Improve Your Writing by Reading Author Interviews

I love hearing writers talk about their writing process and craft. It inspires me not to copy their process but to reflect on my own. What has been working for me? What doesn’t? What else could I try to make myself a better writer?

I remember reading an interview with Philip Roth in the New York Times a few years ago. I don’t remember how or why it caught my attention because [insert embarrassed face here] I have never read any of his books. But some of the quotes from the interview made me feel better about my writing.

For example, he said, “Writing is frustration – it’s daily frustration, not to mention humiliation. It’s just like baseball: you fail two-thirds of the time.”

Clearly not an inspirational quote. However, it feels good to know that a well-acclaimed author also feels self-doubt, even humiliation, about his writing. Yet persisted and published.

It’s my love of discussing the writing process and craft that has inspired me to collect author interviews. I’m providing you with some author interview links below.

Of course, seek interviews with your favorite authors, but don’t be afraid to listen to or read an interview with an author outside of your preferred genre or an author you’ve never read. These are important, too, to provide additional perspectives to your ideas on the writing craft.

Have other author interview that inspired you? Share them in the comments below!

Links for Author Interviews:

• 50 Famous Author Interviews
• Writer’s Digest Author Interviews
• Goodreads Author Interviews
• The Paris Review Author Interviews
• New York Times By-the-Book Author Interviews
• New York Times Author Interviews
• NPR Author Interviews

Enjoy!

Compiled by Anne Greenawalt – follow me for a fusion of creative writing and competitive sports with a twist of feminist intent