Margaret Atwood - Between The Lines Interview | CreativeLive

Summary

In this insightful conversation, Margaret Atwood discusses her lifelong relationship with storytelling, from her early experiences with oral and comic book storytelling to her later works, including *The Handmaid’s Tale*. She reflects on the creative process, the importance of character-driven narratives, and the challenges of writing, particularly the struggle with the blank page. Atwood also shares her thoughts on research, creativity, and the evolution of storytelling in the modern world. The conversation highlights her humor, humility, and deep engagement with history, literature, and the environment.

Takeaways

• 😀 Margaret Atwood believes storytelling began with the development of articulated language, allowing humans to convey past and future events through narrative.
• 😀 As a child, Atwood was influenced by her mother and older brother, both skilled oral storytellers. She also created her own books and comics, which fueled her interest in storytelling.
• 😀 Atwood initially struggled with creating compelling narratives, as seen in her first novel about an ant's life, which lacked dramatic events and plot progression.
• 😀 Atwood acknowledges that storytelling is a natural skill for children, as they grasp cause and effect and understand how to tell stories through sequence.
• 😀 Atwood’s early exposure to comic books taught her the value of dramatic action sequences, which later influenced her graphic novel *Angel Catbird*.
• 😀 While many writers may find formulaic genres easier to master, Atwood embraces the challenge of writing something new and unique with every project, always facing the blank page.
• 😀 Atwood discusses her writing process of creating first and then checking for historical accuracy later. She avoids over-researching upfront to maintain creativity.
• 😀 In *The Handmaid's Tale*, Atwood's work transcended its original medium, becoming a symbol of social and political movements, highlighting the deep impact of storytelling.
• 😀 Atwood warns that research, if overdone, can clutter the creative process. She prefers to write the story first and only do fact-checking when necessary.
• 😀 Atwood's advice to writers is to embrace the challenge of the blank page, as it signifies creativity and the avoidance of falling into repetitive patterns or formulaic writing.
• 😀 Atwood advocates for a focus on human behavior and the fate of the oceans in literature, suggesting books like *Behave* and *Plastic Ocean* for their deep examination of crucial issues facing humanity.

Q & A

How does Margaret Atwood view the process of storytelling?

Atwood sees storytelling as an inherent part of human nature, starting from a young age when children intuitively grasp narrative structure. She believes humans have an innate ability to tell stories, a skill that predates written language and is crucial to how we communicate and make sense of the world.

What was Atwood's first experience with storytelling?

Atwood's first experience with storytelling was through writing comic books as a child. She describes these early attempts as crucial in learning how to structure stories, though they were often simplistic and lacked drama until the later chapters.

How does Atwood tackle the challenge of the blank page when writing?

Atwood admits that the blank page is always daunting, no matter how experienced a writer becomes. She describes it as a challenge where you never know exactly where the story will go, making each writing experience feel like starting anew, regardless of the genre.

What is Atwood's approach to research when writing a book?

Atwood prefers a 'backward' approach to research, where she writes the story first and then checks the facts to ensure accuracy. She avoids over-researching upfront, as it can clutter the creative process and make the story feel too rigid.

Why does Atwood avoid extensive research before starting a project?

Atwood finds that doing too much research ahead of time can clutter her creative process. She believes that you often don't know what you will need until you're deep into the story, and over-preparing can make you feel compelled to use information that may not serve the narrative.

What is Atwood's opinion on adapting her works for film or television?

Atwood acknowledges the impact that adaptations of her works, such as *The Handmaid's Tale*, can have on both the original material and new audiences. She notes that visual representations, like the costumes in *The Handmaid's Tale*, can take on symbolic meaning and resonate in a way different from the original novel.

What personal influences shaped Atwood's early interest in storytelling?

Atwood's early interest in storytelling was influenced by her mother, who was a storyteller, and her older brother. She recalls their shared love of narrative and how, as children, they would create and share stories together, even making their own books.

How does Atwood view her relationship with her characters during the writing process?

Atwood describes her process as being heavily driven by the character. She believes that a good story starts with a person, their voice, and their situation. The setting and plot are often shaped by the characters themselves as they navigate through the narrative.

What kind of research did Atwood use for her novel *Alias Grace*?

For *Alias Grace*, Atwood used historical references such as the French Revolution and the tragic fate of historical figures like the princess of Tandem. She also looked into historical events such as the fate of the female philosopher Hypatia, who was killed by fanatical Christians. These elements provided a rich backdrop for the novel's exploration of women's experiences and social turmoil.

What book does Atwood recommend for understanding human behavior?

Atwood recommends *Behave* by Robert Sapolsky, a book that delves into human behavior from multiple perspectives. She believes understanding why people act the way they do—especially in difficult or violent situations—is crucial for making sense of human actions.

What book would Atwood recommend to address the global environmental crisis?

Atwood recommends *Plastic Ocean*, a book that discusses the impact of plastic pollution on the oceans and the environment. She believes that understanding the fate of the oceans is essential because they play a critical role in sustaining life on Earth.