Daniel Wallace
Daniel Wallace is the author of the novel Big Fish, which was made into a major motion picture by Tim Burton and a Broadway musical. Wallace has written 7 other novels and currently teaches at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
Interviewed by Lena Desmond, Darlene Rademaker, & Camila Ruiz
Howl: What influenced you to write such inspiring and fantastic books like Big Fish?
Wallace: Greek myth. Edith Hamilton. Read it.
Howl: What is your writing/editing process?
Wallace: I try to write every day, at least a little. The next day I’ll come back to what I’ve written and re-write it, and on and on like that.
Howl: Do you have any strange hobbies or collections that connect to your writing?
Wallace: Yes. Glass eyes.
Howl: Do you have any advice for budding writers?
Wallace: A lot of reading a lot of writing. Practice makes pretty good.
Howl: How did you deal with rejection in the beginning of your career?
Wallace: Get depressed.
Howl: What was it like seeing your novel, Big Fish, translated into film by Tim Burton?
Wallace: Surreal. But I really enjoyed it.
Howl: What authors have influenced your work?
Wallace: Kurt Vonnegut, Garcia Marquez, Kafka.
Howl: How have personal experiences influenced your writing?
Wallace: Every day there is something that happens that influences my writing.
Howl: How has teaching affected your writing and vice versa?
Wallace: When I teach I remember the fundamentals of writing, and when I look at my own work I see fundamental mistakes I made.
Howl: What’s next for Daniel Wallace?
Wallace: More novels, stories and screenplays. I am always doing something.
Published 2/13/14
Wallace: Greek myth. Edith Hamilton. Read it.
Howl: What is your writing/editing process?
Wallace: I try to write every day, at least a little. The next day I’ll come back to what I’ve written and re-write it, and on and on like that.
Howl: Do you have any strange hobbies or collections that connect to your writing?
Wallace: Yes. Glass eyes.
Howl: Do you have any advice for budding writers?
Wallace: A lot of reading a lot of writing. Practice makes pretty good.
Howl: How did you deal with rejection in the beginning of your career?
Wallace: Get depressed.
Howl: What was it like seeing your novel, Big Fish, translated into film by Tim Burton?
Wallace: Surreal. But I really enjoyed it.
Howl: What authors have influenced your work?
Wallace: Kurt Vonnegut, Garcia Marquez, Kafka.
Howl: How have personal experiences influenced your writing?
Wallace: Every day there is something that happens that influences my writing.
Howl: How has teaching affected your writing and vice versa?
Wallace: When I teach I remember the fundamentals of writing, and when I look at my own work I see fundamental mistakes I made.
Howl: What’s next for Daniel Wallace?
Wallace: More novels, stories and screenplays. I am always doing something.
Published 2/13/14