Having spent decades as an academic writer, Trevor W Harrison has returned to fiction and poetry, proving that creativity never retires
INTERVIEW
Trevor W Harrison wrote extensively as a teenager, focusing mainly on short stories and poetry. ‘I used to keep fulsome diaries whenever I travelled in my twenties. I later became a successful academic writer,’ he begins, speaking with Literary Harbinger in an exclusive interaction. ‘Now, in retirement, I have returned to other forms of writing—short stories and poetry once more—bringing with me the experiences that I gained through creative fiction,’ adds the 73-year-old writer, who holds a PhD in Sociology.
With another book due to be released shortly, Harrison now has fifteen books to his name. ‘Since retiring in 2023, I have written a book of memoirs and two poetry books. Next month, a memoir about travelling the Hippie Trail in the 1970s will be published by Athabasca University Press. Its title is Safarnameh: A Traveller’s Journey Along the Hippie Trail,’ he says.
‘I Find Inspiration in Doing Fairly Mundane Things’
As someone who prefers to give his characters room to breathe, Harrison admits that his recent creative works have evolved organically rather than according to a rigid plan. ‘My earliest influences were Hemingway, for his stripped-down writing; Kafka, for his unusual take on modernity; Orwell, for his insistence on truth; and Vonnegut, for his offbeat view of life—a rather mixed bag, to be sure. Most recently, I have been reading Ian McEwan because of the way he makes the commonplace seem uncommon,’ he tells us.
When asked whether he follows a fixed writing schedule, Harrison, who lives in Lethbridge, Canada, says that he does not. ‘I find inspiration while exercising or doing fairly mundane things. Whenever those moments arrive, I either rush to my study or hold on tightly to the ideas until I can write them down. Driving in the car is another opportunity during which my brain floats free and becomes creative,’ he explains.
ALSO READ | ‘There Can Never Be Too Many Stories in the World’
A Life Beyond the Page
Although Harrison eventually became an author, it was never something he consciously planned for in his life’s trajectory. ‘I simply couldn’t imagine doing anything else,’ he says, revealing that writing was less a career choice than an inevitable calling.
When he is not writing, Harrison enjoys travelling extensively and making time to stay physically active by working out at the gym three or four times a week. ‘I listen to music and give guest lectures on various topics, including politics, social issues, and writing. But I also enjoy doing mundane things around the house or outdoors because they provide me with the best opportunities to think,’ he lets us know.
ALSO READ | ‘Don’t Write for Other People’
‘The Point of Life Is Life’
At present, Harrison is working on a collection of fictional short stories, which he describes as a welcome challenge. ‘This is a bit of a stretch for me, but I’m enjoying it, and I think it is going well,’ he says.
When asked what advice he would offer aspiring writers, Harrison emphasises the importance of living fully as well as writing consistently. ‘Keep trying, but perhaps also take a break from writing. Good writing is what comes out of having a full and interesting life. Sitting in a room and thinking, “I must write [something],” is pointless. The point of life is life. Writing is an adjunct to this,’ shares Harrison, who also enjoys meeting fellow authors and appearing on podcasts.
Finally, when asked what he would change if he had the power, Harrison does not hesitate. ‘I would strip away the power that intellectual, financial, and political oligarchs wield to exploit people and suppress their individual creativity,’ he declares, signing off on a powerful note.
DO READ | ‘Writing Beyond Retirement’
Keep trying, but perhaps also take a break from writing. Good writing is what comes out of having a full and interesting life. Sitting in a room and thinking, “I must write [something],” is pointless. The point of life is life. Writing is an adjunct to this.
~ TREVOR W HARRISON
ENGAGE WITH LH | Click on the cover image of the book you wish to read and buy yourself a copy right off the bat!