Write Now with Simon Stephenson
Today's Write Now interview features Simon Stephenson, author of Pixar’s LUCA, PADDINGTON 2, and THE SNOWMAN CODE.
Who are you?
My name is Simon Stephenson and I’m an author and screenwriter. I’m currently based in Los Angeles.
What do you write?
I am a jack-of-all-trades in that I've published four books and they are all different genres: a memoir, a sci-fi comedy, a murder-mystery and a middle grade novel. So by a process of elimination, next up will need to be a biography or some kind of textbook.
Where do you write?
At the most basic level, my weapon of choice is a MacBook with Pages. I prefer the simplicity of the interface, and likewise use Fade In for screenwriting for the same reason. I use Freedom to block the internet.
But the real challenge for me is the location. I like to be around others people, but I also like it to be pretty quiet, and those two things aren’t always simpatico.
I’ve tried just about everything over the years – home, shared offices, private offices, co-working spaces, libraries, coffee shops etc. — and I am still searching for the perfect place.
Or at least, I’m searching for another perfect place, When I lived in London I worked in the Reading Room of the British Library and it was great. There is absolutely no talking and I’d leave my phone in the locker downstairs, so it was like getting myself put in detention for the day. I got so much done.
I currently rotate between home and a coffee shop. But in a coffee shop I need a power outlet, at most a gentle buzz of conversation, and actual food because I can't eat pastries all day every day. That combination can be surprisingly hard to find.
Like many people, I find I do some of my best creative thinking on a plane. I wish there was some romantic literary reason — traveling freeing the senses or whatever — but I’m pretty sure it is just the relative hypoxia at altitude. full-on cardio can have similar effects on me.
When do you write?
I tend to let the work dictate my schedule. I start early and if something is a slog I will keep fighting it until 6 pm, but if it is flowing easily I will stay up till all hours happily losing all track of time. I seem to do my best work early in the morning and late at night.
Why do you write?
At this point it feels as necessary as breathing. If I didn't write I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.
How do you overcome writer's block?
I like that ‘Don’t get it right, get it written’, line but I like ‘Action precedes motivation,’ even more. Sometimes at the start of a new project I will be sure that I've finally forgotten how to write, and this is a terrible idea anyway, and what am I even doing? The only thing that ever works for me in that situation is chaining myself to my desk and plodding on until it comes good. Sometimes it takes days, sometimes weeks and sometimes months, but it does always happen.
Bonus: What do you enjoy doing when not writing?
My big release is cycling, a sport almost as masochistic as writing. I’m also learning the old time fiddle, which is an absolute joy to me if not my neighbors.
My thanks to Simon Stephenson for today's interview.
