There are plenty of gurus out there who tell us how to set up the best site, how to write the perfect blog post, how to attract traffic, how to turn traffic into sales, how to ensure that those customers will be returning ones and so on and so forth. One suggestion comes up over and over: write posts that are short and snappy because people scan pages and don't read blocks of text. I say screw that dear reader. My brain has yet to short-circuit into a blue screen of death because of a paragraph longer than two lines and by the look of things, people on here seem more intellectually developed than a one-year old pointing at 'the cat is on the mat' in his fabric book. We can deal with words, yes we can.
This is the reason why today's guest is Josh Hanagarne, otherwise known as The World's Strongest Librarian. I wanted him here because his site, and his success, demonstrates that it is style, and not just content, that matters. Josh writes first and foremost for himself and isn't afraid of admitting it and there is nothing I like better than a good-natured, honest guy (and nothing I hate better than false modesty). Visit his online home and you will find long posts, short posts, funny posts, poignant posts, big blocks of texts and little lists; by being himself Josh is constantly attracting a variety of readers who do not care about what makes a blog 'successful' but who love what he writes, no matter how he writes it. Then, of course, there is the concept of Perpetual Progress which is what is at the forefront of my mind as I wince and whimper my way through my daily Tracy Anderson DVD (people: it works). Finally came Josh's love and first novel The Knot, where sparks fly in Josh's unbridled prose. Today I give you the Strongest Librarian, enjoy!
***
What is your idea of perfect writing?
For me, there is nothing I enjoy more than reading a paragraph and realizing "Wow, the author had an absolute blast writing this." My favorite authors enjoyed their writing. You can read just about every sentence they wrote and know how fired up they were just to be involved in creating something they cared about. If that's not perfect, I don't care what is.
What is your greatest writing fear?
I don't have any writing fears. If I can just make myself sit down, I'll write something. Maybe it won't be good, but parts of it will be good. There's almost always something worth salvaging. My fear is that the day will come when I can't make myself sit down in front of the computer. That's the hard part sometimes.
What do you consider your greatest writing achievement?
Whether you would consider me a good writer or a catastrophic failure, there is one thing I know: whatever I am, I'm always getting better. Our bodies and minds are always learning. I don't believe it is possible to plateau or stay the same. Every second is a unique moment in which we change. If this is true, there is only better and worse. I believe that I'm always getting better. This takes constant vigilance and self-scrutiny. If I'm right, I consider that an achievement.
What is the writing tendency you most deplore in yourself?
Letting myself get distracted when the writing is not coming easily. Other books, other projects, twitter and facebook, phone calls to friends, blogging, etc. I'm trying to get to the point where I'm only doing one thing at a time, and whatever that thing is, I'm doing it as well as it can be done.
Which living writer do you most admire?
I'm going to say Kurt Vonnegut, because I can still barely acknowledge the fact that he's gone. Other than that, I would say that ideally we are each our own hero first. Once someone is on a pedestal, they usually wind up getting knocked off, or dusty.
What is your greatest writing extravagance?
I don't even know what that means. I love to write, and I'd do it with a crayon in my mouth if that's all I had. I have a crappy laptop and an iMac. I'll let you decide how extravagant that is:)
What is the quality you most admire in somebody else's writing?
They write for themselves first. They write because they can't imagine a life without the process.
What or who is your greatest writing love?
When I was writing The Knot, the book I self-published as a lark this month. Where I was: a very dark place, during the rock bottom years with my health challenges. But that book saved me. I learned how much I loved to write, I committed to a long project, and I finished it. Even if nobody else ever reads your book, there is nothing like finishing a book. There is nothing quite as fun as seeing the pages add up and knowing that the end is coming.
When and where were you happiest with your writing?
I was happiest then because it didn't feel like writing.
If you could change a thing about your writing, what would it be?
No more typos. I still miss them, no matter how many times I check my writing.
What is the most marked characteristic of your writing?
It's lively and conversational. I definitely write to one person.
Who are your writing heroes?
Vonnegut, Twain, Francoise Rabelais, Cervantes, H.L. Mencken, Dan Simmons, Frank Herbert, Joseph Heller, Cormac McCarthy, Grouch Marx. There are more, but these are the writers who have affected me the most.
How do you hope your writing will be referred to as long after you've gone?
I couldn't care less if someone refers to my writing. Once I'm gone, I think I'll care even less that that, if that were possible. Don't get me wrong, I love it that people are enjoying what I do. But what I do, I do for me.
What is your writing motto?
It's a joke, but every time I write, I say to myself, "Every time you push publish, somewhere, someone's blog dies." I can't remember who first said that to me. It's not like I believe it, but it's embedded! Other than that I'd say: Keep it fun or you won't keep it.
Madame S., thanks for being a great hostess. The interview was a lot of fun. I love what you're doing here. I'd love it even if I couldn't look at my own hideous face on your exquisite blog!
Posted by: Josh Hanagarne | 05 May 2010 at 18:19
"We can deal with words, yes we can."
*clap*clap*clap* on that sentiment. My blog posts are consistently lengthy, but whereas I'm probably just enabling my babbling, the lengthy posts written by others that I enjoy reading are driven by substance. The brief ones tend to sound cranked out and fluffy, bearing little takeaway value for me personally.
A second round of applause now for The World's Strongest Librarian! I've only recently discovered Josh's blog and am thoroughly enjoying it, as I just did his interview here. An engaging voice, and I look forward to reading his book, which is on its way to my doorstep :)
This blog is likewise a new discovery for me--will be following it as a writing resource. Thank you for the insights!
Posted by: Thefallenmonkey | 05 May 2010 at 19:23
Thank *you* Josh. And you ain't half as ugly as you think you are!
Monkey, very nice to meet you! Don't get me started on the whole 'posts should be short and snappy'. I could rant on for an age and maybe one day I will!
Posted by: Steph | 06 May 2010 at 14:40