JW: Why did you want to become a writer? AP: When I entered college I first wanted to be a filmmaker to make character-based films … to answer the kinds of questions that interested me. I found that fiction allowed me to get to some of the answers better than any other form. That’s ultimately what drives me to write. JW: After you have worked on a tale for a substantial amount of time, whether novel or short fiction, and lived with certain characters for months -- and in some instances on-and-off for years -- is it hard to let go? AP: It takes me a long time to get to the point when I feel that the story is truly finished, so when I get to that point I am usually ready to let go. Early in my career, I would send out stories to publications before they were really finished, and I knew they were not quite finished but I was eager to build up a publication record. And on a few occasions some of those stories were actually published. I remember having this horrible feeling when I saw them in print. After having that experience a couple of times, I said, “I am never going to do that again,” so I really make sure before I send a story out that I don’t want to change even a comma. JW: You’ve been teaching for quite a few years now. How do you teach people to be creative writers? AP: In many ways you become a better writer on your own. But classes introduce students to the fundamentals of craft and to writers they may not know. And they give them a place to present their work and connect with a community of writers. Student interest is huge. Since I came here, we have hired two more faculty members for the creative writing program and started a minor in creative writing. You can’t teach someone to be John Cheever, but you can guide them along and give them critical feedback. Ultimately, to become a writer you must really want to do it despite all the setbacks and obstacles, despite all the reasons why you shouldn’t be doing it.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Mr. Porter’s comments have been slightly edited for reasons of space and clarity. His books are available wherever books are sold. March/April 2013 | On The Town 75