SX Magazine cover story, London, U.K., April 2003. By Katya Holloway
The Prolific Margaret Atwood spoke to fans in London to coincide with the launch of her new opera based on her novel The Handmaid’s Tale. She will soon be releasing her latest masterpiece, Oryx and Crake. Katya Holloway took notes.
Ask Margaret Atwood the secret to conquering writer’s block, and she’ll have you twisting in your chair in some bizarre ritualistic fashion.
“First, put your left hand on a blank page,” she explains, face solemn, “then put your right hand in the air.”
Eyes closed and arms open, the petite figure appears to be in a sort of new age trance, as though anticipating a zap of inspiration to shoot down from the lighting fixtures. Instead, after a few moments of building suspense, she opens her eyes, smirks and lowers her arms with a simultaneous burst of twittering laughter.
“Eventually, you’re bound to think of something,” she jests.
So it seems there is no easy answer to writing the perfect novel. But if anyone’s qualified to talk on this matter, it’s Atwood.
Studied by English students, banned by schools across the U.S. and adored by word nerds worldwide, the bestselling Canadian author is one of the most prolific voices of the 21st century.
Atwood has written more than 30 books, including The Blind Assassin – winner of the Booker Prize in 2000. The win was a breakthrough for Atwood after three of her previous novels garnered Booker nominations but were unsuccessful: The Handmaid’s Tale, Cat’s Eye and Alias Grace.
SX reached out to her in London recently what the legend had to say for herself.
How do you write?
“I attempt to sit down on a daily basis, and then the phone rings, or the sink comes apart, or someone drops by. But I’m used to that because at first I was a student, then a mother, and you have to get used to doing a few things at once. I have led a very interrupted life but I’ve learned to work between everything. If you waited for inspiration, you’d be waiting for a very long time.”
What inspired you to write?
“My strongest source of inspiration is the blank page (laughs). I’m one of those people who can’t resist those cute notebooks from stationary stores. It’s like that bit in 1984 when Winston sees the old notebook in the shop window and has to buy it. Once he has it, he can’t resist writing in it.”
What novelists do you recommend?
“Valerie Martin’s Property is Gone with the Wind, the real story. Set in the South, the main character is married, has no rights, and lives on a plantation with slaves. That would be my pick of the week.”
Of the books you have written, do you have a favourite?
“If I did, I wouldn’t say, because the others would hear about it (laughs). No. When I’m frustrated with writing, in about 15 years, I’m going to line them up and choose.”
What’s your new book about?
“The new book is Oryx and Crake, which is one of those titles like Oscar and Lucinda. They are names of people and until you know something of the people, you don’t know what they symbolise. It’s another book set in the future.”
The Handmaid’s Tale – The Opera
Since its publication in 1985, The Handmaid’s Tale has been translated into 35 languages, made into a film and is now on stage as an opera. The book is a scathing vision of an oppressive fundamentalist future that forces young women into servitude to bear children for the elite. The opera runs until May 2 at the English National Opera, London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, WC2. Tel: 020-7632 8300 or eno.org.
Other hot Canadian writers
Douglas Coupland: The man who coined the phrase ‘Generation X’ is one of the freshest writers of the century. This Vancouver boy is the author of 11 novels including Generation X, Shampoo Planet and All Families are Psychotic.
Yann Martel: Born in Spain in 1963 to Canadian diplomats, this proud Canadian won the Booker Prize last year for his novel, Life of Pi.
Rohinton Mistry: Best known for his masterpiece A Fine Balance, Mistry has won too many prestigious awards to list. His other works of fiction include Family Matters and Such a Long Journey. Born in Bombay, Mistry has lived in Canada since 1975.
Michael Ondaatje: The first Canadian winner of the Booker Prize, in 1992. This Torontonian wrote The English Patient. Heard of it?