Over the course of the winter 2010 edition of S.W.A.T., we're posting brief interviews with each of our participating Writers-in-Residence. We want to give all of you a chance to get to know the amazing people who work so hard to make the S.W.A.T. program a success!
Today we present the second of our twelve writer interviews - with the amazing Aaron Tucker!
Aaron's most recent work has appeared in Descant, Rampike and The Windsor Review. He also publishes regular reviews for Broken Pencil, Matrix and The Danforth Review in addition to running the poetry criticism site Agora. He is currently teaching at Ryerson University. This year, Aaron Tucker is the S.W.A.T. Writer-in-Residence for Bishop Allen.
Our Q & A with Aaron Tucker… after the jump!
NOW HEAR THIS!: What inspired you to become a writer?
Aaron Tucker: I had a third grade teacher that had us keep daily journals and I turned mine into a 9 volume ninja adventure. I always loved reading (Hardy Boys, R.L. Stine, comic books) and when my teacher pushed me to write I realized that it was something I really liked doing.
NHT!: What was your favourite book when you were 15?
AT: Needful Things by Stephen King. I read everything by him. And John Grisham.
NHT!: What recently published book do you wish you could have read when you were 15?
AT: Not that recent but Aqueduct by Gerry Shikatani. I think my 15 year old self would have been able to grasp some of the main ideas and appreciated the gorgeous writing.
NHT!: What book(s) are you reading right now?
AT: I just finished Gregory Betts' The Others Raisd in Me. My brain candy reading is Tall Tales by Terry Pluto (an oral history of the early years of the NBA).
NHT!: What are you writing right now?
AT: I’m working on a long poem called “Under.” It’s trying to discuss global warming and deep sea creatures.
NHT!: Where is your favourite place to write?
AT: I have a really nice office at home that I love to work from. It’s got a window that looks out onto the backyard/garden. Lots of natural light.
NHT!: Do you do a lot of research when you’re writing fiction or poetry?
AT: I spend probably as much time reading as I do writing. I find the research process very inspiring.
NHT!: Do you write with an audience in mind or just for yourself?
AT: I usually write with a goal that is pretty far removed from audience. I try to pick projects that I think are interesting but also unique. That’s not to say I don’t share my work along the way; I have a lot of really great friends that give fantastic feedback.
NHT!: What was the first thing you published and (if you don’t mind us asking) how old were you?
AT: It was a poem in magazine (Chaos I think…) while I was at University in Victoria. I was probably 20 or so.
NHT!: What’s the best advice you received as a young writer?
AT: Read more than you write. Read what other writers are doing (or have done), read newspapers and magazines and novels. As I got older the best advice I got was from my writer in residence who said you should always write much more than you publish.
NHT!: What advice do you have for young writers who are trying to get published?
AT: Probably the same as the question above. A writer needs to read A LOT. I guess beyond that, don’t be afraid to share your work with others and seek out constructive criticism/feedback.
Look out for our next writer interview with Angela Szczepaniak. It will be posted to the NOW HEAR THIS! blog on Friday, March 5!
