Slinkies digital editor, Aleesha Paz asks SLADE QUINN, some indepth questions about his writing, his aspirations and his wardrobe. To grab a copy of ‘Kurt and the Interview’ by Slade Quinn, just click the Slinkies cover below.
1. Tell us about your writing process. (Do you start sparse and widen out, or do you write down every possible association and cut back? Do you research the subject matter you are writing about? is it pure intuition?) Take us through an example if you want.
I usually have a specific scene or moment to write, and so I have to create a story that gives a reason for that moment to happen. I generally just start by splurging out as much drivel as I can as quick as I can, and try to get a rhythm going until it makes sense for that particular scene to occur. Then I do the same thing for what happens after that scene, and go through it after and clean it all up. For anyone who reads this particular story, the scene I had in mind was when Neelan delivers the pop quiz. I like to watch a lot of Television shows – actual scripted shows, not reality crap – so I think I am often coming up with weird scenes for a TV show really, but since I am not a TV writer I put it down into a short story like this one.
2. What inspired you to write ‘Kurt and the Job Interview’?
I have written a lot of Kurt stories. He started out as a writing exercise, a character to create stories around as a way of practising getting good at, or at least half decent at, constructing a story from start to finish. Or from middle, to start, to finish and back to middle, however it comes out. I wouldn’t say Kurt is based on me, but his experiences are, so for this story and others like it I would say I have been in similar circumstances, but I turn the outrageous qualities of the circumstances up to 11.
3. What do you do if you haven’t written anything in a while and you want to get started again? Could you share your favourite writing exercise with our readers?
I am pretty bad at setting time for writing. To be perfectly honest I don’t enjoy writing. I only do it because if I spend my time doing something like playing video games or drinking, at the end I feel annoyed that I wasted my time. So to get myself going is quite an effort, but if I want to I just have to set a time of day aside and say I am going to write a certain number of pages or for a certain amount of time. If I get a good story going I find it easier to make myself do it more, but I am easily distracted. I don’t really have any writing exercises, I just start writing.
4. If you could only read books written by one author for the rest of your life, who would it be and why?
Kurt Vonnegut. Hands down. He is such an easy and fun read, yet at the same time his stories contain so much more than a single read will reveal. If you want something fun and light to read, you can read a Kurt Vonnegut book. If you want a something to think about, something challenging that has deeper underlying meanings about ‘life, love and the universe’, you can read the same Kurt Vonnegut book. So it goes.
5. What do you wear when you write? Suit and tie, pyjamas, or birthday suit? 
Haha. Just whatever the weather says I should wear.
6. How do you think about the role of writing in your life? Is it your job, pastime, etc?
It’s this annoying thing that sits in the back of my mind and nags at me until I sit down and do something about it to make it go away.
About the author
My name is Slade, I am twenty-five years old and I am currently studying. I have been writing for a few years on and off. My likes include books (is that too obvious to say), laughing at racist people because haha seriously? And long walks anywhere but the f**king beach. Sand, man. Gets everywhere. My dislikes include talking about myself because I am awkward.
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