Curtis Sittenfeld, author of the bestselling novels “Prep” and more recently “The Man of My Dreams,” gave the Emerald insight on how young writers can flourish. Her own books follow the lives of young women coming of age and have received praise for their wit, humor and intelligence. Her debut novel, “Prep,” was chosen by The New York Times as one of the top-ten reads of 2005, and Paramount Pictures has optioned the story, as well. The author will drop by the University Bookstore Wednesday, April 25 for a reading, question-and-answer session and signing beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Oregon Daily Emerald: You’ve been published in mainstream magazines since your teen years. How and why did you start writing so young?
Curtis Sittenfeld: I started writing stories as soon as I learned to read and write – when I was five or six. It wasn’t really a conscious decision, more just something I felt the natural impulse to do. I always loved to have books read to me and to read on my own, and I think a lot of people begin to write because they admire fiction by other people so much that they want to see if they can create it themselves. When I was younger I loved the first “Boxcar Children” book (the sequels didn’t exist in my youth), the Ramona Quimby books by Beverly Cleary, and the Anastasia Krupnik books by Lois Lowry. Around fifth grade, I got sucked into the world of Sweet Valley High.
ODE: What advice would you give to young writers, especially those in college?
CS: Write what’s interesting to you and don’t worry too much about publication. Also, try to write in as clear and precise a way as possible; don’t focus on constructing “beautiful” sentences because that can often result in overwritten work. If you’re interested in writing as more than a hobby, I think MFA programs (Master’s of Fine Arts) can be really wonderful, but don’t go to an expensive one because it’s not worth it.
ODE: You write several essays for magazines in addition to your fiction works. Do you prefer one style above another?
CS: Fiction is closest to my heart. I believe it requires the most concentration and is the hardest but most rewarding kind of writing. I’ve worked as a reporter on and off since I graduated from college in 1997, and that also can be very interesting in a completely different way – instead of sitting in a room alone, you go out and see people on their turf and ask them intrusive questions.
ODE: How much did your own experience in school influence the plot or characters in “Prep?”
CS: I did attend boarding school, and the setting in Ault is much like the setting of my school. But the characters, events, and dialogue are overwhelmingly made-up.
ODE: How did this novel’s international success affect writing your second novel “Man of My Dreams?”
CS: I had written 3/4 of The Man of My Dreams before Prep was published, so although the second one was published under a certain amount of pressure, it wasn’t written that way. And in any case, “pressure” is sort of an abstract phenomenon – when I’m typing at my computer, the person I’m trying to most impress or entertain is really myself. Overall, I feel lucky that Prep was successful, but it doesn’t affect me much on a daily basis.
ODE: How should readers who haven’t picked up “Man of My Dreams” approach the book?
CS: With great enthusiasm! (Just kidding.)
ODE:What aspects of the new novel were struggles to write?
CS: I wanted to keep the main character, Hannah, consistent – she’s pretty observant and neurotic, but I also think she has a sense of humor – while always putting her in new situations; that is, I wanted the same themes to arise more than once, but I didn’t want the book to be repetitive.
ODE: What is the best and the worst part of being a writer, or in your case, a well-known author?
CS: The best part is having so much control over my time (which is code for wearing sweatpants all day!) and getting to focus on something that’s very interesting to me. As for the worst part, while I am perfectly capable of ranting and complaining, I’m hesitant to do so publicly – it feels unseemly.
ODE: What’s it like going on book tours? Do you like it?
CS: I don’t particularly love it or hate it. Generally, I’m a homebody – I like making dinner with my boyfriend, watching “The Office,” playing Scrabble, and just generally being boring. But of course it’s good to go into the world, too, and I feel lucky to be supported by my publisher because not all writers are.
ODE: Have you met anyone interesting on the way?
CS: One fun aspect of touring is that people from your past – your childhood next-door neighbor, your old college classmate, your second cousin – will show up unexpectedly. The awkward part is that often it’s hard to remember their name. This sounds pretentious, but it’s true – when you see someone completely out of context, your brain can go blank. And it’s even more awkward if you’re signing their book!
ODE: What should people expect from your upcoming reading in Eugene?
CS: It’s going to be a life-altering literary experience for everyone involved! No, seriously, I’ll read a little from The Man of My Dreams, and there’ll be a Q+A when people can ask whatever they want (well, within reason), and then I’ll sign books. When I visit colleges, I sometimes read from a section of the book where the main character is in college – she goes to a party, falls asleep, and, to her dismay, wakes up to find a couple drunkenly hooking up in the room. But I might read another section instead, so stay tuned.