so that they can be woken up in the future.
But I'm most excited about my next book (topic TBA), which I hope will be as entertaining and illuminating as A Libertarian Walks Into A Bear.
But I'm most excited about my next book (topic TBA), which I hope will be as entertaining and illuminating as A Libertarian Walks Into A Bear.
Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling
I think my starting position is that we're all kind of absurd, all the time (myself included).
There's an enormous a gap between what makes sense for us to do, and what we actually do, and that makes finding inspiration easy.
There's an enormous a gap between what makes sense for us to do, and what we actually do, and that makes finding inspiration easy.
Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling
I was working as a reporter for my local newspaper, interviewing Jessica Soule, a Grafton, NH veteran, about her efforts to get disability benefits from the VA. While I was sitting in her living room, she said something to the effect of "I used to let my cats outdoors. But that was before the bears came."
I was instantly hooked by the idea of cat-eating bears.
Over time, as I asked more questions, I learned that cat-eating was just one absurd aspect of a much larger, very entertaining story about a town that was in danger of going off the rails entirely.
So I guess you could say that I instantly knew it was going to be a good story. And over the first couple of months of reporting, it became clear that the story was so large and complex that it could only be told in book form.
I was instantly hooked by the idea of cat-eating bears.
Over time, as I asked more questions, I learned that cat-eating was just one absurd aspect of a much larger, very entertaining story about a town that was in danger of going off the rails entirely.
So I guess you could say that I instantly knew it was going to be a good story. And over the first couple of months of reporting, it became clear that the story was so large and complex that it could only be told in book form.
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