Mary-Margaret Bundy
asked
Matthew McConaughey:
Greenlights reads like a whole separate genre of its own. How difficult was it to tell your life story without falling into memoir territory?
Matthew McConaughey
Not too difficult. I never intended to write a memoir. The fact that the backbone narrative chronologically told over the last 50 years of my life leant to the memoir genre but never felt retrospective in how I shared them, I believe mainly because the stories from my life were all used as introductions to lessons learned via prescribes, poems, prayers and bumperstickers—all of which I hopefully used as scalable applications to NOT only events in my life, but in similar yet personal events in the readers life. In film terms I approached the story telling narrative as the main storyline, and placed the prescribes, poems, prayers, and bumperstickers as call backs (flashbacks) to inform the reader of HOW I chose to view the preceding story, and as launchpads (flash forwards) to contextualize and propel the reader INTO the following story to come.
More Answered Questions
Alaina Friedrich
asked
Matthew McConaughey:
Matthew, I am so interested in your road trip experiences. I have seen some wild things while traveling and you’ve done a lot more of it than I have. Is there anything really ridiculous or insane that you’ve seen as a passerby/witness or while rubbernecking on the road? I loved your storytelling of people and places you’ve seen. Couldn’t stop laughing at the pipe fight between your dad and brother. Best, Alaina
Book Nerd
asked
Matthew McConaughey:
First, My twin sister and I are huge fans of yours! You are such a positive person in a world full of negativity. Your book made me think to look past the negative and focus on the positives/Greenlights in my life. My question for you is: Out of everything that you have experienced in life, what was the most profound moment? What was that greenlight that changed everything for you?
Olivia
asked
Matthew McConaughey:
Hi Matthew, your book is very extraordinary and I continue to use it to inspire me. Not only does it contain deep meaningful moments but also many lifelong lessons of pain and love. In your book, you talk about greenlights almost in a surreal yet achieving way. During these moments were you ever anxious about greenlights suddenly turning red or do you find ways to prepare yourself for those moments?
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