093: Using Narrative Devices to Delve into Delicate Topics - Interview with Stephen O'Connor
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Hey there Word Nerds!
I\\u2019m so glad you\\u2019re here! Today\'s interview will be a juicy one. I\\u2019ll be talking to Stephen O\\u2019Connor about his debut novel Thomas Jefferson Dreams of Sally Hemings, a profound exploration of the ways in which the institution of slavery warped the human soul, as seen through the story of Jefferson and Hemings. In this episode, we discuss how to approach\\xa0controversial topics\\xa0in your writing while treating the subjects with grace and respect.
In this episode Stephen and I discuss:
- Mindful writing about controversial topics and marginalized groups
- Idea evolution from short story to novel
- Writing outside your experience
- Accessing the unconscious mind as part of the writing process
- Issues of point of view
Plus, Stephen\\u2019s #1 tip for writers.
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Resources:
About Stephen O\'Connor
Stephen is the author of two collections of short fiction, Here Comes Another Lesson and Rescue, as well as Orphan Trains, an acclaimed history of a pioneering nineteenth-century child welfare effort, and Will My Name Be Shouted Out, a memoir. His fiction has appeared in many publications, including The New Yorker and The Best American Short Stories. He lives in New York City and teaches at Sarah Lawrence.
About the Book
Historians have shed invaluable light on the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, yet their internal feelings and motivations remain a mystery. In Thomas Jefferson Dreams of Sally Hemings, O\\u2019Connor\\u2019s protagonists are rendered via scrupulously researched scenes of their lives in Paris and at Monticello that alternate with a harrowing memoir written by Hemings after Jefferson\\u2019s death, dreamlike sequences in which Jefferson watches a movie about his life, and a chance encounter where Hemings and Jefferson run into each other "after an unimaginable length of time" on the New York City subway.
O\\u2019Connor eschews easy answers, aiming to illuminate the horrors of slavery and the hypocrisy of the Founding Father who wrote \\u201call men are created equal,\\u201d while allowing both Hemings and Jefferson their full human complexity. Jefferson\\u2014at once admirable and despicable\\u2014becomes a vehicle for understanding a destructive imbalance of power that persists today. Hemings emerges as a powerful force, asserting her right to freedom of body and mind.
To learn more about Stephen O\\u2019Connor, visit his website or follow him on Facebook.
For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/093