Meg Mason on Writing, Developing Taste, and Tolerance

17 snips

Jun 11, 2022

In this discussion, Meg Mason, a talented author known for her insightful work featured in The Financial Times and The New Yorker, dives into her acclaimed novel 'Sorrow and Bliss.' She passionately shares her journey of overcoming writing challenges, emphasizing the balance between personal style and publishing trends. The conversation touches on mental health and its societal stigma, exploring the importance of empathy and understanding. Mason also reflects on authenticity in writing and the significance of authentic representation in the literary world.

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ANECDOTE

Egg Roll Inspiration

Meg Mason's opening scene in Sorrow and Bliss involves a woman shoving an egg roll in her mouth at a party.
This detail came from observing life, storing it mentally, and retrieving it during writing.

INSIGHT

The Importance of Routine

Writers should "put their ass where their heart wants to be" (Stephen Pressfield) to find inspiration.
The act of sitting down to write opens a channel for creativity and allows you to receive inspiration.

ADVICE

Writing as Practice

Treat writing like any other skill, practice consistently to improve.
Don't expect to write well without putting in the hours.

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Ryan talks to author Meg Mason about her book Sorrow and Bliss, how to develop taste as a writer, the vitality of being tolerant and forgiving of others, and more.

Meg Mason began her career at the Financial Times and The Times of London. Her work has since appeared in The Sunday Times UK, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Sunday Telegraph. She has written humor for Sunday STYLE magazine and The New Yorker's Daily Shouts and been a regular columnist for GQ and contributor to ELLE, marie claire and Vogue.

Meg has written three books including the one we dive into today titled Sorrow and Bliss. When Meg first set out to write this book, she found herself stuck with 85,000 of a dreadful, untitled Christmas novel. After her own experiences with mental health, she ended presenting what is now Sorrow and Bliss to her publisher. The book is a reflection on situations that commonly exist beyond mental illness as well as within it, including the way that women are treated by the health system, and the way that families create intractable roles and scripts for one another.

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