John Waterfall
Age: 30
Location: Manhattan, NY
Education: BA in English, MFA in Filmmaking, MFA in Creative Writing (2019)
The Writer
How long have you been writing?
I’d say I started messing around with fiction in high school but only got serious about it when I turned twenty three. I wanted to screen-write then and I used prose as a warm up exercise. Eventually my interest switched.
Do you have a specific writing style?
It depends on the project. In first person I like to jump around based on what I think is compelling or humorous. Once I’ve got the emotional and thematic content down I work on making the story fit together.
Do you see writing as a career?
If someone pays me enough than absolutely, but I think writing is something that is enriched by doing other things. Having a separate job or responsibilities does a lot to make you hungry to write.
What is your ultimate goal as a writer?
Just to continue writing and get better at what I’m doing. I try not to think about making money or being successful but I’d like to know my work has been read.
The Work
Tell us about your work in Crack the Spine.
“Hector of Troy Communes with Scott Norwood in the Afterlife”: As Achilles drags the corpse of Hector around the city of Troy, the fallen prince contemplates the fairness of failure and responsibility. His thoughts are interrupted by visions of Buffalo Bills place kicker Scott Norwood losing Super Bowl XXV on a missed field goal.
Is there a main theme or message in this piece?
I think there’s something positive in here about knowing you did the right thing despite having nothing to show for it. The line between hero and goat is thin and unfair so being able to commiserate with yourself is important, perhaps validating.
What inspired this work?
I’ve alway thought Hector deserves a little more than what he gets in the Iliad. He’s just a guy who wants to be a good father, a good son, and to protect his city. For me, he’s what masculinity should be, and in exchange for he gets betrayed by his patrons and emasculated by a petulant man-child. I guess I wanted to give him a little more self-respect, some acknowledgement for the shitty situation he took upon himself.
Tell us about another project you have published or are currently working on.
I’ve got a forthcoming story titled “Bite Marks” coming to the website Drunk Monkeys. It’s a soft ghost story about a guy who encounters a briefly resurrected ex-girlfriend pursued by the bear that killed her.
What inspired “Bit Marks?”
I’ve never read it but the title of D.T. Max’s book about David Foster Wallace, “Every Love Story Is a Ghost Story” got to me. I don’t think we really let go of the people we’ve loved. Our past relationships are fundamental instructions for who we become and they stick with us in our memories and selfhood. That to me is a haunting. The story plays around with that idea.
The Methods
How often do you write?
I try to write every day of the week. Which means I write roughly four days per week. This varies but I think if you aim high and guilt yourself you’ll get work done. When you can’t sit down and write you can still do work in your head etc. Having a notebook helps.
Where do you write?
Wherever I can but never in a super public place. I write in my kid’s nursery as of right now.
How many drafts do you generally go through before you consider a piece to be complete?
I draft till I feel like the piece is a chore. About four to five. it’s useful to know when to cut something loose.
What are your thoughts on writing at a computer vs. writing longhand?
Computer writing makes more sense in every way. That being said, longhand is a useful tool in exploring something from a different angle. I find it often helps me when I’m having trouble with tone or voice.
What is your usual starting point for a piece?
Usually I start with character. I don’t have a lot of experience with heavily plotted stuff but I think it’s most important to find the heart of your story and work outwards. For me that’s usually voice.
How do you react to editorial rejections of your work?
It sucks. I hate it. But it’s a numbers game and if you like your story enough chances are someone else will too. Taking it personally can help with motivation.
The Madness
What is your favorite book?
Slapstick
Who is your favorite author?
Kurt Vonnegut
What is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?
I saw a migration of Elephant Seals on the coastal highway in California. You could hear them farting from a mile away. It’s my Jurassic Park moment.