Here’s part 2 of our interview with author Steven Sautner; if you missed part one and his brief introduction, read it here. And once again, all images by Jim Leedom. And that water above is the very water that inspired A Cast in the Woods…
There are a host of aspiring writers in the fly fishing world out world, what advice would give to someone who wants to up their writing game?
Keep writing or course, and keep reading, not just fishing authors but great natural history authors. Like “The Outermost House” by Henry Beston who spent a year in a two-room cottage on Cape Cod. No fishing, but if there are better descriptions or waves, wind, tides, and stars please tell me so I can read them tomorrow… Also, I tell all writers to buy, read, and master “Several Short Sentences about Writing” by Verlyn Klinkenborg. Full disclosure, Verlyn wrote the foreword to “A Cast in the Woods,” but it doesn’t matter. It is my writing bible and will make you a better writer.
What fly fishing (or other) authors have been the most influential to you personally as you’ve shaped and crafted your own writing voice?
Henry Beston, as mentioned above. Also Thomas McGuane and of course John Gierach. But I also have a soft spot for the classic fishing writers like Sparse Grey Hackle who wrote about the so-called “golden age” of fly fishing in the Catskills in the 1940s. And lesser known authors like R. Palmer Baker who wrote “The Sweet of the Year” again about fishing the Catskills. And right now, everyone needs to drop whatever they are doing and read “The River God” by Roland Pertwee – the best fishing story ever told.
One last writing-oriented question: What about your best quick tip(s) on getting that first book published?
I wouldn’t write a book based on the thought of getting it published. I would write a book because I had a story to tell. Then afterwards, I would think about getting it published. That’s exactly what happened with my first book “Fish On, Fish Off.”
When you’re not chasing fish on or in your home waters, where are you fishing (or planning to fish)?
I have only caught three bonefish in my life. I need to change that soon.
If you could encourage fly fishers to do just one thing in terms of stewardship this next year, what would that be?
Having owned my cabin and trout stream for the past 15 years, I understand more than ever that my property is under my stewardship and I feel an obligation to protect what lives there – from wild trout to migratory warblers. My son, who is 13 now, has been lucky enough to have grown up sloshing in the stream and catching frogs. But sadly, most of his friends are oblivious to the outdoors. This frightens me as I feel that we are losing something if kids don’t get outside and get dirty and wet sometimes. I’m sure most of your readers started their love of the outdoors exploring their local woods and waterways. We need to encourage more of this. I think the first step, is to take a kid fishing, whether it’s your own child, niece, nephew, friend’s kids, whatever. As anglers, I believe we have an obligation to pass down our knowledge to the next generation or our forests and streams won’t have defenders when they are threatened by development (which inevitably will happen).
Many thanks to Steven for his time and effort sharing his thoughts here on ChiWulff; if you’re looking for his most recent book, it’s right here.
