Award winning ways
Panos Karnezis
In the second part of our interview with contemporary author Panos Karnezis we cover everything from structuring a piece of writing to character development.
Part two - Becoming a writer, novels vs short stories.
Part three - Starting a story.
Part four - Advice for new writers.
Ìý
Q1.
How do you structure your stories? Do you draw from others’ examples or do you use your natural talent?
I studied engineering so I have a very practical approach to things and that is how I try to approach writing. I soon discovered it’s a very rigorous and logical approach.
Ìý
Q2.
How relevant is the setting of your stories?
I set my stories in the Mediterranean mainly because I grew up there. For me, the landscape is a kind of canvas where you can place any story.
Ìý
Q3.
What about character development? Is it possible to have a clear vision of what each character will be like before starting?
It is difficult to know where your characters are going and who they really are. You try to understand them by writing about them. You interview them in a way.
Ìý
Q4.
How do you create a balance between humour and tragedy in your stories?
I have a tendency to write dark stories, so for me the challenge is to say what I want to say in a humorous way. In a way this makes the situation more desperate.
Ìý
Q5.
Are there any areas you would like to get into – for example writing for TV or film?
I’m not interested in the foreseeable future. Screenwriting is a very different craft... not many great fiction writers became very good screenwriters.
Ìý
Q6.
Which author most inspires you?
Cavafy, who was a Greek poet who lived in Egypt. He was not living in Greece but was still carrying Greece in his mind.
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Part three
