I was introduced to Bryan Washington’s writing in grad school. It feels important to note that I met my spouse in that class. In their presentation on Lot, being a Texas native, my spouse taught the class the geographical map of Houston as drawn through the stories in Washington’s collection. The two of us could be characters in a Washington story. 

Washington writes evocative love stories, set in modern times and filled with longing. Across his oeuvre, Washington maintains a consistency represented through his fiction’s themes and characters: queer Black and Asian people, moving through life, fucking other queer people to find a form of connection, friendship, community, and love. One could argue that Washington is obsessed with writing many versions of the same character, each more poignant than the last. Then is it surprising that the writing advice he gives all writers is to “write towards their obsessions?” 

On the occasion of his third novel Palaver—currently a National Book Award Finalist—being published, I had the opportunity to talk with him for Electric Literature’s 23 Questions and get a peek into the writer’s life.

– Apoorva Bradshaw-Mittal
Editorial Intern

1. Describe your publication week in a six-word story.

Bryan Washington: Moving along nicely.

2. What book should everyone read growing up?

BW: Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto.

3. Write alone or in community?

BW: In community.

4. Describe your ideal writing day.

BW: Writing for about three hours in the morning, taking a break for lunch and coffee, editing something else for two or three hours, then spending the evening with friends.

5. If you were a novel, what novel would you be?

BW: Almond by Sohn Won-pyung.

6. What’s a piece of writing advice that you never want to hear again?

BW: Any advice that said something isn’t possible.

7. What’s a piece of writing advice that you think everyone must hear?

BW: Write toward your obsessions.

8. Realism or surrealism?

BW: Realism, but my favorite realism is a little bit surreal.

9. Favorite and least favorite film adaptation of a book?

BW: My favorite right now would be Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car. My least favorite would be most, honestly.

10. Fair. What’s your favorite comfort snack?

BW: Oh, radish cakes. Pan-fried radish cakes. 

11. Write every day or write when inspired.

BW: Every day—treat it like a workday.

12. Book club or writing group.

BW: Book club. 

13. The writer who made you want to write.

BW: Mat Johnson.

14. Three presses you’ll read anything from.

BW: Tilted Axis Press, Feminist Press, and Yen Press.

15. How do you know if an idea is a short story or a novel?

BW: If I’m still thinking about the characters in the world after I’ve completed a short story, there’s a chance it might be a novel.

16. How do you know when you’ve reached the end?

BW: When I no longer have any questions about the characters or their world.

17. Writing with music or in silence.

BW: Music.

18. Describe your writing space.

BW: It’s a desk in my living room, where I have a lot of CDs and model figurines and good sunlight. Or cafes in Shinjuku.

19. What’s the last indie bookstore you went to?

BW: In Tokyo, Loneliness Books in Higashinakano, and then in Oakland, East Bay Booksellers.

20. Activity when you need to take a writing break.

BW: Walking my dog or getting coffee with friends.

21. What kind of dog do you have?

BW: Shiba Inu.

22. What does evolving as a writer mean to you?

BW: Approaching your structural challenges.

23. Outside of literature, what are you obsessed with?

BW: Queer spaces.