Hugo House and Seattlest: The Lit Series Interview Series with Dr. Charles Johnson

Each year between fall and spring, the Richard Hugo House presents the Literary Series: four events that feature local writers, musicians, cartoonists, and other artists, who are commissioned to create new works of art. Each event features four artists, each asked to create on the same theme. The result is a diverse and fascinating look into various topics, by some of the Seattle area's most talented creators. This week's theme is "The Haves and the Have Nots", (which is surprisingly fitting, considering the month of October has been host to epic protests) and will be presented for one night only on Friday, October 28 at the Hugo House on Capitol Hill, at 7:30 p.m.

National Book Award-winner Dr. Charles Johnson is almost always brewing something. Whether he's writing articles for major publications (he's been in both the L.A. and the New York Times, as well as the Wall Street Journal and the Daily Beast to name a few), being asked to speak or read at various conferences or events, or spinning bedtime stories for Humanities Washington (which he does every year), the man may have retired from teaching, but he's definitely not taking time off. In the third of our interviews with the artists commissioned to create original works of prose, poetry, and music for Richard Hugo House's Literary Series, Dr. Johnson explains the writing process, and what it's like to create something entirely new.

Hugo House gave you a theme. What are you doing with it?

The theme is "income inequality." I'm not sure if the other writers were given the same theme, but that's the prompt I was given, or at least how I took it. I shouldn't tell you too much in advance, but I'm having some fun with it. When you really get into a story, something minor becomes major. All of a sudden, you get a different take. And it's draft after draft of discovery. It's really very enjoyable.

Can you give me a hint as to what it's about?

Actually, I'm using an idea that's been in my writers' notebook for years. So I figured, let's try it out this time. And see what other kinds of things I can open up, so I'm enjoying it. But that's all.

You're a busy man. How did you find time to write this piece? Did the long lead-time (Hugo House contacted those involved back in the summer) help?

I've had dovetailing assignments (over the last few months). Everything's got to be done all at one time. But once I get through October, I think I can relax a little bit.

I actually started writing the opening pages at the start of the summer. And then I got busy with other assignments, for example, Humanities Washington's yearly event called "Bedtime Stories." And I've written a story for them every year for 13 years. So I had to put aside my Hugo House story to write a bedtime story. Then, about six of us had a reading in September, which takes some preparation. But in the mean time, I was collecting articles and pieces of information for this story.

Once I got back to it, I was able to immerse myself in it. Blog posts and articles are non-fiction, whereas a story is diaglogue and plot, so I can do those at once; they aren't conflicting. But I couldn't write two stories at the same time. Once Bedtime Stories was done, I was able to turn to this with my full attention.

Now I've got to hit it really hard to bring it into harbor. The fun part is really the revision. The hard part is the blank page. And there's nothing more beautiful than a blank page, but later, you have to carve away at it, and massage it.

Do you do a lot of revisions?

Oh, yes. My ratio of throw-away to keep is about 20:1. That's how I know it's done, is when I just can't do any more.

What has been the most challenging aspect of creating this piece?

I had to figure out how to approach it. There's a lot going on in the world, and then there was Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Seattle. So it is very timely and very in-the-moment. So, despite having started the story so long ago, it's set like, last week, when the event is actually happening. I wanted to make sure to get that in there, too.

The thing I find interesting about writing a story is that you have an initial idea--but you need more.

I have to have in idea to get the story up and running, and then I need a second good idea for the middle of the story to complicate it. Then, you need a third idea to tie it up. So there are 3 good ideas in the story, and then, if you keep your mind open to what's going on around you, you can let something like Occupy Seattle inform the story among those ideas.

Your body of work is impressive. How long have you been writing?

I published my first story when I was 17 years old in 1965 in my high school newspaper. So, that long.

Then, I taught for 33 years, and I retired two years ago. It really is the best part about retirement. I always worked around a teaching schedule, because students must always come first when you have a class. But I was told by a friend that you're busier after you retire, and it's very true. Because I just say "yes" to everything that people give to me. Which is why I just have wall-to-wall writing experiences.

What do you love about writing?

I get to explore things, and think about things, and also see the things I want to see, and read the things I want to read.

What are you doing to prepare for Friday?

Lots of revisions. I intend to revise all weekend, then practice next week.

Every reading is a performance for me. Sometimes, I'll do a radio interview, and someone will ask me to read a piece out loud. But if I haven't tested it, I can't do it, because I haven't practiced it. I can't just read. So it'll be a performance, every time. So, I'll be reading it aloud and practicing it quite a bit.

It's an interesting proposition, a night of reading. You've got to have a little bit of nervousness to do it well. That's why I won't drink any wine beforehand. (On Friday), I'll be listening very attentively to the others, and then I'll just try to do my very best.

Single-night tickets for "The Haves and the Have Nots" are still available for $25. Get yours here.