Writer Chat ft. Daniel Handler

Daniel Handler, also known as Lemony Snicket, is an extraordinary writer who wrote books like A Series of Unfortunate Events, A Lump of Coal, and And Then And Then What Else. His books touch on themes like mortality, loss, and resilience. His work has, and will continue to inspire, people of all ages from all over.

I have sent the wonderful Daniel Handler some questions on his writing process, his inspirations, and so much more. 

His responses are as follows: 

1. How did you get your start as a writer? 

When I was very young my father and I would walk to the library together. We had plenty of books at home, but at the library I began to choose books all by myself, and decided what sort I liked best. It was the beginning of being interested in literature as a participant.

2. What inspires you to write?  

Blank paper. I like the way it looks. I like that I can write anything I want on it. It is an inspiring kind of freedom.

3. How did you feel when your books became famous? 

Very strange. It is a blessing to have many people read my work, and to hear from some of them who are excited by it.  But it is also very strange.

4. For aspiring/young writers, what advice do you have? 

Write things down. Often. Practice the feeling of choosing the right word, even if it's just one little sentence on a scrap of paper.

5. What are you drafting, writing, and publication processes like? Why do you favor this process?  

I carry a notebook with me wherever I go, and I write things down which occur to me--things I'm reading, things I hear while eavesdropping, things I suddenly remember. I type these notes into my computer and print out the document.  Then--this part is strange and a little sad--I cut out each individual note and tape it to an index card, and I move the index cards around and around on my dining room table until they're in some kind of order. 

Then I go to a library or a café, and I sit with the index cards and write a terrible, terrible first draft with a pen and paper. Then I type it up and try to make it better. Then I put it away for months. Then I take it out and look at it again and try to make it better. Eventually I send it to a publisher to see what suggestions they might have. Many writers do many different things. This is what works for me.

6. How do you get inspiration for the plot/story of your books? 

I take long walks and let my imagination simmer until something occurs to me.

7. Who are you writing idols? Why do you look up to them? How might you reflect or embody them in your work?  

I have many, many writing idols, and not all of them are writers. I study their work and try to figure out what makes it so good--what methods or tricks I can use myself, in my own writing. Some of these idols are Virginia Woolf, Mary Robison, Duke Ellington, Vladimir Nabokov, Horatio Castellanos Moya, Elizabeth Bishop, Sun Ra, John Ashbery, Alice Munro and Prince.

8. If you weren't a writer, what would you be? 

Very sad.

9. What were you like as a kid? Did you think you wanted to be a writer then? 

It is all I ever wanted to be.

10. What qualities should every writer have? 

The wonderful thing about writing is that it happens all over the world, with all sorts of writers.  There is no single quality that all writers have in common, and that's why literature is so diversely fascinating to read.

11. What made you want to focus on your targeted age group/genre? 

I was struggling with a story about three helpless people, when suddenly it occurred to me that they could be three helpless children.

12. If I want to be a writer, what are some good first steps? 

Spend some time alone with nothing--nothing--but a piece of paper and something to write with.

Thank you so much Daniel for giving us a touch of your wisdom. I hope you readers enjoyed and took away something from this!