Maxime Chattam -
20 Minutes
Maxime Chattam received
20 Minutes
for a Facebook Live with our readers.
The hotbed of conversation revolved around inspiration in writing.
The writer, godfather and president of the
20 Minutes
of the novel
prize
, explains in particular how to use the imposed theme, "the world after" as a "springboard" and not a "constraint".
He puts his finger on a switch so that candles light, some musical notes and a sweet scent of incense invade the room.
This is the context in which the master of the thriller Maxime Chattam received us for a Facebook Live on the theme of inspiration, organized to give you some to participate in the
20 Minutes
of the novel
prize
.
"There is not only one way to write or find inspiration", warns the sponsor and president of the jury of our prize straight away, because what is valid for him "is not necessarily valid for everyone. world ”… Still, it is interesting to know some of his tips as an experienced author.
Feedback on his answers to your questions.
How to get into good conditions?
(Laurie)
Maxime Chattam built himself a "cocoon" in the shape of a Gothic den, with a stuffed werewolf behind him, a mummy not far away and skulls in the library.
“There are authors who are able to write anywhere, on a train, in a hotel room, in a cafe… Not me: I don't like having people or noise around me, if not my senses are solicited and it bothers me.
Conversely, I have understood over the years which environment would suit me best to concentrate faster.
So I built this office according to my tastes, around what I am, what I like, a mixture of reality and fiction.
What is true?
What is wrong?
What does it matter if the atmosphere puts him in good conditions to write ...
What if we can no longer move forward?
(Thomas)
Maxime Chattam advises to go for a walk to mature his ideas and to impose a regular rhythm "so that a dynamic is put in place".
And faced with professional or family constraints?
"If writing motivates you more than anything, you will see that a six-hour night instead of eight is possible when you are very motivated: you grab an hour in the evening or an hour in the morning, you retire for two hours of sleep and we found three hours to write.
Maxime Chattam went through this for many years, when he was a bookseller before he could make a living from his pen.
"We're tired, but I guarantee you're happy at the end of it and it can work."
"
What to do with all the ideas we had during the night?
(Marie-Angeline) How to sort through your ideas?
(Raquel)
Maxime Chattam recommends to "write down all your ideas" so that nothing is forgotten.
“There will always be time to order them, to marry them to consider a story and start writing.
If your ideas come to you at night, take notes in a small notebook at night.
You will see the next day what you do with it… But never forget that an idea is plastic.
You have to take it like plasticine and grind it in all directions.
Even if you abandon it if you see that it does not fit into your project.
"
Can inspiration come from the constraint of an imposed theme?
(Cécile) How would you deal with the imposed theme, “the world after”?
(Stephanie)
The theme of this year, "the world after", Maxime Chattam advises not to see it "as a constraint, but as a springboard for your imagination".
"The theme must not be something that restricts you, even if you want to talk about yourself, your story ..." And the novelist gives examples: "The world after, that maybe the world of 'after a fall that causes memory loss, the world after the birth of a child, the world after a first kiss, the world after writing a book… ”This theme of the world according to, “it's a challenge to the imagination,” he said.
It's up to me to find the idea that will blow me away by being connected with that.
“Nothing prevents, in our troubled period, from imagining a more or less apocalyptic post-Covid story… But it's not just that.
All advice from Maxime Chattam
If all this inspires you and gives you ideas, do not hesitate to embark on the adventure of the
20 Minutes
of the novel
prize
… We are awaiting your manuscript on the New Authors platform, by March 15…
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"The world after" also inspires the book fair
The theme of our writing competition was chosen by the Livre Paris fair as a common thread for its next edition (announced for the end of May, but probably postponed after the start of the 2021 school year).
"Today, we have come out of autofiction to find ourselves more in touch with social issues," said Gauthier Morax, the programming director of the Livre Paris fair, who started from the observation that "the world of today 'hui is at an impasse and it is urgent to invent the next one ”.
Twenty debates on ideas will bring together researchers, writers and committed witnesses.
Perhaps also the future winner of the
20 Minutes
of the novel award?
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