Gary Bryson: Brisbane Writers Festival

  

Native Scot Gary Bryson is the author of Turtle, a bittersweet novel about surviving adolescence in Glasgow. He is appearing as part of the Brisbane Writers Festival. Check out his answers to our ArtsHub Career Profile below.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Many things, but mostly I wanted to wear a hat low on my head and smoke cigars like my granddad. He still rode his Ducati in his seventies, which was pretty cool, too.

When did you know you would be a writer?
When I gave up trying to be a rock star and took up journalism to pay the rent (now, that’s desperation).

How would you describe your writing to a complete stranger?
I write in a genre called Scottish miserabilism. No, wait, come back!

What's your background - are there studies that prepare you for this?I was born and raised in Glasgow, which prepared me for many things, few of them of much use in the real world. I also did an MA in creative writing, which I would recommend to anyone as a way of dipping your head in the literary bucket.

What's the first thing career related you usually do each day?I get out of bed.

Can you describe an "average" working day for you?As above, followed by breakfast and several hours of tearing my hair out.

What's the one thing - piece of equipment, toy, security-blanket – that you can't write without?
My collection of obscure seventies music.

What gets you fired up?
Obscure seventies music.

Who in the industry most inspires you?
My publisher, Annette Barlow at Allen & Unwin. She is an exceptional human being as well as a brilliant publisher.

What in the industry do you despair about?
The fact that buying obscure seventies music isn’t tax deductable. That, and attempts by supermarket chains to destroy the book industry in Australia.

What is the best thing about your job?
Writing.

What’s the worst?
Writing.

Are you a fan of new media? Is blog beautiful?
I love the idea of citizen journalism, but the reality isn’t living up to the dream. Mostly I find blog is slog.

What are the top three skills you need in this industry?You have to first of all be good at being young. Secondly, you have to be very good at being beautiful. Thirdly, you have to be able to write, though this talent, devoid of the other two, is no guarantee of success.

What advice would you give a young writer looking to break into the field?Use a sledgehammer and never stop writing.

When do you know you’ve made it?
I’ll tell you if I ever do.

Gary will be appearing at My Big Fat Eccentric Family on September 12th and Writing the City on September 13th as part of the Brisbane Writers Festival. For more information visit http://www.brisbanewritersfestival.com.au.