Faulkner in Magazines STORY | Lee Catherine Collins he December 1958 issue of Esquire magazine features a unique interview, one you might not expect from a men’s fashion trade publication. The now slightly yellowed pages pressed with black ink relay the conversation between a Japanese interviewer and William Faulkner. Topics range from religion and racism, weaving together the way Faulkner’s own novels seem to just unfold. In the article, Faulkner answers a question about his process for writing, “I was so busy writing, I wrote so seriously, that I didn’t have time to stop and think: ‘Who will read this? Will he like it, or won’t he like it?’ Because I was so busy trying to write something that would please me, that would suit me, that would be in my estimation the best. Each time it was not, and I had no time to stop and think who will read this, what will they think, because at that time I was furiously engaged in writing the next one, hoping that would be the one that would suit me completely, knowing it wouldn’t and I would probably have to write another one as soon as that was done.” Perhaps this explains Faulkner’s varied, lengthy list of works, ranging from essays and short stories to plays, poetry, and novels. For such a gifted writer, Faulkner identified differently than would be expected. “I’m a countryman. My life is farmland and horses and the raising of grain and feed. I took up writing simply because I liked it – it was something very fine, and so I have no plans; I look after my farm and my horses and then when there is time I write.” You might find it strange, reading such an intensive interview about a famous novelist in an entertainment magazine. But, the truth is that appearances by Faulkner in magazines was hardly uncommon. During his early years of writing, Faulkner often submitted his short stories to magazines for publication simply to make money. Even as some of his novels were gaining popularity and being picked up by publishers, Faulkner would still crank out a few short stories for the content-hungry magazines to help support his family. Faulkner’s work in magazines was a hit for the same reason he was a hit on the shelves – no one knew what he was going to say until he said it. His work sold, his novels made history. He always had a story to tell.
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