The Lancashire Writing Hub are very pleased to be publishing an interview with Nik Perring by Jenn Ashworth, an interview which will prove to be exceptionally interesting to all writers - not least budding writers – and to those of you who fancy winning a FREE copy of Nik’s book, Not So Perfect…

 Nik Perring is an author, workshop leader, short story writer and the brains behind The Story Corrective – a literary appraisal service with a difference: it’s aimed specifically and solely at short story writers. On the publication of his first collection of flash fictions, Not So Perfect, by cool indie publisher Roast Books, Nik talks to novelist and former Lancashire Writing Hub coordinator Jenn Ashworth about stories, blogging and writers block…

Jenn: Not So Perfect is a collection of short stories – why did you decide to write flash fiction? What’s special about the form for you?

Nik: Thanks for having me here, Jenn. It’s a real pleasure. I love what’s being done here.

That’s a really good question and a difficult one to answer. I think all forms of stories are special. A great story is a great story regardless of its length. But to answer your question… Some stories are shorter than others. I like that short ones can be consumed in one sitting. I love that, often, they’re no longer than the moment they’re telling but can, if done well, stay with us for an awfully long time. A bit like a kiss.

Jenn: On reading Not So Perfect I noticed, right away, the clarity and playfulness of some of the prose and the fantasistical nature of some of your stories. I’m kicking myself for asking you this question as I know it’s the bugbear of writers everywhere, but… (cringes) where do you get your ideas from? 

Ha! You know I actually think that’s a really valid question, so even though it’s a difficult one to answer, I don’t mind having a go!

I think my stories mostly come from me. I’m a writer of fiction. I make stuff up. It’s my job. So a lot of my time is spent thinking about potential stories. It’s not scientific, often it’s just me thinking: what would be an interesting story? Or: What would happen if I put xyz character into xyz situation. Or, simply: What would happen if…?

One of the stories in Not So Perfect, ‘Number 14’ came from an image that popped into my head of someone decorating their house with Post-it notes. I thought that was interesting so then I asked myself who would do that and then why. I wrote that story to find out.

Another, ‘Shark Boy’ came from a What if? question: What if someone had some sort of illness which made them unable to physically stop moving. Again, I wrote it to find out.

And then there are other that come from more obvious places. I like trying to put across emotions or situations most of us have found ourselves in.

The playfulness and the fantastical bits come from me having fun with things. Making things literal while, at the same time, using slightly odd imagery as metaphor. 

Jenn: You’ve also published and toured a book for children, I Met A Roman Last Night, What Did You Do? Do you see yourself primarily as a YA author, a fiction writer, or do these kind of distinctions not mean anything to you?

Good question. Mostly, I write what I write. The story always comes first. It has to.

That said, I definitely feel more comfortable with short stories – for grown-ups – and I think they’re what I’m probably best at writing. So, if anything, I think I’m mostly a short story writer now. (It’s pretty much all I’ve done for the past three years!)

Jenn: Can you tell us about the tough sides of being a writer – how have you overcome these?

Being a writer, like any job, has its downsides. It can be very lonely for starters. And there’s an awful lot of pressure that comes with it too, from readers, from publishers, deadlines – but mostly from me. I am a particularly demanding boss! It’s often difficult to not worry, or to not let my worries affect me. But I think I’m getting better at it. I hope I’m getting better at it!

Jenn: And on the other side of the coin, what’s the best thing about the writing life?

I love that it gives me freedom, and I love that it allows me to create stuff. To make stuff up. To have fun. I love it that people get to see my work and that, mostly, they’ve enjoyed it. It’s also very cool to be paid for doing what I love. It’s a hard, fun job, but not as glamorous as one might imagine.

 Jenn: Do you have any plans to write a novel or play? What are you working on now?

I’d never say never. I think – and I’ve said this many times before, so much so that it’s become a bit of a mantra… A story is a long as it is, and as writers it’s up to us help it become what it should naturally be. Putting it simply (and without disrespecting fine novelists such as yourself…): Some stories are long (novels) and some are short. If I found a story that needed to be novel length then I’d probably give it a go. Must say though, I’m not sure if I’d make a decent novelist; I’m more comfortable with short stories because I think I know their shape and structure better. That, and I suspect I have commitment/attention span issues. But, as I said, I’ll never say never…

A play’s a completely different thing. I’ve said for a long time I’d love to write one but I don’t know the first thing about how I’d go about it. So that’s probably less likely!

Jenn: You also teach and run workshops. Does this help your own writing?

It reminds me of the stuff I should be doing! I think I can be very good at telling others what they should be doing while not taking my own advice!

Being a little more serious. Yes. It does help with my writing. I think once you’ve been doing it for a while a lot of the writing process becomes kind of intuitive. Teaching reminds me of the reasons I choose to write in the way I write. It’s important to be reminded of the craft. And being reminded of the craft keeps me grounded and from becoming arrogant about the whole thing.

Jenn: Care to share a writing prompt with our readers?

Sure. But before I do I’d like to say what I say to my writing group before I set them their weekly prompt. And it is this: DON’T feel obliged to do it just because it’s there. If there’s something you’d rather write then please do that. If you’re excited by something it’ll most likely turn out better than writing to any sort of prompt.

But for those who do want one… Here is your first line:

When I looked in the mirror that morning I saw that I had someone else’s face…

Jenn: Do you ever get writer’s block?

Not really. Do you?

Jenn: I used to, and then I jacked in my job and now my writing needs to pay the rent, so I’m not allowed to have it anymore… J 

Nik: Ha! I know that feeling! I think the more I’ve been doing this the more it’s appeared to me that things either work or they don’t. Sure, I’ve had a great idea that hasn’t turned into a good story. But that happens. Good ideas for stories won’t always make good stories. I’ll try, very hard, to make things work (start stories over, try them from different perspectives etc) but sometimes they just won’t. And that’s where I’ll get stuck. So I’ll simply leave them. There’s no shame in that. While it’s important to be disciplined, committed and to work hard, it’s also really important to be able to let things go. Not every idea will work. So, I think the main reason for writers block is simply working on something that will probably never work. Or not having anything to say, or an idea good or interesting or exciting enough that makes a writer need to write it. There will always be times when that happens. And that’s okay, there are other things to do. And, speaking from experience, I’ve found that a better idea is never all that far away.

I wonder, as well, whether it has something to do with inertia. Whether admitting we’re stuck and stopping adds to the problem. If we keep moving forward (by moving on to the next thing) we’re keeping that movement going and not giving the block the chance to cover us like weeds.

Jenn: We ‘met’ (if you could call it that) through our blogs – which we started, if I remember correctly, within a few months of each other. What has blogging done for you as a writer?

Nik: I suppose, most importantly, it’s given me a presence. It’s given people the opportunity to, in some sense, know me and to see what I’m doing, to be alerted to any ‘news’ I might have. And that’s important. If people don’t know where to, for example, read a story, then they’re not very likely to read it.

Jenn: What tips would you give to other budding writers wanting to start a blog?

Nik: I think the most helpful blogging tip I’d give a budding writer would be: Have something to say. There are an awful lot of blogs out there so for someone to come back to it, it has to be interesting. I’d also warn people against being distracted by blogging. If you’re a budding writer you should be concentrating on writing, on getting better, on finishing that novel or story or banging it into shape or working on the next. Your book or story is what matters. I know there’s an awful lot made of building a platform, which I’d half agree with, but your writing is what you should be the most focussed on. Don’t forget what’s important.

Not that I’m saying you shouldn’t blog while you’re writing, that can be useful and interesting – I read, and enjoy, a good number of blogs about the road to publication. Just try to get the balance right.

Jenn: As I said, I’ve been following your blog for a while and the thing I’ve noticed recently is your tireless promotion of Not So Perfect – do you think contemporary writers need to have skills in online marketing and event planning as well as writing talent in order to be successful?

What I think is this: an author (generally speaking) is not simply someone who writes books, in the same way as a carpenter isn’t simply someone who saws. There are other bits to every job. In my opinion, an author has to be able to do their share of promotional work – be that readings, organising events, being interviewed, whatever. I’m not so sure they need to be particularly entrepreneurial, but I do think they have to be available and willing to add what they can to the marketing process. And I don’t think that necessarily has to be in a cold, calculated, business sort of way – I think it’s more about making people aware of what they can buy, if they want to. 

Plus, and this is just from my point of view – I want people to read my work. I’m proud of it. And I say that despite being stupidly worried about people not liking it!

Jenn: As well as your own work, you’re also a promoter of other writers. You have a long-standing interview series with new authors as well as regularly mentioning favourite books on your blog. Do you have any book recommendations for us? What writers have inspired you?

Nik: Ooh lots and lots and lots. You included!

I actually blogged about this here (http://nikperring.blogspot.com/2010/09/spreading-words.html) – hoping others would follow and recommend their own favourites. (Thanks to all those who have!)

I’ll ignore the classics (though people really should give Checkhov, Kafka, Carver and Vonnegut a go, in my opinion).

So. As far as short stories go – anything by Aimee Bender or Etgar Keret. Michael Czyzniejewski’s ‘Elephants in Our Bedroom’ is wonderful. Sarah Salway’s ‘Leading The Dance’ is brilliant too. ‘The Loudest Sound and Nothing’ by Clare Wigfall is wonderful. I loved Mary Miller’s, ‘Big World’ too.

Novels – I’d point people towards Michael Kimball; both ‘Dear Everybody’ and ‘How Much of Us There Was’ completely blew me away. My friend, Caroline Smailes is someone else whose work I’d suggest people check out. ‘Olive Kitteridge’ won the Pulitzer a little while ago and was incredible and accessible.

And fairy tales. People should read more fairy tales. Especially those by Charles Perrault. They’re wonderful and they remind me what story telling should be about – Telling A Good Story, efficiently.

Jenn: As well as books, you also blog regularly about the music that floats your boat. Can you tell us a little bit about the way music influences you?

What a good question. Hmm. Let me see.

You know, I think I just love art. I love seeing or hearing or reading (or whatever) what people have created. And what I love more is being affected by it. That’s a special thing.

As far as music, specifically, goes. Err, I think I like the completeness that can be achieved in only a few minutes (bit like a short story, no?). I like it when there are stories in the songs (one of the stories in Not So Perfect owes an awful lot to David Bowie’s ‘Five Years’). I like how music can alter my mood, how it can move me. Yes. Music’s cool.

Thanks for having me on! It’s been fun!

Nik Perring is a writer, and occasional teacher of writing, from the north west. His short stories have been published widely in places including SmokeLong Quarterly, 3 :AM and Word Riot. They’ve also been read at events and on radio, printed on fliers and used as part of a high school distance learning course in the US.

Nik’s debut collection of short stories, NOT SO PERFECT is published by Roast Books and is out now. Nik blogs here (http://nikperring.blogspot.com ) and his website’s here (www.nperring.com). He also offers short story help here (http://thestorycorrective.com/).

Jenn Ashworth is a writer and blogger. You can read more about her here: www.jennashworth.co.uk

 

Competition for Lancashire Writing Hub readers…

Nik has kindly donated a FREE, personally signed copy of  Not So Perfect as the prize for a new Lancashire Writing Hub website competition, and all you have to do to win a copy of these fabulous short stories is answer Nik’s question…

What’s the title of what I (recently mentioned on my blog) described as “possibly the funniest monologue in the world”?

Send your answer marked Not So Perfect to Jane at writing@theyeatculture.org by November 5^th !  All entries received will be put into the hat and the winner will receive a personally signed copy of Nik’s book.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 13th, 2010 at 1:00 pm and is filed under News, Opportunities. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.