NAME: Matt Burgess

OCCUPATION: Author and Creative Writing Instructor

The use of language has always been fascinating to me. When my first novel (Dogfight: A Love Story) was published, reviewers said I had an incredible ear for dialogue and the “poetry” of the street. I was flattered to have succeeded at putting the vivid language of my New York City neighborhood onto the printed page.

When I began writing stories in college, I used the more sophisticated terminology of my professors and student peers. But back home in Queens, I felt uncomfortable—almost guilty—using the high language of that urbane, professional context. Then I realized there was no reason to be anxious; the language of different economic, social, and cultural groups is rich with meaning. I really believe that this conscious decision helped my fiction become more realistic and reflective of the worlds around me. For example, when I try to capture the conversations in bodegas, bowling alleys, and barbershops, I use the casual, low language so familiar to me; it’s filled with the slang, neighborhood references, and good-humored insults that I grew up around. Nonverbal communication is important to capture, too. Some people deliver an insult with a wink, smile, or vocal tone that expresses love and changes the literal meaning of the words spoken.

Precise language is important to my writing as well. For example, I avoid clichés and highly abstract language. If you say something happened “out of the blue,” you don’t really mean something came out of a color; this is a lazy language choice. Rather, I use precise words for clarity and interest: “She showed signs of satisfaction as she took possession of her reward” transforms into “Gilda grinned as she snatched the coin.” (On a personal note, precise language is important in my marriage, too. When my wife says, “I particularly enjoyed the curry dish you spent an hour making tonight,” I appreciate it even more than when she just says, “Thanks for fixing dinner.”)

In addition to working on my second novel, I teach creative writing courses to both traditional students and older adults. One of my goals is to help them find their own unique voice as writers to say what they mean accurately and precisely while utilizing the unique words and speaking styles comfortable and familiar to them. This journey with language has been deeply rewarding to me and enriches my life. My hope as an author and teacher is that my readers and students will be able to say the same.