Jobie
asked
Lawrence Wright:
How does writing fiction feel different from writing non-fiction? More or less research? Do you feel a different kind of energy/inspiration (I don't mean energy in a necessarily mystical sense but in a 'energy for work' sense).
Lawrence Wright
It's always a mystery where ideas come from. Once you have an idea, the next question is what form does it take? Is it a play? A nonfiction book? A novel? A movie? One lesson I've learned is that the same story can be told in many different formats. I wrote a novel about Manuel Noriega, the former dictator of Panama, and I completed it on the set of the movie--the opposite of the usual procedure! I've written about Texas in a nonfiction book and a play, and now I'm working on a musical. So be open to trying new approaches.
More Answered Questions
Jeff Keehr
asked
Lawrence Wright:
Do you think that American's lack of preparation and failure to react in a timely fashion are signs that this country is headed toward chaos and dysfunction? Even now, the federal government wants to see state and local governments go bankrupt rather than providing the fiscal help that they sorely need. (I am attempting to keep this a partisan question but that is a fine line these days.)
Alison Jepsen
asked
Lawrence Wright:
I recently read your book, Going Clear, and have been thinking about it a lot. From what you learned while interviewing others about Scientology, what do you think is the need that you saw most consistently that caused people to want to join and stay in for years? How did you feel coming out of such an intense project?
Natalie
asked
Lawrence Wright:
"The Looming Tower" had included a focus on Saudi Arabia's importance during the rise of al-Qaeda, with journalist Jamal Khashoggi weighing in on his relationship with the bin Laden family. What are your thoughts on more recent events regarding Saudi Arabia, in particular Khashoggi's 2018 assassination linked with the Saudi royals and the investigation of the country's potential role in 9/11?
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