Lemony Snicket: ‘Keep writing badly as only way to write well’ EXCLUSIVE

Lemony Snicket reveals how his stories come together and some sound advice for aspiring writers who want to follow in his footsteps

World renowned author Lemony Snicket has given an insight into what has made him so hugely successful and how aspiring writers could emulate his feats.

The Series of Unfortunate Events hit bookshelves for the first time in 1999 and there has been thirteen volumes of his twisted tales for children which has seen him sell over 65 million copies of the books, as well as seeing the stories hit the big screen in a blockbuster movie and then a Netflix series, which has garnered critical acclaim.

I met Lemony, whose real name is Daniel Handler, at an author’s event in Waterstones Bath and he granted me an exclusive interview for this Substack, as I was looking to share some top tips from the literary success so that others may be inspired as I was.

I grew up with A Series of Unfortunate Events and it would seem that the man himself is as devilish and as full of life as his stories are. How these tales are formed seem to be a rollercoaster ride with the author not entirely certain where he will end after he embarks on committing the narrative to paper.

Lemony told me how it begins and how it would then flourish. He said: “I have a little idea and then I try to attach other little ideas to it until it feels like a charm bracelet, or enough train cars to make the journey worthwhile. Then I set off and see if it goes some place interesting.”

So Lemony himself didn’t know where he was heading as much as the reader does when stepping into his world with the finished book. It was the readers that made Lemony realise that he had something big. He said about the growth of his dark tales: “When I met my first readers it felt enormous to me. And that is still my favourite part.”

With such an extensive back catalogue behind him and the desire to conjure up more wicked tales, Lemony had some sound advice for anyone who would like to follow in his footsteps or take an entirely different literary path, but most of all just want to write.

For those who have aspirations of telling a story, Lemony said there was an essential way of getting snippets of conversation in your head and formulating a narrative from there.

He simply said: “Just eavesdrop”, The acclaimed author then adding: “Stare hard at your favourite paragraphs. Take lots of notes. Keep writing badly because that is the only way to write well.”

So, with that, pen in hand, I will continue to pen my first novel and hope that Lemony is watching over my shoulder and is nodding his approval.