Acclaimed writer Tessa Hadley shares her insights on the writing process and offers valuable advice to aspiring writers. She also reflects on her literary journey and how to negotiate between the good angel on one shoulder and the bad angel on the other.
Hadley discusses the significance of her first book, stating, “I crossed a threshold into another place where first of all I learned how to write truthfully from myself in writing that book.” She emphasizes the profound impact of realizing that “somewhere out there there are people who want to read your words and who will in your words recognize what you said and what you’re talking about.”
The interview also explores the perpetual challenge of discerning the vitality of one’s work. Hadley candidly admits, “The question of how to know when something is alive that you’re working on is the anguishing question. And it never goes away.” She describes the internal battle between self-assurance and self-criticism, noting, “You have your good angel sitting on one shoulder saying, trust yourself, that sounds good, that sounds clever. And your bad angel on the other shoulder saying, it’s awful, it’s unalive, it’s pretentious.”
Navigating this delicate balance is a continuous process for Hadley. She advises young writers to persist through doubt, asserting, “You have to keep on pushing and there are some days when you’re doubtful, but actually what you do on that day retrospectively turns out to have been good.” This persistence, she suggests, is essential despite the lack of a definitive answer to overcoming self-doubt.
Tessa Hadley was born in 1956 in London, United Kingdom. She is a critically acclaimed British writer known for her insightful exploration of human relationships and everyday life. Hadley’s notable achievements include the publication of several acclaimed novels and short story collections, including “Accidents in the Home,” “The London Train,” and “The Past,” which was a finalist for the Man Booker Prize. Her works have garnered widespread praise for their rich characterizations, elegant prose, and profound insights into the human condition. Hadley’s writing has earned her numerous awards and honors, establishing her as one of the preeminent voices in contemporary literature.
Tessa Hadley was interviewed by Danish writer Merete Pryds Helle in connection with the Louisiana Literature festival in August 2023 at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark.
Camera: Rasmus Quistgaard
Edit: Signe Boe Pedersen
Produced by Christian Lund
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2024.
Louisiana Channel is supported by Den A.P. Møllerske Støttefond, Ny Carlsbergfondet, C.L. Davids Fond og Samling, and Fritz Hansen.
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