The Kindness and Perfect Lives | Polly Samson | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Novelist and lyricist Polly Samson discusses her writing process, the influence of her upbringing, and her collaboration with Pink Floyd's David Gilmour.

Transcript

ANANT SHUKLA: Joining us all the way from the United Kingdom, please give a warm welcome to Polly Samson. [APPLAUSE] So, Polly, let's start off a little bit about your upbringing and kind of how your career started. So tell me about that journey to becoming a writer. Where did you decide as a student or as a child that writing was what you were goi... Read More

Key Insights

• ✍️ Writing is a natural passion for Samson; she has always written and doesn't recall a specific moment of deciding to become a writer.
• ✍️ Personal experiences, such as family history and motherhood, heavily influence Samson's writing.
• 😮 The structure of a novel allows for surprises and unexpected changes as the characters and story develop.
• 👻 Empathy plays a crucial role in Samson's writing, allowing her to connect deeply with characters and readers.
• 🎙️ Samson's collaboration with David Gilmour as a lyricist for Pink Floyd developed organically, starting with suggestions during his studio sessions. They eventually formalized the collaboration and Samson's name was added to the credits.
• 😃 Samson finds joy in learning and mastering new skills, such as photography and playing musical instruments.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did you transition between different writing styles (novels, short stories, lyrics), and what drives you to explore these different mediums?

For Samson, each story finds its own medium. Writing short stories is simpler and goes well with having small children. Novels require more rigor and consistency in sitting down to work every day. Lyrics provide a unique experience as the music comes first, and the process of writing lyrics is influenced by the melody.

Q: How do you stay connected to everyday experiences and emotions despite becoming famous, and how does that influence your songwriting?

Samson emphasizes empathy as the key to staying connected to people and their experiences. Fame doesn't change her life since she leads an ordinary life with her family and non-famous friends. Empathy allows her to tap into universal emotions and connect with others through her writing.

Q: How many unfinished projects do you have, and how do you determine which idea to pursue?

Samson rarely starts something without finishing it, but she takes her time in selecting the right project. She needs to feel passionate, knowing it will require time, energy, and obsession. Having confidence in the idea helps to avoid abandoning projects, and silence the inner critic.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Polly Samson reveals that she never decided to become a writer; she has always written and realized her passion after having her own children.

• Samson draws inspiration from her family's rich history, including her parents' refugee journeys from Shanghai and Hamburg.

• Samson discusses the different processes of writing short stories, novels, and lyrics, highlighting the importance of method writing and music as a prompt for lyrics.

• The structure of her short story collection, "Perfect Lives," emerged organically as characters from one story demanded their own stories to be told.