Ask the Author: Peter Selgin
Answered Questions (6)
Peter Selgin
I jump in a lake.
Peter Selgin
I suppose it makes you see things that other people don't see. Martin Amis called all good writing "a war against clichés." I think that's right. I think being a writer makes you aware of all the clichés and received wisdom we live with, it helps you to see through deceptive surfaces. It's true that some of those surfaces mask things that may be unpleasant or ugly. But at least you know, or have a chance to know, what you're really looking at.
Peter Selgin
Don't despair when things get tough, as they usually will. Put precision and clarity ahead if style. In fact try not to think of style at all. Serve whatever story you are telling. If you aim for precision, style will follow.
Peter Selgin
A novel about twins. That's about all I can say about it, except that my (twin) brother won't like it. He never likes it when I write about him. Of course, since it's fiction this book won't really be about him. But he still won't like it.
Peter Selgin
Waiting for inspiration isn't a good idea. I like to clear the decks. I'll set my sights on a project—an essay, a chapter, a scene, a revision. Then I'll schedule a block of time for that and nothing else. There's almost always something to work on. If not, I'll go for a swim, or cook, or do something else.
Peter Selgin
Writing THE INVENTORS took many years. You could even say it took me most of my life. Of course, the book that became THE INVENTORS didn't start out that way; it evolved into the present book over time. Only in the last few years did the main theme if self-invention evolve, along with the book's ultimate title. When I realized that "invention" was the them, that's when all the parts began to fit together.
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