Garrett Addison

Garrett Addison

Garrett Addison is the author of The Traveller.

He grew up in Perth, Western Australia and now lives in Melbourne. We chat to Garrett about his book, what makes him laugh and what he would want with him on an Island…

Welcome Garrett. Can you tell us about your latest book, The Traveller?

It’s the story of a family man failing on all fronts; travelling too much to be a good parent and husband and yet still failing at work at the whims of a merciless manager nicknamed variously ‘the bitch’ and ‘the antichrist’.  But when he is strangely metamorphosised into a higher functioning corporate genius on an otherwise usual trip, he enjoys a walk on the dark side and inevitably embraces the lure of revenge on his boss … but nothing lasts forever. 

It’s a good fun roller-coaster of a story, and more than a little different.   There’s something in it for everyone; revenge, regret, redemption, surprises.  Enjoy.

For someone new to your books, can you describe your writing style?

Different.  I want to tell my stories my way, and I don’t really want to model my writing on anyone else.  If the result ‘works’, I’m happy.

What’s your writing day like?

I sleep in until the sound of the waves crashing wake me, and only after a relaxing walk on the beach and swim in the ocean do I even sit and write to the soothing sounds of passing humpback whale-song.  I write for a few hours until the call of a nubile maiden with chilled beverages coaxes me from literary mastery.  Then I wake up and find I have to go to my day job.  Most of my writing day actually happens late at night after everyone else goes to bed.

Do you plan? Also, when editing, do you edit as you go along or wait for a first draft?

I make it up entirely as I go along.  Often I start with a beginning and an ending in mind, but that’s really just to get me going and doesn’t mean that the final product will include either.  At first I needed to fight the inclination to edit as I went, but now I try to crank out the first draft, forget about it for a while, re-read it with a fresh set of eyes and then start re-writing … and then start editing in earnest.  Eventually I get to a point where I use text to speech software to create audio files from my writing so I can listen to what I’ve written on my iPod.  It’s amazing what you pick-up in your writing when you hear it being ‘read’ to you, and things that look great on the page really don’t sound right. 

Is there a fictional character you’d like to meet?

Jack Reacher of course.  I don’t really think he’d be a stimulating conversationalist, but interesting things seem to happen when he’s around.

What makes you laugh?

Stupid people.  

Do you get writers block and if so, how do you combat it?

I don’t really get writers block. Most of the time I’ve bigger issues with competing stories vying for attention. So, if the words aren’t flowing I start a new scene or a new story.  The downside is that I’ve got lots of story beginnings but have no idea where they’ll take me.

Do you think being a big reader is important to a writer?

 I do think you need to read a lot to write, otherwise you’ll unwittingly end up emulating what little you’ve read.

 If you could time travel, where would you go?

I’d love to be able to think of something noble or poignant, but I can’t get past the idea of positioning myself to be present at defining moments in history.  

Five pieces of advice for new writers?

1. Keep writing. 

2. Don’t give up (note that this is not the same #1). 

3. Accept that the final version is likely to be nothing like what you first thought. 

4. Finish it (most people who start writing don’t finish). 

5. Enjoy it.

Which three things would you take with you to a desert island? 

A mosquito net because I’m not an animal.  A sleeping bag because any idiot can be uncomfortable (and I’m not an idiot).  A hat because I hate getting a sunburnt skull … you’ll note I’m assuming it’s a glorious sun-bathed island, probably because I’m Australian.

What’s your favourite word?     

‘Bowdlerise’.  It came up first when an early reader of one of my stories pointed out that I’d been lazy in using swear words excessively.  I’m not above swearing by any stretch, but I’ve developed to not need for my characters to swear continually to demonstrate anger, surprise, resentment, boredom etc etc.  Sure, the ‘F bomb’ could be used, but your characters come alive if you bowdlerise your writing.

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Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.