In our digital series ‘the art of writing’ we chat with talented Irish writers to celebrate the artistry of writing in all its forms.
Patrick Freyne is a journalist and writer with two titles under his belt. His first book, Ok, Let’s Do Your Stupid Idea a book of essays on lessons he learned the hard way throughout his life, and now, his latest novel Experts in a Dying Field about friendships, secrets and the joy of music. Catching up with Patrick as he celebrates the launch of his second book, he tells us about the ‘bitter’ rivalry he has with fellow author wife, Anna Carey, and how he wrote his latest novel amidst a busy life.
Please share a little about yourself and the writing that you do.
I was in several bands who released albums at the start of the century. I write for the Irish Times; I have written a book of essays called OK, Let’s Do Your Stupid Idea and a novel called Experts in a Dying Field. I live in Marino with my wife Anna Carey who is an excellent novelist with whom I have a bitter literary rivalry.
Have you always known you wanted to write?
I think I’ve always known I wanted to create stuff. I studied English literature in college and then was sidetracked into a glorious but unprofitable music career. Nowadays whether it’s journalism, essays or fiction or songs I just want to make more things.
Talk us through your writing process
For the Irish Times I write to deadline and demand and on a more or less 9 to 6 schedule. I wrote the first draft Experts in a Dying Field in daily hour-long bursts. I’d usually write a bunch of notes on the bus to or from work beforehand so I wouldn’t be entirely starting from scratch. The blank page disturbs me.
Describe your writing space
I write in our dining room. I’m not really sure it’s been a dining room for a while. I sit at a table filled with books, papers and bills and surrounded by stringed instruments on racks that my father installed to put some order on the place.
What is a piece of writing you wish you wrote and why?
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is a perfect book about a charismatic and quite toxic teacher of young women, but I don’t wish I wrote it because writing is ultimately an expression of a person’s consciousness and I don’t want to steal anyone’s brain. I also think it might actually be a bit disturbing to suddenly find yourself having Muriel Spark’s cold, clear thought processes. I don’t think I’d want to be capable of writing like Muriel Spark, much as I love her work.
What are your thoughts on AI and writers using it to assist their own writing?
I think writing and reading involve transformation – the writer and the reader are in some ways transformed by the process – even, sometimes, when the writing in question is an email. I don’t know why anyone would want to outsource either writing or reading. I think getting an AI involved would be like making a robot to hug your children (though that probably does appeal to some of the tech bros who love AI). Ultimately, I think people should never outsource their thinking because every single decision and every independent thought and every experience of difficulty in the process, no matter how seemingly banal, might lead to insight. The difficult first draft shouldn’t be avoided.
Any tips for aspiring writers?
Read a lot. Don’t procrastinate – there is no ideal place or time to write. Respect and expect difficulty and have fun.
