{"id":15768,"date":"2012-10-17T00:01:53","date_gmt":"2012-10-17T04:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/terribleminds.com\/ramble\/?p=15768"},"modified":"2012-10-17T14:03:10","modified_gmt":"2012-10-17T18:03:10","slug":"margaret-atwood-the-terribleminds-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/terribleminds.com\/ramble\/2012\/10\/17\/margaret-atwood-the-terribleminds-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Margaret Atwood: The Terribleminds Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Turns out, Internet, that wishes <\/em>do come true. How do I know? Because I wished on Twitter for Margaret Atwood to consent to an interview here at terribleminds and, in what must have been a fit of temporary madness (or sinister genius), she agreed. (I’m sure by now she’s regretting it.) I know I don’t have to tell you who she is — all I need to say is it is an honor and a pleasure to have someone of her talent and stature hanging out with us roughshod riff raff here, today. You can find her all over the Internet, but let’s start with her website at margaretatwood.ca<\/a><\/strong><\/span> and, on Twitter, @margaretatwood<\/a><\/strong><\/span>. <\/em><\/p>\n

Let the interview commence!<\/em><\/p>\n

This is a blog about writing and storytelling. So, tell us a story. As short or long as you care to make it. As true or false as you see it.<\/h3>\n

Once upon a time there was an amoeba. It ate things and divided in two. Then there were two amoebas. They swam around and ate things and divided in two. Then there were four amoebas. This can go on for a long time, and is why we humans developed sex and plots instead.<\/p>\n

Why do you tell stories?<\/h3>\n

Because human beings are not amoebas \u2013 having been there and done that \u2013 they tell stories, as part of the package. We narrate, therefore we are. (And therefore we are not amoebas.) And I am a human being. Most of the time. Just not before breakfast. So I too narrate.<\/p>\n

Give the audience one piece of writing or storytelling advice:<\/h3>\n

\u201cMake \u2018em laugh, make \u2018em cry, make \u2018em wait.\u201d \u2013 Charles Dickens. Footnote: Maybe make \u2018em wait first? But not too long. Especially not for the first corpse, should you be writing a crime story.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the worst piece of writing\/storytelling advice you\u2019ve ever received?<\/h3>\n

\u201cShouldn\u2019t you give up the idea of being a writer, and get married and settle down instead?\u201d (My undergraduate advisor, 1961. Note the either\/or.)<\/p>\n

What goes into writing a strong character? Bonus round: give an example.<\/h3>\n

\u2018Strong\u2019 as in \u2018makes a strong impression and is strongly convincing,\u2019 I take it? Rather than \u2018is muscular and does not let people kick sand in face at beach?\u2019 Okay, thought so. Therefore: Has a purpose. Carries it out, albeit in devious ways, and not always with success. And: comes with memorable details attached. Example: Miss Havisham in Dickens\u2019 Great Expectations<\/strong>. Memorable detail: the spider-covered bridal cake. (Not especially arachnidally correct. But memorable!)<\/p>\n

Recommend a book, comic book, film, or game: something with great story. Go!<\/h3>\n

Great story = hooks you at once, pages must be turned? Or: everything in the story is necessary? Or: both?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s see\u2026 It was a dark and stormy night\u2026<\/p>\n

Maybe not.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll enter Poe\u2019s \u2018The Cask of Amontillado.\u2019 Short. Dark. Terse. Or Ray Bradbury\u2019s \u2018The Martian:\u2019 suggestive. Both make use of the repetitive patterning so noticeable in folktales.<\/p>\n

For cunning choice of narrators to relate an inherently incredible story, hard to beat Wuthering Heights<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Favorite word?<\/h3>\n

For turning the twist in a story? How about \u2018however,\u2019 \u2018despite that,\u2019 or \u2018nonetheless\u2019? Or \u2018meanwhile\u2019?<\/p>\n

Or do you mean \u2018much-used\u2019? (Thinks of several bad habits, such as \u2018thinks.\u2019)<\/p>\n

Or maybe just one that comes to mind at inopportune moments, such as \u2018mauve\u2019? (Exercise: Use this word in an accusatory sentence, such as: \u2018Why do you have to be so fucking mauve?\u2019)<\/p>\n

And then, the follow up: Favorite curse word?<\/h3>\n

Curse words never of course pass my lips, but they must pass those of some of my characters, the times being what they are, alas. Though their swearing is rather banal, I have to say. They say things like, \u2018Why do you have to be so fucking mauve?\u2019<\/p>\n

However, here is one that I have unfortunately never had occasion to use in a story: \u2018Crise de callisse de tabernak.\u2019 It\u2019s from Qu\u00e9bec, and is said to be rather strong. As in, \u2018Crise de calisse de tabernak, pourquoi cette connerie avec la mauve?\u2019 (Translation: \u2018Crisis of the chalice of the tabernacle, why this C-word stupidity with a mallow flower?\u2019) I don\u2019t want you using this in public, Chuck.<\/p>\n

Favorite alcoholic beverage? (If cocktail: provide recipe. If you don\u2019t drink alcohol, fine, fine, a non-alcoholic beverage will do.)<\/h3>\n

A: A single-malt Scotch, straight up. Water of Life. Good for the vocal chords.<\/p>\n

What skills do you bring to help the us win the inevitable war against the robots?<\/h3>\n

A: The knowledge that Robots-R-Us. They\u2019re only what we make them.<\/p>\n

(Of course, that\u2019s not very consoling, is it?)<\/p>\n

You continue to march up to the bleeding edge of publishing.\u00a0What do young writers and\u00a0storytellers need to know about the future of publishing?<\/h3>\n

First, write the story or book. The rest is presentation and\/or amusement.<\/p>\n

Second, for every story there is a listener. At least one. Somewhere. Some time.<\/p>\n

[check out Fanado<\/a><\/strong><\/span>. — c.<\/em>]<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve released two installments of your \u201cPositron\u201d e-book serial story so\u00a0far. Where does this series come from, and where will it go?<\/h3>\n

It came out of my concerns about the way the prison system is being\u00a0used in some places — as a job creation scheme.<\/p>\n

But then it took on a life of its own. I’ve just finished the third\u00a0installment… and there is TV series interest. So we will see where\u00a0it goes.<\/p>\n

Watch out for those blue knitted teddy bears…<\/p>\n

[you can find the first piece, “I’m Starved For You,” here<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, downloadable for a buck-ninety-nine. Second part, “Choke Collar,” is available right here<\/a><\/strong><\/span>. — c.<\/em>]<\/p>\n

I suspect I would be murdered where I stand if I did not ask about the final\u00a0book in the Maddaddam trilogy. Anything you can share? When might it exist?\u00a0What\u2019s contained within?<\/h3>\n

Scheduled for next fall (2013). Called MaddAddam. The world needs more Zeb,\u00a0or so I’ve been told. I am ever-obliging. (And yes, he does eat parts\u00a0of the co-pilot.)<\/p>\n

It seems to me that there exists a glimmer of The Handmaid\u2019s Tale in the\u00a0surge of dystopian literature right now, particularly within young adult\u00a0fiction. What is the power of the dystopia in fiction?<\/h3>\n

Ah. That’s a whole chapter in a book. Specifically, in In Other\u00a0Worlds<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, which oddly enough IS a book.\u00a0Now out in paperback from Anchor. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be coming to Canada for the first time in a couple months. As you are\u00a0one of Canada\u2019s pantheon of cultural gods, what should I know before I\u00a0arrive?<\/h3>\n

Oh Chuck. There is so much to share!<\/p>\n

First, Canada’s National Anthem is called “Canada’s Really Big,” by\u00a0the Arrogant Worms. (Try YouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/span>).<\/p>\n

Second, “poutine” is not what your girlfriend does with her lower lip\u00a0when she’s peeved with you. It’s a foodstuff, made of… but some\u00a0things are best learned by doing.<\/p>\n

Third, “an Atwood” is a hockey goalie move. If you don’t believe me, see:<\/p>\n

www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jkkwEXi-zZI<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And if you want to impress your Canadian hosts, tell them you are a\u00a0shoe fetishist and you just HAVE to get to the Bata Shoe Museum on\u00a0Bloor because Margaret Atwood’s blue shoes with carved heels and\u00a0peacock feathers are in there. They will be astounded by your inside\u00a0knowledge!<\/p>\n

Would I steer you wrong?<\/p>\n

You shall not escape this interview without recommending your favorite\u00a0single-malt Scotch, then. Well?<\/h3>\n

Whatever Graeme Gibson pours out of the bottle. Right now it’s the\u00a0Talisker, from the Isle of Skye.<\/p>\n

Up yer kilt.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next for you as a storyteller?<\/h3>\n

A guest appearance on Naomi Alderman\u2019s listen-while-you-run game, Zombies! Run!<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0I will play the last Canadian standing. Or the last Torontonian. Or the last person left in the Whole Foods on Avenue Road, fighting them off with organic grapefruits. Or something. By the way, Naomi and are writing a serial two-hander that also features zombies, and will appear on the website\u00a0Wattpad.com<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, beginning in late October. Am I having too much fun for an old person? Does it make me appear flighty?<\/p>\n

What does the future hold?<\/h3>\n

I never predict the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Turns out, Internet, that wishes do come true. How do I know? Because I wished on Twitter for Margaret Atwood to consent to an interview here at terribleminds and, in what must have been a fit of temporary madness (or sinister genius), she agreed. (I’m sure by now she’s regretting it.) I know I don’t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[77],"class_list":{"0":"post-15768","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"hentry","6":"category-theramble","7":"tag-interview","9":"no-featured-image"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pv7MR-46k","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/terribleminds.com\/ramble\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15768","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/terribleminds.com\/ramble\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/terribleminds.com\/ramble\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/terribleminds.com\/ramble\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/terribleminds.com\/ramble\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15768"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/terribleminds.com\/ramble\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15768\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15790,"href":"https:\/\/terribleminds.com\/ramble\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15768\/revisions\/15790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/terribleminds.com\/ramble\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15768"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/terribleminds.com\/ramble\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15768"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/terribleminds.com\/ramble\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15768"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}