THIS KIND OF MAN by Sean Murphy offers an unvarnished look at life in 21st Century America, excavating the complicated, tender, wild truth of what it is to be a man across generations and relationships.
Sean’s book releases on May 7, 2024. Before you buy the book, read an interview with Sean. Learning about his process is really special.
If you could cook dinner for any author, dead or alive, who would it be? What would you make?
I would love to make some chowder for Herman Melville and talk to him about the finer points of whaling & writing (and why Nathaniel Hawthorne didn’t do more to help him).
What scares you the most about the writing process? How do you combat your fears?
The immature writer fears their genius won’t be properly recognized; the maturing writer fears their work won’t reach a proper audience; the mature writers concern themselves only with getting the work done as well as humanly possible.
Who is your biggest literary crush, author or character?
I’d love to see John Self, from Martin Amis’s “Money” in action. A night on the town with him would be epic. I’d also love to drink some vodka with poor Raskolnikov and discuss the finer points of both crime and punishment, and convince him to put down the ax and write a memoir.
What books are on your nightstand?
Too many to list!
Favorite punctuation mark? Why?
You can remove the em-dash and semicolons from my cold, dead hands!
What book were you supposed to read in high school, but never did?
I read all the assigned texts for every English class, but I probably would have had a better time if I’d spent the necessary time suggested for understanding the Periodic Table of Elements!
What inanimate object would you thank in your acknowledgements?
Whatever impulse makes any creative person summon up the inspiration and courage to share their work with the world.
If you could write an inspirational quote on the mirrors of aspiring writers, what would you write?
The best stuff happens when you’re alone, putting in the work, and respecting both your ability and the intelligence of your future readers.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
I suspect the ideal balance is when you start out energized, and end up exhausted–in all the right ways.
What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Social media. Illusions of fame & fortune. Following trends–for all the wrong reasons. Assuming talent is more important than dedication. Also, that being published (or becoming rich and famous) will make all their fears and worries go away.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
No serious writer will acknowledge or accept any excuses for why they are not writing.
Have you ever gotten reader’s block?
No, but I constantly fret that we’re only given so much time to read, and there are way too many books to absorb in a single lifetime. Part of eternity, if it exists, should include the necessary time on the celestial desert island to catch up on all one missed (and that would take a long, wonderful time).
Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?
It’s hard to imagine anyone writing anything worth reading if they didn’t first feel it, believe it, and do their best to share it.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
Way too many to list, but I’ve spent the last few decades shouting out sources of inspiration, many of whom can be found at bullmurph.com or 1455litarts.org
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I think both goals are attainable, and desirable. I’ve published poetry about obscure jazz musicians, written fiction about the dot.com bubble, and tons of essays and criticism on books, movies, and politics. Each piece, hopefully, is convincing in its way, but taken together, they illustrate the world of the person who wrote them.
How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
It gradually taught me that it’s a long game, and there’s always more to do. We see very talented writers fail to accept this, and fall by the wayside.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Buying books by friends and being an active literary citizen.
What authors did you dislike at first but grew into?
Sadly, in our info-overload world, it has to be love at first sight, or it’s on to the next writer.
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
My early reading of Edgar Allan Poe (the poetry and the short stories) proved that someone could conjure up scenarios that were at once out of–and completely part of–this world. That’s how the magic happens. I still read “The Cask of Amontillado” and can pick it apart, line by line, and explain why it works as narrative, but part of me actually believes it all happened. Because, in important ways, it did.
What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
In all seriousness, I’d say Moby Dick. The great American novel is also the most woefully underread and appreciated text.
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
Charles Mingus–about whom I’ve written a great deal–is my ceaseless source of comfort, inspiration, and solace.
What do you owe the real people upon whom you base your characters?
Such a great question, and I actually wrote in detail about that, here: https://theweeklings.com/32816/
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
My first novel is still unpublished (mostly for the right reasons). Lots of projects in various states of progress. Stay tuned….
What does literary success look like to you?
I talk about that at length, here:
What’s the best way to market your books?
Alas, we’re in an age where writers have to be expert marketers and salespeople, two skills most writers not only lack, but loathe. I–like every writer I know–is in search of an answer to this question! (That said, I’m always happy to recommend my friend, the great Jane Friedman’s book “The Business of Being a Writer.”)
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
If you know, you know.
What did you edit out of this book?”
Hopefully, all the bad parts.
If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?
Exactly what I’ve always done: pay the bills so I can write.
If you enjoyed reading Sean’s interview, we invite you to buy a copy of his book today.
