Interview With Author Erik Patterson
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Pop Prompts: 200 Writing Prompts Inspired By Popular Music is my first book. I’m primarily a screenwriter, a playwright, and a teacher. I’ve written dozens of produced movies and TV shows, and I’ve been nominated for two Emmy Awards, the Humanitas Award (winner, Radio Rebel), the GLAAD Award, and the WGA Award (winner, Another Cinderella Story). I also teach and host writing sprints on Zoom to hold writers accountable and finish their projects.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called Pop Prompts: 200 Writing Prompts Inspired By Popular Music. During the pandemic, I started hosting these writing sprints on zoom. I don’t like a lot of the writing prompts that are out there — writing prompts are usually too specific and they don’t leave enough room for the writer’s creativity. So I would write my own prompts for these writing sprints…and at a certain point I realized I had accumulated THOUSANDS of original writing prompts. So I decided to assemble some of the best ones and make a book out of them.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if this is very unusual, but I like to migrate when I’m writing. I’ll write at one coffee shop and then after awhile I’ll need a new environment…so I’ll move to another coffee shop…and then a few hours later, yep, I’ll move to a third coffee shop. I think the movement helps awaken certain dormant parts of your brain!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m obsessed with Ann Patchett. I love Rebecca Makkai. I think Hanya Yanagihara is incredible. My first favorite author was John Irving. And of course Tony Kushner.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a romcom that’s very personal and close to my heart. And putting together another book of writing prompts!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m new to this, so I’m still figuring that out.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Let your writing be bad. Don’t be afraid of the blank page. Fill it up with messy writing that you can go back and finesse later. You can’t rewrite a blank page but you can always make bad writing better.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
In her book “On Directing,” Anne Bogart talks about how she sometimes has no idea what she should say to actors, so she’ll just WALK towards them and start talking. That action, that movement, will wake up a different part of her brain and suddenly she’ll have something to say to them. I think there’s something interesting there, and it’s relevant to many parts of our lives. Don’t stand still. Always move forward.
What are you reading now?
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Pop Prompts II! It’s coming soon, keep an eye out for it.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, It by Stephen King, and Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. The first two because (1) I love them, but also (2) they’re long so I’ll have more to read on my desert island. And then Bel Canto because it’s beautiful and I’ll want to have some beauty with me.
Author Websites and Profiles
Erik Patterson’s Social Media Links