AUTHOR SUCCESS INSIDER: CLIFFORD GARSTANG
ON BIG BLEND RADIO: Acclaimed author Clifford Garstang discusses his books and writing. Watch here in the YouTube player or download the episode on Podbean.
Clifford Garstang is the author of six works of fiction including the novels “The Last Bird of Paradise,” “Oliver’s Travels,” and “The Shaman of Turtle Valley,” and the short story collections “House of the Ancients and Other Stories,” “What the Zhang Boys Know,” and “In an Uncharted Country.” He is also the editor of the acclaimed anthology series, “Everywhere Stories: Short Fiction from a Small Planet.” A former international lawyer, he lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
So, what does it take to be successful as an author? Check out Clifford Garstang’s answers to our 10 Author Insider Questions about his writing career:
- What led you to a career as a writer and author?
The short answer is that I was a big reader as a kid, and in high school, I developed the ambition to become a writer. I don’t think I thought of it as a career option, however. I guess I was too young to be thinking about careers. Later, after college and after serving in the Peace Corps, I realized I wanted some kind of international career, which led me to become a lawyer. It was only when I had been a lawyer for twenty years and realized I’d had enough of it, that I began to pursue my childhood ambition. Fortunately, the legal career put me in a position where earning an income from my writing was not a top priority. Still, I’m not sure even now that I think of being a writer as a career. It’s more of a lifestyle, for me.
- What attributes do you have that make you a good fit for the lifestyle as an author?
Most of the attributes I can think of that a writer should have don’t really apply to me! A writer needs discipline, but I’m easily distracted. A writer should have a thick skin because critics can be harsh, but I’ve been known to stew for days (years?) over a bad review. A writer should be willing to scrap material that isn’t working, but I have a hard time letting go and always try to recycle anything that needs to be cut. On the other hand, I consider myself observant, which is helpful in formulating and fleshing out ideas. I also love to travel, which constantly refreshes my store of images and themes for new projects. Partly because of my legal training, I’m a stickler for facts and rules, which means I’m able to create work that flows logically and I can also be intentional when I’m breaking grammar conventions.
- Who or what inspires you?
The question is interesting because it is multi-faceted. On the one hand, individual projects find inspiration in a variety of places. For me, simply observing the world around me, especially when I travel to new places, fills me with creative ideas that inevitably influence the project at hand. On the other hand, I am inspired to work at the craft of writing by the many teachers I have had in my MFA program and at writers’ conferences. These include great writers like Tim O’Brien, Elizabeth Strout, and Grace Paley. I wouldn’t say that my work is anything like theirs, but I do hope to emulate their dedication and generosity of spirit.
- Describe your ideal reader.
My ideal readers are interested in more than the plot. They should appreciate setting and language and ask themselves why characters do what they do. Escapism is perfectly fine, but my work is exploring ideas that can be somewhat complex and I really hope that readers will think deeply about those ideas.
- What is your pet peeve regarding the publishing/writing industry?
My biggest pet peeve about publishing is that we have all come to accept the term “industry” in reference to it. It is a big business, and that is unfortunate. That has led to the homogenization of literature, which is evident simply from looking at book covers. Thrillers all look the same, as do romances and many mysteries, and for the most part, the content is just as formulaic, because the “industry” believes that’s what sells. There is very little room for divergence from these patterns, except on the fringes. So thank goodness for small presses that still value true creativity.
- What personal changes have you had to make in order to build your career as an author?
I’m not sure what I had to change, but shifting careers from lawyer to writer involved a lot of changes. For one thing, I moved from Washington DC, where I was working, to a rural community that was peaceful and less expensive. No longer having an office to go to left me isolated, another condition to which I had to adapt. I’ve also had to learn new skills in order to be more effective at promoting my work, since publishers don’t do as much of that as they once did, including arranging events and, more recently, learning some rudimentary graphic design tools.
- What do you consider your biggest challenge?
It’s complicated. On the one hand, it’s a huge challenge to get people to read my work. I’m obscure, I publish with small presses, I live in a small town (far from literary centers that might pay attention to minor writers), and one can only reach so many people through social media. On the other hand, it’s a challenge to overcome the need to be read. Why do I care so much? At the end of the day, I’m writing work that pleases me, about subjects that matter to me, and maybe I need to worry less about finding readers.
- If you could invite any three people (alive or passed on) for a dinner party, who would they be?
Hermann Hesse’s books first excited me about the serious ideas that literature could address, so I’d invite him. For many years I’ve been involved with a professional theater that produces, mostly, works by William Shakespeare, so let’s add him to the list. And because I’d like to have a woman at the table, Michelle Obama would make a great fourth, and because we both worked for the same law firm, there’s a remote possibility that we met.
- If you could switch careers for a day (just to learn something new), what would you choose?
I am fascinated by artists in other fields. I sort of get visual art, as I’ve observed them working and have written about artists. But I’m in awe of musicians. I have no idea how they do what they do. When I’m at a concert watching a virtuoso violinist or pianist, their performances seem almost impossible to me. It would take some serious magic to make it happen, but I’d love to be a classical pianist for a day.
- What is the most important tip you would pass on to another person just getting started in the world of being a writer or author?
Probably the most important advice I can give is to read widely and read well. Too many writers I know don’t read much or they don’t read in the genre they want to write in, or they read schlock. Reading schlock will make you a schlocky writer! Read good stuff.
Learn more about Clifford Garstang and his books at https://cliffordgarstang.com/