By BRUCE DENNILL
The Which Word, published by Mirari Press, is a novel about selfhood, women’s bonds, and the dangerous power of language. Author Catriona Ross talks about working on the book.
Writing a book is a huge commitment. What are the elements that need to be in place if you are going to meet whatever writing goals you set?
First, I need an intriguing topic. To sustain my motivation levels, it’s got to be a truly delicious, thrilling story or subject, ideally linked to a wider sense of purpose in my life. Then, discipline. I commit to writing a small amount regularly – 500 words (just over a page) four times a week. That adds up to over 8000 words a month, which means I can finish a book within a year. Of course, life happens and the schedule gets derailed at times, but I’ve learned not to worry too much and just to get back on track when I can. And stability. A calm headspace and minimal external upheaval help immeasurably. As Gustave Flaubert put it, “Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.” And finally, I need a quiet place to write. On my bed, usually!
Conversely, what are the strangest or most creative procrastination techniques you’ve devised to avoid all that work?
Hey, it’s not procrastination if you call it something else! Some days I don’t feel like sitting at my laptop and writing – usually because I’m tired or depleted. Then I give myself full permission to rest or go out to refill the creative well with new experiences, guilt free. Once my motivation levels rise, I go back to the book.
Is there a specific author (or writer, journalist, etc) who made you feel, “I want to be an author”? And what was it about them that spurred that feeling (anything from admirable eloquence to an outrageous public persona)?
That urge arose spontaneously. I was 19 and had just finished my first year of a Bachelor of Science, Zoology major, when this weird feeling came over me: I want to write something long. I’m going to try writing a novel. There are a few writers in my family, and my great-grandfather was the Scottish novelist and journalist Neil Munro, popular a hundred years ago – so I guess there’s printer’s ink in my blood. Later, I was inspired by Mary Wesley for her wit, verve and the boldness of her female protagonists, and over the years I’ve come to regard Margaret Atwood as a living saint of writing.
Do you tend to read the same kind of material (genre- or style-wise) that you prefer to write? If yes, what makes that particular niche so attractive to you? If no, what do you think it is that makes each different area appealing?
I read widely – memoirs, science, economic history, psychology, self-help, spirituality, literary fiction, well-written popular fiction and more – because any subject or story can be engrossing, given the right treatment. I try not to conform to the ‘rules’ of a particular genre when writing, but rather to draw out the strange beast that’s trying to come out of me; this means my books feature unusual combinations, whether they’re novels or non-fiction. The Which Word mixes up an urban mystery with spirituality and sex, and Animals at My Table, which I’m currently writing, unites environmentalism, memoir and humour. So perhaps, in general, my writing reflects the diversity of my reading.
Outside of your profession, what role do books play in your life? Are you constantly reading; is your house lined in bookshelves; are books the ideal gift to give or receive, etc?
I love inhabiting the world of ideas, and books are my constant companions. Usually I have two or three on the go simultaneously, but I keep as few of the titles I’ve read as possible or my small townhouse would be stuffed with them! The books we enjoy are so specific to our unique ‘flavour’ that I find it’s hard to choose one for someone as a gift, even if I know them very well. A book voucher, on the other hand – now there’s the perfect gift.
Who is your favourite literary character?
Topaz, the hilarious, free-spirited stepmother in Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle. And I’ve long had a soft spot for the mature, ethical Mr Knightley in Jane Austen’s Emma.