As part of the Short
Story Day Africa 2013 celebrations, @shortstoryAFR has compiled twenty-one interview
questions their followers want to know about writers in Africa.
Short Story Day Africa
brings together writers, readers, booksellers, publishers, teachers and school
children from all over the globe to write, submit, read, workshop and discuss
stories – and to foster the love of reading and writing African
fiction. Global support for the project is growing. Participate.
RACHEL
ZADOK author of the phenomenal SISTER SISTER invited me along to join the fun
The
Interview
Do you actually enjoy writing, or do you write because
you like the finished product?
There are moments I adore writing; there is a sense of connecting to a world greater than this reality and it fills me with wonder. Unfortunately, those moments are rarer than hen's teeth and mostly I hate writing. I write anyway, in constant search of That One Fleeting Moment. I invariably hate my finished product, because it's always less than the ideal I had in my head.
Have you ever killed off a character and regretted it?
No.The only character I've killed off had to die. His death was a critical lesson to one of the main characters.
If you could have any of your characters over for
dinner, which would it be and why?
I'd rather not invite them over, thanks. I had enough of them when I was writing the story. I'd rather spend time with my new characters.
Which one of your characters would you never invite
into your home and why?
Oops. I pre-empted this question in my answer above! See above.
Ernest Hemingway said: write drunk, edit sober. For or
against?
If against, are you for any other mind altering drug?
Our adult competition theme if Feast, Famine and
Potluck. Have you ever put food in your fiction? If so, what part did it
play in the story?
No. Because of my eating disorder, I have a love/hate relationship with food, so I'll never give food a starring role in anything I write. I hate movies with food scenes in as well.
What’s the most annoying question anyone’s ever asked
you in an interview?
Political questions. I'm not a political writer, I write about human nature, not politics.
If you could be any author other than yourself, who
would you be?
If you could go back in time and erase one thing you
had written from your writing history, what would it be and why?
My Masters thesis. It was a wasted two years of my life and did my confidence in myself and in my writing extreme damage that I'm still struggling to overcome today
What’s the most blatant lie you’ve ever told?
If someone reviews you badly, do you write them into
your next book/story and kill them?
What’s your favourite bad reviewer revenge fantasy?
What’s the most frustrating thing about being a writer
in Africa?
Have you ever written naked?
Does writing sex scenes make you blush?
Nope. Thinking about my mother reading them does.
Who would play you in the film of your life?
I would hope a talented unknown.
If you won the Caine Prize for African Fiction, what
would you do with the money?
Pay my husband back for all the money I've borrowed from him to pay for writing courses.
What do you consider your best piece of work to date?
What are you doing on 21 June 2013, to celebrate Short
Story Day Africa?
If I'm lucky I'll finish the short story I'm currently working on which is driving me crazy!
Support WRITERS IN AFRICA by buying our books and reading some talented authors!You can find RACHEL ZADOK and SHORT STORY AFRICA here:
twitter @rachelzadok
7 comments:
...great interview! "Have you ever written naked?" Never been asked that one before. Too funny.
I always enjoy reading your posts & interviews, Judy, thoughts and ideas from the other side of the globe. So very interesting ;)
El
Hi Judy .. I loved your Dancing in the Shadows of Love .. it is very African and very deep ..
Just bought The Fall: Tales from the Apocalypse ... and once I reset the Kindle .. I'll be reading your short story ..
Good luck with the new one .. just packed an SA friend off back to Jhb .. before she goes off to Grahamstown for the festival ..
Cheers Hilary
Thanks ELIOT! But didn't answer the question ... have YOU ever written naked?? :):)
HILARY: Your friend is in for some lovely winter weather - cold, but brilliant blue skies and lots of warm winter sun! Hope you enjoy THE FALL.
Great interview! Happy Short Story Day!
Thanks Sharon - I'm glad to say I did finish the short story I've been struggling with :)
I love your interviews as much as I love your own writing. :-) Many thanks.
Greetings from London.
Thanks Cuban - you've made my day (not original, I know, but the sentiment is heartfelt!) :)
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