Award winning ways
Panos Karnezis
Panos Karnezis is a writer from Greece who lives in London. He has published a number of short stories to great critical acclaim and his novel, 'The Maze,' was shortlisted for the 2004 Whitbread First Novel Award.
Here Panos talks about starting out.
Part two - Structure, character development.
Part three - Starting a story.
Part four - Advice for new writers.
Q1.
What made you want to start writing?
For me, writing was as much an outlet for my nostalgia as it was my creative urge... I was looking for a new hobby to fill my time.
听
Q2.
How old were you when you started writing seriously?
I read a lot until the age of thirty when I started to try and write books that I liked to read.
听
Q3.
Part of your training involved a creative writing course, do you think writing can be taught to anyone?
I don鈥檛 think creative writing can be taught in the way we teach maths or physics. But that鈥檚 not the way creative writing courses work. They are an opportunity to be in a creative environment where you can discuss your work with people who are as passionate about writing as you are.
听
Q4.
What is the difference between writing a novel and writing a short story?
There are great differences between writing a short story and a novel. The pace is very different, there are different techniques in characterisation.
听
Q5.
Do you find novels or short stories more difficult to write?
In terms of commitment, of course novels are more difficult to write because you are with them for two or three years. But in terms of skill and concentration perhaps it is the short story...
听
听
听
Part two
