18Q Jay Greenspan

Jay Greenspan

1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you?

I chose it. I decided to be in English major in college, and in some form or another, I’ve been writing since that time -- over 15 years.

2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.)

I went to a state school in New York, where I was a good but unexceptional student. I went to LA from there, thinking I’d work in sitcoms, but it didn’t work out for me. I moved to New Mexico and started temping as a typist. From there I picked up editing work, and I also got introduced to computers/technology. It took me a couple of years, but I was able to marry my interest in computers with my writing skills. I got a job at Wired Digital (at a site called Webmonkey). That eventually led to a couple of technical books and some great consulting work. But after a few years in the tech world I got bored and started looking for another challenge. I found poker. I dedicated myself to that, founded a Web site, and soon found myself writing full-time about the game. That led to my book, Hunting Fish.

3. When did you ‘know’ you were a writer?

A good indication was when I started at Wired, I got a business card that showed my job title as “Writer.”

4. How would you describe your style of writing?

I’m sort of obsessed with clarity. I like to create prose that’s smooth and readable and flows well. I worry like crazy about slowing readers down with choppy sentences or tangents that stray for the idea at hand. Some of this comes from my technical background, where clarity is critical.

5. What is your writing process?

I’m not entirely sure I have one. I’ve been a professional writer for a long time now, so I’m able to view my writing time in very workman like ways. I like deadlines and goals. When I’m working on something more “creative,” like my last book, I try to give myself three hours at the keyboard just after my second cup of coffee. Those are my best hours of work. I then take some time away and return to the page in the afternoon. I’ve developed some other quirky methods that help me, like listening to certain types of music repeatedly so lyrics don’t become a distraction.

6. What was your path to publication?

I’d done two technical books then created a poker-related web site. From that site, I got introduced to my agent. We came up with an idea for a book; I worked like hell on a proposal, and I was lucky enough to sell it.

7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea?

Wish I had something useful to say here, but I don’t. I need to work harder in marketing myself.

8. What are the biggest surprises you’ve encountered as a writer?

My book was with a major publishing house (St. Martin’s) and when I got that contract I thought I’d have the benefit of great resources, both editorial and promotion. In the end, I had very little help. Editorial comments were very minimal and the PR department didn’t get the book a whole lot of attention. The responsibilities were mine.

9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity?

I’m always on the lookout for something that’s missing or absent, some kind of role I or my writing can fill. So research is critical for me.

10. What is your proudest writer moment?

After the publishing of Hunting Fish, I was at the World Series of Poker, in Vegas. I had given out a few galleys, and after a couple of weeks, this guy chased me down so that he could tell me how much the book meant to him -- how it related to his experiences. That was amazingly gratifying.

11. What’s the best advice you were given about writing?

It’s a total cliché, but I can’t be told “Show me, don’t tell me” frequently enough.

12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment?

I had contracted to ghostwrite a book for a woman. I probably shouldn’t have taken the gig, as I was worried about the nature of the project. Anyway, I let someone flatter me into doing it -- “You’re really the only person for this job, Jay” -- and I signed on. It was bad. The publisher wanted a chatty/girly approach that I tried to emulate. When I re-read what I wrote I was really embarrassed.

13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer?

Marketing -- making myself a celebrity. It’s hard work, and it doesn’t come easy to me.

14. What is your writer life philosophy?

I try to embrace my interests and couple my writing skills with whatever activity I’m devoted to at the time. Not sure that’s a philosophy, but it’s worked pretty well for me so far.

15. When you’re not writing what do you do for fun?

I’m a bit of a foodie, and right now, I’m spending a lot of time reading about foods and eating. I’m a sports fan, as well.

16. Who do you like to read?

Because of my work, I read a lot about poker right now. I’m a big fan of Phillip Roth, Chang Ray Lee, T. C. Boyle and Richard Ford.

17. What’s your advice for new writers?

Stay away from the “writing with your heart” or “discovering your creative nature” classes. Concentrate on the mechanics of putting together sentences and paragraphs. It doesn’t matter how great or how passionate you are about your stories or your ideas if you don’t have the ability to communicate clearly.

18. What are you currently working on?

I’ve just come through an extremely busy time in my consulting work, and I’m getting married in a few weeks. So at the moment I’m happy to be without a major project. I’m still trying to figure out what’s next.

Jay’s 18Q