John Irving interview (1998) 

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Soo many golden nuggets in just one interview - incredible

I've watched this interview so many times already, and it just doesn't get old. I find John Irving to be very inspiring---the way he talks about his writing, and his process. I love it.

John: "I still write by hand." Charlie: "Why?" John: "Because I love it." Me, too, Mr. Irving. Me, too.

His synopsis on why Ruth becomes a writer, based off the picture hooks, is incredibly brilliant. What an amazing writer this John Irving.

I'd love to be able to read one of Irving's early manuscripts. Especially A Widow for One Year and A Prayer for Owen Meany. Those for me are Irving's best books.

On a more serious note - he is talking soooooo fast here. Shocker! I thought his talking pattern, with the broken, slowness was innate. Fascinating.

His first mentor, wrestling coach Ted Seabrooke, taught him that talent was overrated. "That you don't have talent needn't be the end of it." His successes at wrestling and at writing - and his advice to us - all stem from this notion: have DISCIPLINE and you'll succeed, even with only the smallest amount of actual talent and ability. For the writer: force yourself to write every day, and then revise, revise, revise. Irving says here what writing instructor Anne Lamott has said: get out there and write a shitty first draft. Then edit the hell out of it.

Can't wait to get my copy of A Widow for One Year. John Irving is a true artiste with the written word.

Thank you.

Write something and then rewrite it 99 times, at least. John Irving has really inspired my writing method.

Know the ending when you begin!

I'm coming to the end of "A Widow For One Year."

John Irving is a good writer.

Truly horrendous questions from Rose

6:50

Hot!