10 Questions - Eugene Stickland

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10 Questions - Eugene Stickland

Like many Albertans, Eugene Stickland is a native of Saskatchewan, having taken a detour through Toronto where he completed an MFA in playwriting at York University (1984) before settling in Calgary. For ten years, Eugene was Playwright in Residence at Alberta Theatre Projects. During that time, he wrote six plays for ATP, as well as three one-act plays for Calgary's Lunchbox Theatre. Not only a prolific playwright, Eugene also shares his reflections on life in Calgary every Saturday in the Entertainment section of the Calgary Herald.

1) Where do you write?

I write every day in various coffee shops in town, especially Caffe Beano off of 17th. Naturally what I do in coffee shops is all first draft stuff and eventually I have to write it in my computer which is in my living room. Oddly enough, although I have a very nice compact MacBook, it never occurs to me to take it to the coffee shop.

2) What do you write with or on?

In the coffee shops and sometimes at home too I write with one of several of my fountain pens in a notebook/journal. I have hundreds of these dating back to high school. I was using Moleskines for several years, with graph paper, but have switched recently to Semi Kolon lined notebooks. Then the stuff that needs to be transcribed is word processed on a black MacBook lap top.

3) What font?

I used to work in graphic design so fonts are very important to me. When I start a new play, for example, I take come of the text and look at in in various fonts till I think I have the right one for the content of the play. My new play, Queen Lear, for example, was Palatino. For poetry I tend to use American typewriter.

4) Do you have a writing schedule?

No, but for use I do my journaling in the morning. I write my column for the Saturday Herald Thursday night and Friday morning. Other than this, my schedule is driven by specific deadlines.

5) Best tip for rewriting?

Don't be precious.

6) Best piece of grammar or style advice?

Learn grammar. Get a copy of The Elements of Style by Strunk and White and away you go!

7) Writing rituals?

Many strange little ticks and hiccups mostly having to do with my fountain pens and notebooks.

8) Cure for writer's block?

I have a piece of lapis lazuli that works for me because I'm a Libra.

9) How do your capture ideas?

They capture me.

10) What do you wish you were better at?

Business.

This month Urban Curvz Theatre will be debuting Eugene's new play Queen Lear which he wrote for veteran actress Joyce Doolittle to star in, in her 80th year of life.