#194: Kevin Barry, novelist and short-story writer
Sep 3, 2024
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Kevin Barry, a celebrated novelist and short-story writer with accolades like the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, dives into his creative journey. He shares the backstory of his latest work, 'The Heart in Winter,' revealing its evolution since 1999. Barry discusses the challenges faced by his character Tom Rourke in a 1890s Montana mining town, alongside reflections on the Irish diaspora. He also explores the balance between planning and spontaneity in writing, while highlighting the influence of Irish literary giants on his work.
Kevin Barry's evolution as a writer is evident as he revisits and reimagines a long-abandoned novel through fresh character perspectives and insights.
The intimate relationship between Tom and Polly serves as a reflection of broader societal themes, exemplifying love's complexities within a historical context.
Barry's writing method combines planning and spontaneity, allowing for creative discovery while ensuring authenticity in character development and narrative flow.
Deep dives
The Journey to The Heart in Winter
The author Kevin Barry revisits a novel idea that he initially started in 1999, accumulating 120,000 words but eventually realizing that the draft did not meet his expectations. After struggling with character development and feeling the novel was lacking depth, he set it aside for over two decades. In 2021, during the pandemic, inspiration struck when he imagined two lovers, Tom and Polly, rekindling the story in an entirely different light. This smaller, more focused narrative allowed him to explore the themes and emotions he originally sought after, showcasing the evolution of his writing process.
Rediscovering and Refining Research
Returning to this older project, Barry felt confident using the material from his earlier research, recalling the history of Butte, Montana, and its significance to Irish immigrants in the late 19th century. He emphasized how the time elapsed allowed him to approach the research with fresh eyes, appreciating the original material without feeling the need to revisit it extensively. This time, he focused on distilling the rich cultural backdrop into a more intimate story about his central characters. By effectively simplifying the narrative, he successfully captured the essence of the setting and the characters' experiences.
Character Development and Voice
Barry's main characters, Tom and Polly, emerged from deep personal reflections that connected his own youthful experiences with literary ambition and struggle. Tom is depicted as a troubled but ambitious literary man, while Polly represents a liberated figure in a restrictive environment. Their impulsive romance amidst adversity mirrors the societal challenges of 1890s Montana, adding depth to their interactions. This relationship serves as a narrative vehicle for exploring broader themes of love, desire, and personal agency, which resonated with Barry's writing style focused on emotional authenticity.
The Writing Process: A Balance of Structure and Freedom
Barry speaks about his writing method, which balances planning with spontaneity, highlighting the challenge of maintaining momentum and emotional clarity in his stories. He prefers to have a sense of the beginning and a vague idea of the ending but allows the middle to unfold organically, which he believes fosters creative discovery. By writing character perspectives in alternating weeks, he ensures both characters come alive and feel authentic on the page. This approach helps him maintain a fresh narrative flow while preventing monotony in the writing process.
The Impact of Literary Traditions and Community
Barry reflects on the Irish literary tradition, positioning his work within a lineage that includes both revered and rogue writers who play with form and voice. He embraces the evolving landscape of contemporary Irish writing, where a plethora of talented authors challenge expectations and redefine narratives. His involvement in the Winter Papers anthology reveals a thriving literary scene in Ireland, inspiring local writers to push their boundaries. This dynamic literary community motivates him to continuously improve and innovate in his own craft, recognizing the power of collective creativity to elevate individual pursuits.
Simon and Rachel speak to Kevin Barry, a novelist and short-story writer. Kevin is the author of four novels and three story collections. His awards include the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the Goldsmiths Prize, the Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award and the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature. His stories and essays have appeared in the New Yorker, Granta and elsewhere. His novel, "Night Boat to Tangier",was a number-one bestseller in Ireland, was longlisted for the Booker Prize and named one of the Top Ten Books of the Year by the New York Times. Kevin also works as a playwright and screenwriter. We spoke to him about forcing himself to become a novelist, writing short stories and screenplays, and about his latest book, "The Heart in Winter."
You can find us online at alwaystakenotes.com, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Our crowdfunding page is patreon.com/alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.
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