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In honor of our MasterMind genius awards, Cultist proudly presents “100 Creatives,” where we feature Miami’s cultural superheroes in random order. Have suggestions for future profiles? Email cultist@miaminewtimes.com with the whos and whys.
45. John Dufresne
Author John Dufresne teaches creative writing to MFA students at Florida International University. Although professors are often regarded with eyes of admiration by their students, this one has a long, accomplished career as a novelist and playwright, which makes him worthy of those starry eyes. Born in Massachusetts, Dufresne has lived in Florida for over two decades. He worked as a social worker before receiving his MFA in creative writing. While at FIU, Dufresne served as editor of Gulf Stream magazine, the school’s literary journal. Louisiana Power and Light, the author’s first novel in 1994, and the subsequent Love Warps the Mind a Little were both named notable books of the year by the New York Times.
Dufresne recently published Requiem, Mass. (a play on the
term for a Catholic mass for the dead), a novel about a middle-aged
writer retelling the experience of growing up with a crazy mother and an
intense cast of characters. Dufresne is also a playwright, having
penned Trailerville, which was performed in New York at the Blue Heron Theatre in 2005.
On his website, he declares, “When I’m confused or beside myself, I try to ask, What would Chekhov do?” It’s almost safe to say that Chekov might declare, “Keep writing.” Dufresne even holds weekly, free workshops at FIU to coach young scribes who make the trip. For the rest of you, there’s always his book about the craft: Is Life Like This? A Guide to Writing Your First Novel in Six Months.
1. List five things that inspire you.
– The work, the writing itself. I’m not inspired to write. I write and become inspired.- Art. Edward Hopper’s paintings. Sebastiao Salgado’s photographs. Mozart’s sublime music. I hear a great song or see a wonderful movie, and I want to run home, sit at my desk, and try to build a story.– People who quietly struggle and persist, who live their lives with dignity, grace, and good will.- The stories of William Trevor, Alice Munro, and Anton Chekhov. When I need reminding about what it is I’m trying to do, I read their miraculous stories. I’m happy to be an apprentice in the same craft.- The ticking clock. 2. What was your last big project?
It’s also my current project — this novel I’m working on and have been for a very long time. 3. What is your next big project?
Finishing some of these dozens of stories I have in file folders on my desk. 4. Why do you do what you do?
It’s pretty much the only thing I’m any good at. And I’m not interested in doing anything else. 5. What’s something you want Miami to know about you?
I don’t engage in online social networking. I write with a fountain pen. What’s something you don’t want Miami to know about you?
I’m a Celtics fan and I’m looking forward to the Eastern Division playoffs.
The Creatives so far:
56. Lee Materazzi
57. Karla Garcia
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