Ken Kalfus

How did you become a writer?

I've wanted to be a writer ever since I learned to read, and thought of myself as a writer from an early age. But I don't think I really started becoming one until I began working in journalism, initially at my college newspaper. That's where I learned to write quickly (though never quickly enough) and for an audience (though it's never big enough!).

Name your writing influences (writers, books, teachers, etc.).

I think I've been influenced, or at least inspired, mostly by the books that I've loved. They've shown me what can be done with the written word. I go back to them sometimes to remind me that yes, someone put these words on a page for the first time. My favorite writers include Proust, Nabokov, Calvino and Roth. I often reread Jorge Luis Borges' "The Library of Babel," about an imaginary library whose books contain every possible combination of letters, and I tell myself that whatever I'm struggling to write is already there. So are my answers to this interview.

When and where do you write? 

I have an office in my house to which I go after breakfast. I turn off the fucking router and work on a Windows XP desktop with a 1980s-era word processing program called XYWrite. I'll spend most of the day there. 

What are you working on now? 

Can I let you know when it's done?

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? 

I'm not entirely sure what it is. But I've been stumped by a lack of imagination. I've also been distracted, sick of what I've written, and at a loss for the right words. I think I've suffered and continue to suffer most kinds of writerly frustration. I dissect these frustrations in my short story, "The Un-," in my most recent collection, Coup de Foudre: A Novella and Stories.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

I don't know. It's possible that's what missing from my life and my work is the right piece of advice at the right time.

What’s your advice to new writers?

Turn off the fucking router.

Ken Kalfus is the author of three novels, Equilateral (2013), The Commissariat of Enlightenment (2003) and A Disorder Peculiar to the Country, which was a finalist for the 2006 National Book Award. He has also published three collections of stories, Thirst (1998); Pu-239 and Other Russian Fantasies (1999), a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award, and Coup de Foudre: A Novella and Stories (2015). Kalfus has received a Pew Fellowships in the Arts award and a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. He's written for Harper's, The New York Review of Books and The New York Times. He lives in Philadelphia.

Nina Sadowsky

How did you become a writer?

I've always been a writer, but I became a professional writer by first segueing from being a film producer to being a screenwriter and then reinventing myself as a novelist when I felt the film and TV world was closing its doors on me.

Name your writing influences (writers, books, teachers, etc.).

William Meredith, a former Poet Laureate of the United Stares, who I studied with in college, was a true mentor. He saw something special in me and told me so. His faith in me inspires me to this day. My favorite screenwriting book is The 21st Century Screenplay by Linda Aronson (useful for all writers too!). I've been influenced by too many writers to count, but some of my particular favorites are Patricia Highsmith, Kate Atkinson, and J.K. Rowling.

When and where do you write? 

My routine varies, especially since I've become the Program Director of NYU Los Angeles. But I am very disciplined. If I've blocked off a chunk of time to write, I commit to it and don't waver.

What are you working on now? 

Today I am turning the final polish of my next thriller, CONVINCE ME, which will be published by Ballantine on August 4th. I'm also working on a pilot entitled GREEN RUSH, and a new novel entitled CASUAL VIOLENCE.

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? 

No. And I don't believe in it. Some days the work flows and others it can be harder, but the idea of waiting for "inspiration" or "the muse" is counter-productive. I believe that if you don't know what to write next, you simply haven't asked yourself the right questions yet.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

That your editor (or any other reader) is the patient, and that the author is the doctor. The reader can say where something hurts, but it's up to the writer to diagnose the problem and treat it. In other words, don't be reactive to notes.

What’s your advice to new writers?

Persist! Respect that you have something worth saying and don't give up. There are only so many stories to be told, but every single person brings something unique to their telling.

Nina Sadowsky is an author, filmmaker and educator. She has written numerous screenplays and produced such films as "The Wedding Planner.” Her debut thriller, JUST FALL, was published in 2016 and her BURIAL SOCIETY series launched in 2018 with the second book in the series, THE EMPTY BED, published on January 28, 2020.  The Burial Society series is in development for television. She is also the author of CONVINCE ME to be published August 4, 2020. In addition to her role as Program Director of NYU Los Angeles, a "semester abroad" program for advanced students considering careers in the entertainment and media industries. Sadowsky also serves as the Director of Educational Outreach for the Humanitas Prize, is on the Leadership Council of Creative Future, and is a founding member of the Woolfpack, an organization of women showrunners, writers and producers committed to community and mentorship.

Karma Brown

How did you become a writer?

I am that author who insists she never wanted to be a writer. Despite being an early, voracious reader, a career in writing books never occurred to me. I didn’t start writing in earnest until I went to journalism school, at the age of 28, and after both an undergrad degree and five years working in the corporate world. While I initially intended be a broadcast journalist—my dream was to become the ‘Katie Couric of the North’ (as I’m Canadian)—life has a way of pointing you in the right direction even when you aren’t sure where you’re going. I was working as a marketing director when an idea for a novel popped into my head, and I thought, “I know how to write copy and magazine articles…how hard can a novel be?” Turns out, hard. But I persevered, because I discovered how much I loved writing long-form fiction, and I kept at it while I went through career changes, a cancer diagnosis, and the birth of my daughter. Just before my 41st birthday (and with my third novel written), I because a published author. And about a month ago my fifth novel (RECIPE FOR A PERFECT WIFE) was published!

Name your writing influences (writers, books, teachers, etc.).

There is neither the space or time to list everyone and every book that has inspired me over the years, however, there are a few authors who have been my “go-to” influences: Stephen King’s On Writing was a game changer for me; I have been a lifelong reader and fan of Margaret Atwood’s work; Lauren Groff has written some of my favourite novels (including Fates & Furies and The Monsters of Templeton) and is a brilliant writer; and Ann Patchett and Meg Wolitzer can do no wrong in my opinion. One of my most thumbed-through books is Embers by Richard Wagamese—it is a truly beautiful book. I read a lot, and across all genres—it is my meditation.

When and where do you write?

When I started writing my first novel I was working full time as a marketing director, so most of my writing happened in the morning before work or late at night. Then I had my daughter, quit my “day” job and started freelance writing, and still found I only had time, and energy, to write before dawn. Now that my daughter is in school, I have more time during the day to write but I find old habits die hard – my best, most creative time is still early (like, 5am early) morning. I can—and do—write everywhere and anywhere, but my top spots are coffee shops, my local library, and my living room. 

What are you working on now?

I’m working on my first non-fiction project at the moment. It’s about owning and reclaiming your time in the age of increasing urgency, and then exploiting it to tick off a “bucket-list” type project or two—with a focus on the early morning being an ideal time to do so. It will be published with HarperCollins end of 2020. I’m also working on my next fiction project, but it will remain a secret for now.

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block?

Personally, I’m not a fan of the concept of ‘writer’s block’ – generally, I get stuck either when I’m trying to force my characters to do things they don’t want to do, or I’m overthinking the story. For me, exercise is a great way to get my creative brain unstuck—and that can look like a sweaty workout or a quiet walk in the woods with my dog. The other solution is to take some time away from the project. Usually if I stop forcing things within the manuscript the words begin flowing again. 

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

Write, or read, every day. I read Stephen King’s memoir and craft book, ON WRITING, years ago – when I was writing my first book, which is now RIP in a dusty drawer – and his simple (but non-negotiable) idea to never get far away from the craft of writing stuck with me. Some days I write nothing more than a few words, or manage a chapter of my current read, but I do work my craft daily. It keeps the writing muscles in shape, and helps me stay focused when I really need to churn out a lot of words to hit a deadline. 

What’s your advice to new writers?

It’s a three-part answer:

One, not everyone will love your book, and some will downright hate it. And that’s okay. Reading is so subjective – there are books I didn’t finish that other people adored, and other books I still think about that others loathed – so don’t attach your worth to others’ words. Also, on a more practical point, learn to love writing synopses. I know many authors dread them, but as you progress through publishing they are often needed when you’re pitching books to editors…so embrace them. A synopsis is your friend!

And two, if you want to be a writer, then be a writer. Which really means, focus on the BIG goals. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day frustrations, but don’t let those take you off course. I like to tell people I got published through a combination of coffee, the habit of early morning writing, and grit. 

Finally, embrace the “shitty first draft.” Treat it like it’s the best thing you’ve ever written, even knowing you have to go back in and rip it apart. Always give that first draft its moment in the limelight—a lot went into it, and without it you have nothing. Any draft, in any shape, is a beautiful thing.

Karma Brown is the award-winning journalist and bestselling author of five novels, including COME AWAY WITH ME, THE CHOICES WE MAKE, and her latest, RECIPE FOR A PERFECT WIFE (Dutton, December 2019), which reached #1 on the Canadian bestseller lists. Karma’s work has also been featured in a variety of publications, including SELF, Redbook, Today’s Parent, Best Health, Canadian Living and Chatelaine. She lives just outside Toronto, Canada with her husband, daughter, and a labradoodle named Fred.