In one of my favorite books about writing, The Memoir Project, Marion Roach Smith says “[writing] is serious work. And it cannot be reduced to generic writing exercises and prefabricated prompts.” While reading, I was immediately offended, for I lead a prompt-based creative writing group. And my writers, as I like to call the members, produce wonderful work.
Mike O’Leary has been a long-time member of the Creative Writing Group and has agreed to share some of his stories here. We're working through the exercises in The 3 A.M. Epiphanyby Brian Kiteley. Mike chose "Evil" and "Goodness", two assignments from the chapter titled "Characters and Ways of Seeing." I asked Mike a few questions about his writing life, and you can see his creativity isn’t limited to his fiction.
- How long have you been writing?
Like the Paleolithic painters in Lascaux, France, I used materials at hand in utero and relative darkness to begin my recording of the wonderful and the grotesque around me.
High School. That confluence of angst, poetry, aspirations, acne, disappointment, and wonder - great writing fodder.
- Why do you write what you write?
The voices in my head demand obedience, simplicity, and manual work.
I know what I think, I want to find out what the characters think and feel.
- What are some favorite resources that support your writing?
Deadlines. Peers undertaking the same insanity. The 3 a.m. Epiphany by Brian Kiteley. Great novels and amazing short fiction.
- What do you find maddening about writing process?
Rewriting. Don't have it working yet.
- What are you reading?
David & Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler, and Death Benefit by Robin Cook.
Brian Oertel reads "Evil" and "Goodness" below. In order to read the text, visit Read Local on Soundcloud and select the story you want to read.