Aspiring writers get a lot of advice from a good many people: teachers, peers, haters, forums. However not very many get the chance to sit down and talk one on one with a writer who has successfully navigated the field. When they do, they often find that writing is not nearly as hard as they are sometimes led to believe.
Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with award-winning author Tommy Hays, who teaches in several MFA programs when he isn't writing, and get some answers about what writing means to him.
Question: Do you consciously decide on an audience before sitting down to write?
Answer: I do not. I know there are a lot of people who say “know your audience” but I’ve always thought, just write the best book you can and see what happens. It can be shaped later in editing to fit a particular audience better, but that is not a concern for the first draft. Just write the best you can. I wrote 3 adult novels and then went to try my hand at a young adult novel. And it kept getting darker and darker and I was sure it was just another adult novel, but my agent said “this is really a young adult book” and I said “okay”, and we went with that. I do write for my immediate community of peers, but I don't “pick an audience” per se.
Question: I notice a lot of your books revolve around a similar theme, is that purposeful?
Answer: Death? Haha, no not really. I guess it is true though. I guess I am rather pessimistic, I see the glass totally empty, you might say. Not in a bad way though. I suppose it might be related to my grandmother dying when my mother was six. My mom didn't like to talk about it but it was always lingering there in the background, and I think that shaped me in a way. I mean it wasn't a morbid household; my book In the Family Way is probably the closest to what it was like growing up for me.
Question: Is writing your full-time occupation?
Answer: I’m a teacher. I teach creative writing. I usually try to write in the mornings, prepare for classes in the afternoon, and then teach in the evenings. My wonderful wife has always helped me to maintain that schedule.
Question: To you, what is the most important aspect of a piece of literature?
Answer: I am fascinated by people. Also characters. But also place, I write about places that I know very well and about places that are full of emotion. But if the characters are interesting, the book will do well. Some writer said that people read for the company. So you have to give them good company.
Question: What is your favorite part about writing?
Answer: When you're writing but you forget that you're writing. The feeling of being finished is also quite nice. And when a book comes out. You know people like bricklayers, people can see the work they're doing and the progress they're making and they can see that the bricklayer works hard. But writers, you can't see us working, you can't see the effort that goes into making these books. So publishing is affirmation and proof almost that you are working and you are making these accomplishments. And on a day to day basis, even just making a little bit of progress on a book makes the whole day better.
Question: Do you worry about chapter length?
Answer: No. Break chapters where it feels natural in the text, you can always adjust it later.
Question: What is the publishing process like?
Answer: After the first draft I send it, I get feedback from my trusted peers and then my agent and then I take all their feedback and create a second draft and repeat the process. When you’re first starting and getting an agent you have to have a thick skin about bugging people. They have a lot of work and stuff can be forgotten. But at the end of the day, just be the best writer you can be and your publishing chances will increase.
I really enjoyed getting the chance to discuss the craft with Mr. Hays and he’s given me a lot to work with as I continue in my own pursuit of a writing career.
For more information on Mr. Hays and his works please visit
