Friendspiration Friday: Scott Hammon

If you are lucky, at some point in your writing career you will meet someone who makes you laugh, gives amazing critiques, "gets" your own writing and is an overall great friend.  For me, that person is Scott Hammon. 

Scott is a member of my Critique Group and he is solely responsible for some of my best edits in my manuscripts.  We  seem to share the same sensibilities and humor...and have uncannily some very similiar ideas when it comes to stories.  I will be able to say, "I knew him when..." probably sooner rather than later.

Although Scott claims he does not laugh out loud when reading, I do...and I challenge you to read this interview without cracking up...loudly! 

I am pleased to introduce a true Friendspiration to me...Scott Hammon!

What do you do in real life?

In real life...I do everything that characters on reality TV do, except without all the fancy edits. I think that means there's a lot of annoying and boring things I can't fast forward through. To pay the bills, I teach elementary school. Which means I'm professionally trained to teach numbers, letters, and cope with the spontaneity of pee and poo. To appease the hungry voices in my head, I write children's books, screenplays, make movies, draw, and play music.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

When I was a kid I saw this movie called Evil Dead 2. It's an 80's silly comedy horror film directed by Sam Raimi (he did the Spider-Man trilogy). Well, that was and is one of the most innovative movies ever shot. If you haven’t heard of it, then I’m sure you think I have the worst taste in movies ever. But if you know any filmmakers, many will site this movie as an inspiration. Go ahead and rent it. Just wait about 15 minutes and ignore some of the cheesy dialogue. Then you’ll witness some impressive camera angles and filmfoolerly. Anyway, this movie got me to pursue filmmaking. Which got me to write screenplays. Now the movies I write don't fit a younger audience. So when I started teaching I got inspired to write something more universally accepted. Like a story about serial killer babies.

How often to do you write? Where? What time of day?

I try to write everyday, usually after work or after I get home from the gym. Most times I try to flesh out story ideas in my head whenever I have a free moment (on line at the store, driving in the car, baking cookies for the homeless). Quite often I have to convince myself not to bring an mp3 player to the gym just so I can resolve lingering plot issues. I really wish I could write all morning when my creative juices are producing waterfalls. But then how would students learn to stop sharpening their pencils so much. Exactly.

My favorite place to write is in my bedroom. It’s quiet and away from the TV. Sometimes I have to unplug my internet wire or else I’ll be tempted to follow a never-ending path of information. Consisting of: Who wrote this? Who directed that? What year did that happen? No way, when did that person die? Is this gonna kill me? 1 out of 500 kids are born with six toes. Monkeys never get tired of being tickled no matter how old they get. Grapes and chocolate can kill dogs?

…Well, you see what I mean.

What was your favorite story/book as a child? and why?

My favorite book was Barney Beagle. It was about a puppy waiting to be sold at a pet shop. Every time a kid walked into the store, Barney Beagle would ask “Is that my boy?” I guess this book stood out because I liked how my mom read it to me. I think it’s important to read a book with feeling or with unique voices. Some books really require it. I’ve heard some teachers read to their students and it made me feel so bad for the class and the author…I’ve written/read eulogies with more spunk.

What kind of stories do you like to write? Where do you get your inspiration?

I like to write stories that make people laugh. However, when I read, I rarely smile or laugh aloud. But when I do, that thought, scene, picture, or line stays with me. And I love that. It’s so important to connect with a reader’s emotions.

I get my inspiration from childhood memories, teaching, socializing and movies. As a kid, I saw movies on a regular basis. During summer break, my mom would take me to see almost every film genre out there. Being exposed to comedy, action, war, horror, AND Steel Magnolias/Beaches, definitely rounded out my film appreciation. Whenever I see a great movie or read a great book or watch a great stand-up act, I get inspired to create something great. Tony the Tiger says Frosted Flakes are great. But are they?

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I’m gonna change the “What” in this question to a “Who.” When I was really young I wanted to be Kenny Rogers. At home, in the car, on the TV, I was constantly bombarded with his music – thanks to my parents. I still remember the time I told my dad that I wished Kenny Rogers was my father. My mom came into my room and said I really hurt his feelings. That night, we had a bonfire and my sister and I were forced to burn every piece of Kenny Rogers memorabilia we owned…okay, that last sentence I totally made up.

If you could go back in time and tell your 8 year old self one thing, what would it be?

When your teacher asks the class about what chores they do at home, and she notices that you don’t have your hand up, and she says “Scott, don’t you wash the dishes?” Don’t try to be funny and say, “That’s woman’s work.” She won’t appreciate your first attempts at sarcasm.

What is the greatest piece of writing advice you have ever received?

I was always told to write what you know. I’ve found that when you write from experience it becomes more personal and allows your work to be injected with life. If you’re writing about a boy that is running home to use the bathroom, and you personally know what it feels like to have an accident in your pants -- you’re gonna bring that kind of experience to the writers table – most likely with a sickening wet vengeance.

Check out Scott's blog called The Weekly Tickle at www.scotthammon.com.

Do YOU have a Friendspiration you would like to introduce us to on a future Friday? Please send an email to marciecolleen@gmail.com and we will make that happen.