The benefits of diverse interests (plus I met Rik Emmett!)

Writing life: 46

I wrote a post here more than a year ago about the role curiosity plays, not just in my reading and writing, but in my life. You can read it here. Today’s offering is in the same vein, but with more of a focus on how the diversity of my interests and experiences is reflected in my novels. Not to bury the lede (and yes, that’s the proper spelling of that journalistic term), but I believe my innate curiosity and resulting broad range of interests, has been a great gift to me as a writer.

“Write what you know”

Yes, it’s a very old and well-established writing cliché that I’ve always followed. This directive may have fallen out of fashion, and many writers and writing coaches now eschew the notion. I concede they may have a point.

One of my standard slides when talking about how I write.

But novelists strive to write with authenticity, conviction, and authority, and I just find it easier to achieve that—and I hope I occasionally do—if I’m writing about worlds I know, experiences I’ve had, subjects that interest me, and issues I care about. So I’m firmly in the “write what you know” camp, and likely always will be.

Back in 2014, I was the closing speaker at the Ontario Writers Conference. I talked, in part, about how my many and varied interests had shaped my writing. In preparing for the talk, I made of list of at least some of my interests over the years, and noted those which I’d used in at least one of my novels. It turned into one of the slides that supported my talk (see below).

A slide from my talk to close the 2014 Ontario Writers Conference.

Looking at the slide today, nearly a decade and five novels later, the only items that remain unchecked today in the slide’s “Not yet covered” column would be working at a gas station, and my short stint as a 10-year-old amateur detective. I’m not sure either will find their way into a future novel, but never say never.

If you suffer with insomnia, you can watch the whole talk below:

To take a closer look at this idea, I created a more detailed table below to give me—and I guess by extension, you—a clearer sense of how my own interests are manifested in my novels. Here’s what I came up with. I hope it’s self-explanatory but just to be certain, the red Xs simply indicate the novels in which the particular subject matters listed in the left hand column appear. I note that a minimum of five of my interests/experiences feature in each of my novels, with most of them reflecting more.

A table capturing how many of my interests and experiences feature in my novels.

My point

I’ve always thought there are certain common elements in my novels that yield a similar experience or feel for the reader. You know, there’s usually humour in them. So far, they’ve all featured first-person narrators. So far, those narrators tend to sound similar even though there are seven different characters narrating nine different novels. There’s often a primary relationship between the narrator and someone else, usually someone older. My novels tend to have happy endings. There is often a thread of sadness or at least melancholy to balance at least some of the humour, etc., etc.

I’ve worried a bit over the years that I might be rewriting the same story dynamic from novel to novel, but just with different subject, settings, and characters. On the other hand, I can’t tell you how many readers have conveyed to me that they’ve always loved how different my novels are from one another—politics, space flight, writing, sports, feminism, songwriting, espionage, and let’s not forget hovercrafts and fountain pens! So perhaps the diversity of my interests as reflected in my novels somehow masks those aforementioned similarities I’ve sometimes worried about.

Regardless, I’ve always felt blessed that my restless brain and abundant curiosity have led me to explore so many different subjects, worlds, and experiences. It’s certainly made it more interesting and satisfying to write about things that fascinate me. Perhaps more to the point, I’m convinced it’s made it easier for me to write with more confidence, commitment, and passion than if I were researching a completely new and unknown—to me—subject area, and then trying to write about it in a way that convinces readers that I know what I’m talking about.

As you may be able to tell, I’m still sorting out this idea. But writing about it has helped—at least it’s helped me.

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Oh yeah, I met Rik Emmett!

Yes, I know, this is the very definition of a non sequitur, but a week or so ago I was one of three writers appearing at an Author Series at the Art Gallery of Burlington organized by my friend Ian Elliot, the owner of A Different Drummer Books, a fine independent bookstore. I shared the stage with the revered journalist and writer, Roy MacGregor, and the fine novelist Alicia Elliott.

During the book signing in the intermission after my talk, a woman asked me to sign a book for her husband whose name was Rik. I immediately said, “oh, you mean like Triumph’s lead guitarist and singer, Rik Emmett”—he was the only other person I’d known about who spelled his name without the “c.” She replied, “Exactly. Rik Emmett is my husband and he’s sitting over there.” Rik Emmett, of his own free will—I checked—came to my book talk. (I know I look a little giddy in the photo below, but there’s a perfectly logical explanation. I was a little giddy in the photo below, and for quite some time thereafter.)

Rik Emmett with me last week. Rik shredding on stage in the early 80s.

I just about passed out. Rik Emmett is a legendary guitarist/singer/songwriter, and front man in one of Canada’s greatest rock bands. When I played in a band in university, we covered two Triumph songs. I happily signed a copy of A New Season for Rik. After the audience Q&A ended, Rik came up to the front and we had a lovely conversation as I tried not to appear on the outside like the rabid fanboy I felt like on the inside. He was lovely. I told him I’d just bought a copy of his recently released memoir a few days before. He kindly said he’d really enjoyed my novels. Needless to say, it was a thrill to meet him.

Check out Rik Emmett and Triumph at their peak, headlining the US Festival in San Bernardino, California, back in May of 1983. Magic Power is one of my favourite Triumph songs, performed before 400,000 fans. And by the way, Rik Emmett wrote this song. And what a voice! Man, it takes me back…

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