Interview with Lathan Hudson [lathanhudson] on Whohub

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What did you first read? How did you begin to write? Who were the first to read what you wrote?

Some early works of Truman Capote. In high school I wrote an exposition about the Civil War that won First Prize in the state of Alabama.
My Senior English Teacher, Mrs. Dean and my Creative Writing Professor in college, Ms. M. Study Slater (a Lady of Letters), were my first real 'encouragements' to pursue writing as a vocation. I wrote two poems in college that were taught in the University of Southern California College Curriculum.
I didn't start writing songs until I graduated from college.

What is your favorite genre? Can you provide a link to a site where we can read some of your work or learn something about it?

That's a tough one. You can go to Youtube - BJ Thomas - New Looks From an Old Lover. That is a worldwide #1 song that I wrote for BJ in 1983.
You can go to Barnes & Nobles Books and look up THURMOND - PERMANENTLY SEALED. That is my first published book.
Also, I am working on a manuscript titled (Once Upon A Time) THERE WAS A TAVERN. It's about the characters I met in Nashville, while writing songs and how Music has become Sterile (in my opinion), as opposed to the fun times that used to exist in Nashville. I can furnish you the WORD Document.
You can type my name LATHAN HUDSON in the 'GOOGLE' Search Engine and find a lot of my works.

What is your creative process like? What happens before sitting down to write?

Sometimes I have a 'hand-held' tape recorder with me. Sometimes I write ideas on the back of book matches...business cards...old scraps of paper, and sometimes, on the back of my hand.
I have been known to call my home telephone and either say or sing my idea into the answering machine message.

What type of reading inspires you to write?

I have two books that I use as 'bibles' - THE MANSION ON THE HILL by Fred Goodman & POSITIVELY 4th STREET by David Hajdu.
I read John Grisham, books on Tao Te Jung, A Treasury of Laughter (compilation of works by poets, prose, and short story authors) and books of Biblical Characters.

What do you think are the basic ingredients of a story?

Love, Hate, Anger, Sadness, Elation & all Emotional Attitudes, etc.

What voice do you find most to your liking: first person or third person?

What well known writers do you admire most?

John Grisham, Shakespeare, Milton, e.e. cummins, Paul Simon, Paul McCartney...they seem to change from time-to-time depending on my emotional state or environment.

What is required for a character to be believable? How do you create yours?

I need to have met this person in my life...

Are you equally good at telling stories orally?

My audiences think so...but I wouldn't want to listen to me for any length of time. I have a drone, monotone voice.

Deep down inside, who do you write for?

Is writing a form of personal therapy? Are internal conflicts a creative force?

I think both questions are true with 99.99% of all writers.

Does reader feed-back help you?

I can't say that I respond either positively or negatively to reader feed-back. I'll probably write what I write regardless of what is said about my writing.

Do you participate in competitions? Have you received any awards?

I'm sure all writers compete in one form or another. I have received awards for my songwriting, but those would have come whether I accepted them or not.

Do you share rough drafts of your writings with someone whose opinion you trust?

Do you believe you have already found "your voice" or is that something one is always searching for?

What discipline do you impose on yourself regarding schedules, goals, etc.?

What do you surround yourself with in your work area in order to help your concentrate?

Nothing in particular. I write in my head. A typewriter or computer is just a vehicle to finally store it.

Do you write on a computer? Do you print frequently? Do you correct on paper? What is your process?

What sites do you frequent on-line to share experiences or information?

None in particular or maybe many, but none comes to mind.

What has been your experience with publishers?

I have a hard time dealing with publishers. That is for Literary agents. I have written songs as a staff writer for Music Publishers.

What are you working on now?

About four different manuscripts. All in some form or another deal in humor.

What do you recommend I do with all those things I wrote years ago but have never been able to bring myself to show anyone?

Peruse them and if you think they are still good - show them.

What do you do? What is your musical specialty?

I am a songwriter removed from Nashville to Florida. Folk Music is my love but I have written songs for singers of all genres from Martha & The Vandellas to George Jones to Burl Ives.

Do you work alone or in a group? If in a group, who are the others you work with?

Both. The group varies from time to time and can range from a 'group' of 'two' to 'twenty' persons. Usually singer/songwriters to an audience of interested listeners.

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