David Nicholls, 57, is a screenwriter and creator whose six novels embody Us, longlisted for the Booker prize in 2014, and the multimillion bestseller One Day (2009). His newest novel, You Are Right here, is at the moment on the shortlist of the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize for comedian fiction, the winner of which is introduced on 2 December. The story of a divorced copy editor who meets a depressed geography instructor whereas on a hike throughout the north of England, it’s been praised by the New York Instances as “an affectingly hard-won romance… sharp-tongued and irresistible, essentially the most clever deal with”.
How did this ebook come collectively?I used to be going to put in writing a giant London novel, then lockdown occurred and all of the sudden I didn’t know what a London novel would appear to be. Everybody was at residence, anxious and distracted. I assume that planted the seed. I used to be conscious of how a lot I missed the countryside, though I’m a Londoner who’s by no means actually lived within the countryside. I used to be conscious how troublesome it was for associates residing alone, and I used to be conscious how troublesome communication was turning into. After lockdown, I discovered myself tongue-tied and awkward. So these had been the strands: I wished to dig into my longing for the countryside, I wished to put in writing about the advantages and calls for of dialog, and I wished to put in writing about loneliness.
To not point out the enduring psychological impression of random road violence…That, once more, appeared a troublesome topic to incorporate in what is basically a romantic comedy. I really like London and I battle in opposition to its portrayal as in some way a spot of no-go zones and fixed risk – it actually isn’t that. On the identical time I’m conscious of how a second on the tube – a glance, a comment – can flare up into one thing that may change the course of a life. It’s one thing I really feel on a regular basis within the metropolis.
Let’s clarify you’re up for a comic book fiction award right here.I do know [laughs]. I’ve tried to put in writing six comedian novels now and that is the primary time I’ve been nominated. There’s no contradiction between writing a comedy and writing one thing that’s about melancholy or melancholy or alcoholism. I assume that is simply the primary one the place I’ve actually tried very exactly on a line by line foundation to make it humorous.
For a yr I simply scribble jokes and observations and character sketches and concepts for scenes in a giant sketchbook
What’s concerned in that?Chiselling away on the sentences and dialogue till they take it off me. I’d at all times like to do one other draft post-publication. I don’t open the doc that would be the novel till fairly late; for a yr I simply scribble jokes and observations and character sketches and concepts for scenes in a giant sketchbook. The primary draft is at all times straining an excessive amount of to be humorous, a bit like somebody making an attempt too arduous at a celebration.
What in regards to the enterprise of plotting?I did wrestle with attending to an ending. The unique ending by no means labored as a result of [one character] needed to forgive a lot in such a brief time period – it felt degrading. My books are sometimes about essentially respectable individuals making errors for completely comprehensible causes. Coping with the query of the way you forgive individuals once they damage you grew to become a query of what I wanted to do to not depart the reader feeling a personality had executed one thing so implausible that they’re going to throw the ebook throughout the room.Which character got here first?Marnie [the copy editor]. It was initially a novel about cinema-going: two individuals who meet at matinees then begin going collectively, slightly than independently; a love story informed in movies. Parallel to this, I had one other concept – a household on a strolling vacation –so I simply transposed the movie-going characters into that panorama as a result of it appeared an attention-grabbing mismatch to do a traditional city romcom in a discipline within the rain. I’d love to return and attempt to write about movie, however Jeremy Cooper’s great novel Brian made me doubt my potential to put in writing so nicely about cinema. It’s a ebook about movies as a partial antidote to loneliness; he’s executed it so superbly, I don’t suppose I can do it now.
You’ve spoken beforehand in regards to the affect of Thomas Hardy, whose Tess of the D’Urbervilles you tailored for TV. Do you continue to learn him?Not for years. The horrible reality is that once you adapt a ebook, it sort of kills that ebook as quickly as you end engaged on it. If I had been to come back to Hardy now, having by no means learn any, I’m undecided how a lot I’d like him. At 16, I most likely was much more forgiving of Angel Clare.
Which different writers impressed you rising up?Sue Townsend was large: I bear in mind studying Adrian Mole and considering, I’m wondering if I can do that? I used to be a type of children who lived for TV comedy. Monty Python, Not the 9 O’Clock Information, The Younger Ones – all that was thrilling. Victoria Wooden was somebody I simply revered. The primary makes an attempt I made at what you would possibly name writing – I didn’t consider it as that – had been dabbling in comedy at college, however I considered it extra as being an actor. I did strive arduous to be humorous, and I’m not! I’m genuinely deathly at a cocktail party: I can’t inform a joke, I can’t inform tales significantly nicely. So I assume I welcome the truth that [as a writer] you possibly can simply sit by your self and make every part simply so.
What are you studying proper now?I’m actually having fun with the Sally Rooney [Intermezzo]. She’s very humane, very sensible and trustworthy about love – a unbelievable analyst of feelings. That shut consideration to characters of their lives, that’s what I love.
What ebook did you final give as a present?Alan Hollinghurst’s Our Evenings, which I additionally admired very a lot. The sensation of getting a ebook pressed in your arms is great, however I’m beginning to fear I’ll by no means resolve the pile I wish to learn. It’s a supply of some guilt and nervousness for me.
You Are Right here by David Nicholls is printed by Sceptre (£20). To assist the Guardian and Observer order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Supply expenses might apply
