Embrace the interconnectedness of writing styles to explore different genres and modes with ease.
Writing nonfiction narratives requires balancing authenticity with respecting the privacy and feelings of real-life individuals.
Luck and fortuitous circumstances play a significant role in a writer's career, alongside talent and skill.
Deep dives
The Importance of Breaking Free from Writing Boundaries
It is crucial to overcome the notion of segregating different writing styles into separate categories and instead embrace the interconnectedness of all forms of writing. By focusing on shared elements such as detail, truth, people, and narrative, writers can easily venture into different modes without difficulty.
Tom Bissell's Multidisciplinary Writing Career
Tom Bissell, a travel writer, has demonstrated his versatility by successfully writing travel books, short stories, video game scripts, and screenplays. His diverse range of writing has allowed him to explore different genres and maximize his opportunities for creativity and financial success.
Writing Truthfully and Vulnerably About Others and Oneself
Writing nonfiction narratives involves creating characters out of real people, including oneself. It requires the ability to share vulnerable, truthful aspects of one's own life while respecting the privacy and feelings of others involved. Striking a balance between portraying authenticity and protecting those individuals is essential for building trust with readers.
Luck and Nonlinear Paths in Writing Careers
Luck plays a significant role in a writer's career, just as it does in other creative professions. Opportunities often arise unexpectedly and are often influenced by external variables. The level of success or failure experienced by a writer is not solely determined by talent but is also impacted by fortuitous circumstances.
Finding Satisfaction Beyond Traditional Measures
Rather than measuring success solely through sales figures or external recognition, writers can find fulfillment by staying true to themselves and their craft. Focusing on personal pride, creative growth, and the satisfaction derived from telling meaningful stories can bring a deeper sense of accomplishment than mere commercial success.
“Not everyone who’s lucky is talented and not everyone who’s talented is lucky.” –Tom Bissell
In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Tom talk about Tom’s lack of travel experience when he joined the Peace Corps, and how he dealt with his early failures (2:30); the role that luck (as well as craft and obsessive reading) has played in his writing career (8:00); how, as a writer, to turn real-life people, including yourself, into convincingly human and honest nonfiction “characters” (16:00); Tom “failures” as a writer, the challenges of screenwriting, and the difficulty of writing books that sell (38:30); the book that Tom is most proud of, and how to get out of the success/failure dichotomy as a creative person (47:00); plus a post-interview segment about drinking in Paris (56:00).
