INTERVIEW WITH PETER ZILAHY
BY AUGUST HIGHLAND
August Highland:
You have been writing for how many years now? Do you have
that visual memory of the time and place when you said to yourself "I am going
to write"?
Peter Zilahy:
At age 14, I spent a day writing a long poem on heroism,
sacrifice, betrayal, matters of great magnitude. I was proud when I finished and
spent another day thinking that I am going to be a writer. At the end of the day
I realized that my poem was nearly identical to our beloved national song, which
put me off from writing for many years to come.
AH: When you were old enough to read what kind of books were your favorite books?
PZ: My mother gave me books on ancient Greek mythology instead of Hungarian fairy tales. She thought it was educational and I was thrilled since they were full of great stories with lots of action, sex and violence. Depends on what you mean by old enough? I certainly read more crap today than in my childhood. Those were quality years for reading. There was very little tv, practically no shopping, we had all the time in the world. You could drop at anyone's without calling ahead. People were learning Sankrit. Imagine.
AH: What was the first book you read that opened up a whole new world for you?
PZ: I don't remember. Maybe the first books of contemporary poetry that I got from a cousin when I was 18 and I had to realize that literature was not only in textbooks as it seemed from my studies but it's alive and kicking. Although a bit underground.
AH: What do you like to read now for inspiration?
PZ: I like to read bad literature. Not mediocre, that's Boring, but really bad stuff. Really bad stuff is not easy to find but it can be a goldmine. The trendy frontline of literature is not so inspiring for me. When I see the vulnerability of a writer I can put myself into the picture and it helps to clear my voice. You don't learn much from masterpieces. You stand there and go 'oh', 'aah' or 'wow'.
AH: how much work do you think you have written total?
PZ: I have three books behind me and at least three books ahead. I have done different things parallel. Films, photo exhibitions, interactive works, performances. I write when I have an idea which would take me somewhere. When I get there I don't need to write anymore.
AH: have you ever done anything impulsive and destructive like destroy work or burn it or tear it to shreds?
PZ: No. All you need is: click.
AH: Which have been your most productive years so far?
PZ: '90 and '97 were good years, so keep fingers crossed for 2004. My parents keep telling me that I was on top at the age of one. It's all downhill now.
AH: At what age did you find your own voice?
PZ: I had my own voice since it broke in the mid eighties. I started writing late compared to others but I had my voice from the beginning. A little clumsy, a bit sentimental, but it was mine. I wrote my first book when I was 18-19.
AH: Are you a fast writer or a slow writer?
PZ: I was a fast writer and I am a slow writer now. Some of my most popular pieces were written very fast. Like twenty pages in three days. But it's history. I need three days for one page now. I have now more viewpoints to consider. But I also cut much faster today.
AH: Are you a first word best word writer or a many revisions writer?
PZ: As I mentioned the process in time, it did change, I now prefer rereading and revising. It gets better. (I WRITE WITH PENCIL ON PAPER. I ALSO WALK WHEN WRITING. A SHORT STORY CAN TAKE 15 MILES. I HAVE A BIGGER FLAT NOW THAN WHEN I STARTED. I WALK IN THE CANYONS OF PILES OF PAPER AND STOP TO WRITE ON THE WALL, ON A SHELF, ON THE FLOOR, THEN I PUT THE PAPERS TOGETHER. WHEN MY FLAT WAS BURGLARED THE GUY WALKED ALL OVER THE PAPERS AND LEFT HIS FOOTPRINTS ON EACH PAGE. YOU COULD SEE HIS EVERY MOVENT IN MY FLAT. YET TIME STOOD STILL.)
AH: Are you an inspired writer or a hard-working ethic writer?
PZ: I write when there is an idea but it's good for me if there's pressure from outside, from publishers, agents, fans. Sometimes I write for months without stopping even for a cigarette and sometimes I have long breaks, the longest took a year or more.
AH: What did you do then?
PZ: I went to Antarctica.
AH: Writers go through writing periods. What have been your writing periods and what would you call the writing period you are in now?
PZ: I had my poetry period and short story period, now I am in my novel period.
AH: Do you have other ideas for books already planned for the future?
PZ: I have plans for three books, one film, two exhibitions and one big art project on the web.
AH: Do you have in your mind a particular idea about the contribution to literature you are wanting to make?
PZ: No.
AH: What for you is the most pleasurable thing about writing? - is it the work itself - or the positive reception of your work - or is it the book sales - or the people you meet in your profession - what do you like the most about being a man of letters?
PZ: I enjoy the work and all the others. It's all inseperable now.
AH: When you are overworked what do you do to remove the stress and the feeling of being overwhelmed - how do you restore the balance in your life?
PZ: Quit doing it, go travel or see people I'm close to. Sometimes I go swimming. I swim fast and after a while I reach a point - you can call it balance - of being in the world and out of the world at the same time. When your float is undisturbed. THAT'S HOW I WOULD LIKE TO WRITE. JUST COMING UP FOR AIR.
END OF INTERVIEW
For more information about the work of Peter Zilahy, please visit his work online at Peter Zilahy