The Active Voice
The Active Voice: George Saunders thinks you should watch your mind
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Value kindness in life by minimizing regrets of not being kind
- Embrace constructive criticism for growth and improvement as a writer
- Commit to artistic discipline and perseverance for personal and creative growth
Deep dives
Importance of Authenticity in Writing
Maintaining authenticity and true to oneself emerged prominently in the podcast episode. George Saunders discussed his decision to stay away from social media, highlighting how he felt agitated and uncomfortable with the speed and nature of online interactions. By observing his reactions and understanding his need for attention, Saunders learned to protect his creative energy by avoiding social media distractions, allowing him to focus on his writing and maintain a genuine connection with his work.
Navigating Criticism and Self-Reflection
The podcast delved into the significance of handling criticism and self-reflection as a writer. Saunders shared his experience with critiques and how he processes feedback over time. He emphasized the value of constructive criticism, acknowledging its role in his growth as a writer. By engaging with reviews and extracting valuable insights, Saunders demonstrated a mature approach to evaluating critiques and integrating meaningful feedback into his writing.
The Transformative Power of Artistic Discipline
The transformative journey of artistic discipline and self-discovery was a key theme in the podcast episode. Saunders reflected on his evolution as a writer, tracing his diverse career background to his current success. He emphasized the importance of perseverance and dedication to honing one's craft, illustrating how his commitment to continuous improvement and deep engagement with his stories led to personal growth, artistic fulfillment, and creative satisfaction.
Advice for Writers Struggling in a Challenging Economy
Navigating the uncertainty of a writer's life in an economy that may not favor them can be daunting. The speaker acknowledges the difficulty faced by writers and shares a personal reflection on their early struggles. They emphasize the importance of perseverance and self-discovery in the writing journey, highlighting that growth and success may not be immediate.
Challenges of Social Media Feedback on Creative Work
The impact of social media on writers and artists is explored, revealing the brutal and instant nature of feedback. The speaker reflects on the challenges of public sharing and criticism, noting a shift towards harsher online interactions. They share their experiences with social media feedback, highlighting the importance of creating a supportive and thoughtful community for creative expression.
A couple of days after I interviewed George Saunders for the first episode of this podcast, I caught up on some of his recent posts on Story Club, his writing-focused Substack. In “A Lost Speech, Found,” he wrote about rediscovering the script for a graduation speech he had given many years ago. The speech would earn him a reputation as “The Kindness Guy.”
“If the question ‘How should I live’ can be answered: ‘Live so as to minimize your regrets,’” he had said in that speech, “then I have to tell you: What you actually regret, when you’re older, is very simple: You regret the times you could have been kind, and weren’t.”
Saunders, one of the world’s greatest short story writers and winner of the 2017 Booker Prize for his first novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, was certainly kind to me. We sat together at a lunch table under a tree in a Santa Monica park for an hour and half. George patiently answered my questions about how to live a good life as a writer when so many social and economic forces make it so complicated. We talked about modes of thinking and how to negotiate with one’s ego, and how he writes to tame his “monkey brain.” We talked about the trope of the starving artist, and what it takes to make a living as a modern-day writer. And we talked about the corrosive effects of social media, which in so many cases encourages and rewards the opposite of kindness.
I can’t think of a better first guest for this podcast than The Kindness Guy. After the interview, George texted me to say, “Feel free to edit out any stupidity.” I couldn’t find any.
Show notes
*Story Club with George Saunders
*Liberation Day: Stories, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, Tenth of December: Stories, and Lincoln in the Bardo
*[5:15] Reading comments and reviews
*[8:07] Artistic pride and ambition
*[11:25] The social media self
*[16:13] Becoming a short story writer
*[21:00] Life at 60
*[27:55] Online personas and the act of writing
*[37:57] The craft of story
*[46:48] Story Club on Substack
*[50:10] Juggling writing and life
*[55:04] On Liberation Day
*[1:00:39] Trying to be happy
The Active Voice is a new podcast hosted by Hamish McKenzie, featuring weekly conversations with writers about how the internet is affecting the way they live and write. It is edited and produced by Hanne Winarsky, with content production by Hannah Ray and production support by Bailey Richardson. All artwork is by Joro Chen, and music is by Phelps & Munro.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit post.substack.com
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