Smackdown Success Story: Pete Hautman

Pete Hautman is a full-time novelist. His book Godless won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature in 2004. And if you loved that book (I did! I did!) then you can check out the twenty other books (and counting) he has out now. Both my husband and stepson read and praised Rash for days. That’s the next book on my list.

 I had a conversation with a man the other day who claimed that men don’t have Inner Critics, only women do. What do you think about that?

I think that man is not listening.

Do you have an Inner Critic?

His name is Alan.

What kinds of things does your Inner Critic say to you?

He thinks I should abandon the concept of metaphor and get on with the story.

What is the worst thing it’s ever said to you?

You suck.  Your father would hate this.  Your mother would be ashamed.  You are irrelevant.  Everyone will be glad when you die.  You smell weird. 

After you won the National Book Award did you experience any backlash when you showed up at the desk because you won such a prestigious award? Was it easier or harder to start the next project?

What desk?  My desk?  No, it made no difference in my writing.  Nobody other than Philip Roth wins the National Book Award twice; I’ve had my moment.  As for going forward, I had several books in the works already, and a host of ideas on deck (sports metaphor-it’s a guy thing) and hey, if I don’t write I don’t eat.  I’m now writing books I knew I was going to write years ago. 

What techniques have you used to smackdown your Inner Critic day after day, book after book?

Alan is a wimp.  I give him a look and he folds.  Hah.  Take that, Alan.  What?  What do you mean?  Really?  I do not!  Leave me alone.  I’m going to get drunk now. 

If your Inner Critic was a character, what would it be?

This really intolerant and tasteless guy named Alan who has NO FREAKING IDEA what it takes to write a book.

Has your Inner Critic ever been useful?

Well, he kept me from submitting work to publishers until I was 38 years old.  I guess that prevented a lot of breathtakingly awful prose from wasting some poor editor’s precious time.

How do you motivate yourself to finish things?

Hubris, shame, and outstanding bills.

Does a successful author like you continue to have fears and doubts that the Inner Critic beats you up with? If so, what are they?

What is it with you and Alan?  Did he do something terrible to you when you were a child?

If you don’t have a problem with the Inner Critic when it comes to writing, are there other areas of your life it shows up?

It?  Meaning Alan, or writing?  Okay, I cannot bear to dance, or sing, in public.

Is there a time when you were nervous or fearful and you did whatever it was you were nervous about anyway?

Yes. 

How?

I closed my eyes and did it.  There’s not much more to it than that.  Close your eyes really tight.  It helps.

What advice would you give to people who were stuck in inaction because they were afraid to take risks, hear criticism, etc.?

If you can’t handle criticism and rejection, and you still want to be in an artist, prepare yourself to be miserable.  Or give yourself a break and get a real job.

What are your favorite sources of inspiration?

Memories, Nature, News.  In that order. 

Is there anything else you’d like to add?  

Alan, I’m sorry!=