Ten Shun!
This is the first of a series of podcasts about the art of storytelling. In this opening edition, Irvine Welsh talks about the working-class tradition of storytelling, conscious vs subconscious writing, the writer’s toolbox, and his violent, pornographic fantasies.
I’m particularly fascinated by Irvine because, like me, he was an unschooled talent who just used intinct and raw energy to get started. The ‘craft’ part came later.
Later, I’ll be featuring Mark Ravenhill, Jon Ronson, Scarlett Thomas, Sadie Jones, and anyone else who will give me the time.
First a warning. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. I’m a writer, not a podcaster. I’m about as tech-savvy as the small stain I have just noticed on my T-shirt. So don’t expect a professional intro or outro, or music, or clever segues. It’s just me talking to Irvine with all the rough edges. It just starts and then it stops. But you can hear it clearly, which is enough, isn’t it? (He says hopefully).
This is part one of two ( it’s in two parts because I forgot to update my subscription on Zoom to professional, and it ran out after 40 minutes. See what I mean by highly unprofessional?) Part Two will be behind a paywall so you’d better put your hands in your pockets right now if you want to read the extraordinary conclusion of this interview.
( It’s not actually that extraordinary, but I’m told I have to learn to sell this thread).
( But it is very interesting and enlightening.)
Irvine is a great interviewee and one of the nicest and most hospitable writers I know. He actually spent a fairly large part of his childhood living three streets away from in Southall, West London , so we have probably met as kids in some incarnation or other. Only I was out drinking cherry wine from the local off licence on street corners and performing minor vandalism rather than doing skag, so our paths may not have crossed. Or even if they did we would have probably staggered past one another to out of it to notice.
Despite my fear of technology, I’d love to generate some loud feedback. Let me know what you think of Irvine and his approach to writing.
At Ease!
Tim Lott's Storyville - Irvine Welsh (Part 1)