Hannah Sward
Hannah Sward, daughter of the late poet Robert Sward, is the award-winning author of Strip: A Memoir. Strip, Swards first book, has received the attention of authors such as Nobel Prize winner, J.M. Coetzee, Melissa Broder, and NYT Bestselling novelist Caroline Leavitt who called Sward, “One of the most moving and honest memoir writers. So eloquent, so brave.” Hannah has appeared on NBC-CA Live, C-SPAN BookTV, dozens of podcasts, panels, and in publications such as the Los Angeles Times, HuffPost (forthcoming), Arts & Letters etc. Sward lives in Los Angeles where she is working on her next book. Visit hannahsward.com for more.
What has been the most surprising aspect for you since your book came out?
Momentum. I never would have imagined that a year and a half after publication Strip has not lost its momentum. It has truly taken on a life of its own. I’ve also been taken aback by the support and generosity of the writing community. Especially women authors. So many have extended their hand inviting me on their podcasts, panels, interviews, conferences. That part of it has been very fulfilling. I’ve been fortunate and I owe that to the community. Connecting with you, Barbara, at a library event is a great example.
What’s the best writing advice you were ever given?
Write no matter what. Keep the pen moving. I’m a big fan of Natalie Goldberg’s, Writing Down the Bones. I first read it in my 20s. What has stayed with me ever since was, “I am free to write the worst junk in the world.” Only my version of that has been, “Write the shittiest shit.” That has helped me a lot. It has given me permission to be messy, to not be so precious with what I write, to play, to let go of perfectionism. To simply get some words on the page.
The other thing is something my father always said: ‘What I really want to say is . . .’ Sometimes I’ll be writing, and I stop and ask myself this question. It helps me cut to it. No on ramp needed.
What’s the worst?
I have attended a few workshops where I was encouraged to spell things out more for the reader. That to me, wasn’t good advice.
I was also told by an agent to essentially rewrite Strip, that she didn’t feel anything for the narrator and that I should go take some more writing classes. This is all fair enough but the advice to rewrite it was extreme.
Are you a re-reader and why?
I re-read poetry and sometimes short stories. Poetry reminds me of listening to songs. I can go back to the same poem over and over. Like the first few stanzas of Whitman’s “Song of Myself.” I think that was the first poem, aside from a few of my father’s, that I went back to over and over again. Why? I suppose I’m drawn to do so for comfort. Like having a mantra to carry with me throughout the day.
I’d like to re-read Journal of a Solitude by May Sarton. I remember reading it when I was nineteen and it had a big impact on me. I’d like to go back and find out why.
How far will you read before you stop, or do you finish every book you begin?
I used to finish every book I began but now I will stop after the first few pages. Sometimes, months or years later, I’ll go back to it and be pleasantly surprised that I was wrong, and I’ll keep reading.
When you begin a draft, does it go straight onto the computer or do you start with a table and pen or pencil, or typewriter, or….
I’m a pen to paper girl. I feel much freer that way. Much less censorship. Sometimes though I will begin on the computer. But I find that much more daunting. Also, I really value the process of transcribing what I have written long hand onto the computer. It gives me the opportunity to see and hear it differently.
What do you do when you hit a wall?
It depends. I’ve often kept going, forcing myself to write. Sometimes pushing through that wall has been good even if it didn’t feel good at the time. Other times though this hasn’t served me, leaving me feeling inadequate, full of judgment about what I’m writing, and feeding the slave master part of myself. So it’s a balance. Just as important as pushing through is learning to take a step back. To give the writing, to give myself breathing room. This is something I have only developed in recent years. In the past I didn’t trust that I would come back to the page, so I slaved my way through.
What are you currently obsessed with? Making sweet cream pancakes. I’m also obsessed with writing essays which is new for me. It has come as a great surprise. I always thought of myself as a memoirist and short story writer, so it’s been fun to let the pen take me in a different direction. That said, I do feel the obsession with essays winding down which brings me back to what I said initially. Sweet cream pancakes. So good. What does this have to do with writing? Play. Playing with sweets, playing with words. Less rigidity in general.
Thank you, Barbara! Both on the podcast and in this interview, you ask the best questions! I’d love to ask you many of the same!
Listen to my interview with Hannah Sward here.