Novelist Douglas Kennedy chatted on the Matt Lewis podcast Tuesday about writing, love, personal demons, and even Brexit.
Kennedy is the author of a dozen novels, the most recent being “The Blue Hour,” which is a thriller set in Morocco.
When asked about his advice for writers, Kennedy put his own spin on a classic quote, saying, “There are five basic rules for novel writing, and nobody knows what they are.”
Kennedy had plenty to say about writing, from the eccentricities of famous authors to his personal methods. He and Lewis agreed that writing is never easy.
“All writers, in one way or another, work with a demon,” Kennedy said, noting that artists are famously stereotyped as eccentric.
He also said that many famous novelists struggled with demons in life and love, including Ernest Hemingway, who was once dumped by a lover for being too much of a “Mama’s Boy.”
Kennedy, who is a successful writer that has also coped with functional depression, has a particularly great perspective on how to remain confident and productive in the face of doubt.
“Writing is a confidence trick you play on yourself,” he said, noting that even greats like F. Scott Fitzgerald experienced plenty of doubt about the quality of their work.
Kennedy ultimately argued that writers must continue to produce even in the face of personal doubt, which is part of the journey to success. He even offered creative tips on how to cope with personal difficulty, including one interesting one from a Churchill-quoting doctor.
Listen to streaming audio of the full podcast with Douglas Kennedy here—and download the podcast on iTunes.