"I guess D.H. Lawrence made me want to write."
Geoff Dyer
Geoff Dyer is the author of Ways of Telling: The Work of John Berger, The Ongoing Moment and most recently, Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi.
Where are you right now?
In my study, my lovely, perfect study, where I am so happy, but which in exactly seventeen days I will have to leave. We have sold our flat and don't know where we're going next. Why did we do that? Why did we visit such disruption on ourselves?
Where do you write?
Anywhere as long as I have a table and a chair and a room. I used to write in public places like cafés but now I regard writing as an essentially lavatorial activity, one requiring privacy.
How do you write?
On my Apple Mac iBook G4 which is nearing the end of its days - I've had it since 2004 and I have hated the keyboard for every second of that time. The keys are too close together so it's impossible to type two words without making at least three typos.
What keeps you writing?
The alternative - which I confess has its attractions - is to do nothing. Doing something makes me less susceptible to the numerous irritations that might otherwise overwhelm me. Writing gives my life the illusion of purpose, an identity and - this never ceases to amaze me - even brings in some dough.
Who do you write for?
Just me.
Do you discuss your work with anyone?
My wife, Rebecca; not because she's my wife - she used to work in publishing and is a very good editor.
How do you know if your work is good?
I think I am one of those writers whose editorial/critical capacity is, if anything, over-developed.
Do you have any unwritten characters in mind?
I don't really bother with characters.
Which book do you wish you'd written?
It's funny, that just doesn't apply. You know, you just do your thing.
And although, of course, you really enjoy stuff that other people have done you don't sort of covet it or have any desire to lay vicarious claim to it.
What is your literary guilty pleasure?
I really don't have one. Pleasure and guilt don't go together in my mind, but also I'm not capable of enjoying anything that I don't think is of a certain standard.
Which writer made you want to write?
D H Lawrence, I guess.
Who's the most exciting author writing today?
There are lots of them. Recently I was very excited by Wells Tower's Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned.
If you weren't writing you'd be...?
Depressed and susceptible and worrying about everything even more than I am already
What next?
More and more of the same.
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Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi is published by Canongate
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Tuesday, 22 December, 2009
In How I write
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