Living Long and Prospering: A Chat With Nate Hendley

Yeah, I’ve done a little bit. But I found that the opportunities I had weren’t enormously well paying. For a long time, I really wanted to write for American political magazines, like The New Yorker, and it’s still in the back of my mind, but I just don’t have the time right now. But that’s my ultimate fantasy.

Did you ever find differences between Canadian and American editors?

Not really. The only big difference is that an American publication wants an American perspective. They’re not really interested in what’s going on in Montreal unless it’s totally cool or somehow related to whatever it is you’re doing.

And you have to take all the “u” out of “colour,” eh?

Yes!

What was your impetus to start motivatetocreate.com, a blog for providing advice to writers?

 There are a lot of books about motivating yourself to write, but almost all of them are for fiction writers, and I wanted to make one for nonfiction. Now, it’s kind of merged with more fiction-related stuff, and now I say it’s for all writers and other artistic creators. That’s given it a much broader perspective.

Also, a lot of the advice books I’ve read are really sappy, with stuff like: “Follow your muse by waking up with the dawn and dancing with the elves…” I just want to cut to the chase by giving guidelines, providing exercises for getting creative, and saying what not to do.

What do you have to say to those new writers, as they try to make the cut?

 Well the obvious thing is just to write, write, write. You have to love it. If you want to be a freelance writer and you don’t love writing, then don’t bother. You have to be dedicated and you have to be willing to make sacrifices, like working on the weekend or Friday night, when you might have been doing more exciting things.

You have to have very thick skin, and not be hurt by editors who are jerks or just ignore you. And you have to have talent.

Find out more about Nate by checking out the blog or going to his website, natehendley.com

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