Ben Hinshaw on the “Strange Channeling” of Writing
In Conversation with Lindsay Hunter on I'm a Writer But
Welcome to I’m a Writer But, where writers discuss their work, their lives, their other work, the stuff that takes up any free time they have, all the stuff they’re not able to get to, and the ways in which any of us get anything done. Plus: book recommendations, bad jokes, okay jokes, despair, joy, and anything else going on that week. Hosted by Lindsay Hunter.
*
Today, Ben Hinshaw discusses his debut novel, Exactly What You Mean, as well as shaping this novel-in-stories, how parenthood changed his writing, locating and maintaining his authentic voice, his process, the weird feelings that accompany publication, and more!
From the episode:
Ben Hinshaw: That’s what you’re aiming to do, isn’t it? Access something that’s out of your control or that you’re not consciously dictating—you want to channel something, whatever it is, and then as soon as you’ve done that, you don’t understand where it came from or where you found it. It just is there on the page. I think that’s what I find so fascinating about writing. […] when you have actually accessed it, and done that strange channeling, the feeling afterwards is so euphoric because you managed to find it and tap into it again. It’s just a constant struggle to get back to that feeling of writing something that you can’t explain its origin; it’s just coming out of you.
________________________
Ben Hinshaw’s writing has received an O. Henry Award and appeared in Granta, Harvard Review, Story, The Carolina Quarterly, The White Review and elsewhere. He earned his MA in creative writing at UC Davis and has received grants and scholarships from the Elizabeth George Foundation, Bread Loaf, and the Community of Writers. Born on the island of Guernsey, Ben has lived in London, Nottingham and Northern California. He currently lives on Guernsey with his wife and daughters. Ben’s debut novel is Exactly What You Mean, published by Viking and selected for BBC Two’s Between the Covers book club. Exactly What You Mean was called “brilliant” and “remarkable” by The Sunday Times, “a notable debut from a smart and capable author” by Hilary Mantel, and “riveting and beautifully patterned” by Max Porter.
