When a cassette tape containing a never-before-heard interview with iconic writer Ray Bradbury was discovered, OF COURSE the awesome folks at Blank on Blank made an animation of it, and I'm so glad they did. Ray Bradbury is my favorite author OF. ALL. TIME. I literally sobbed for a good half-hour when he died. Dandelion Wine and The Martian Chronicles are at the top of my list for must-read fiction. The man was a creative genius, and he has some impeccable advice for writers in this interview.
TBH, I don't tooootally agree with him that you have to always 'feel' a story to write it--I think that gets you started, but I think the resolution of a stubborn tortoise is also necessary to take it past the finish line. But I ALSO secretly theorize that, if questioned further, Bradbury would have agreed with that statement, too--he, after all, is known for writing 1000 words ever day the moment he woke up. That kind of commitment comes from serious discipline, not just feelings.
Then again, who am I to contest the timeless wisdom of this demi-god of American fiction? NOBODY, that's who, so you better just go ahead and watch this awesome vid before you listen me too much.
Originally Published April 30th, 2015