A DOZEN QUESTIONS - 3 OF 12 - SPECIAL GUEST: ROGER HARE

 

A DOZEN QUESTIONS - 3 OF 12  

SPECIAL GUEST: ROGER HARE

The Pivot Questionnaire comprises 10 questions. I have seen it used on the television show Inside The Actor's Studio, presented by James Lipton. Apparently Proust was the original inspiration. The modern questions originated on a French TV show called Bouillon de Culture, hosted by Bernard Pivot. I have expanded the questions to 12, and left room at the end for encouraging words.

This run of A Dozen Questions is by invitation only - 12 writers (of many) I admire.

Roger has spent his working life largely in the worlds of books (as a retail bookseller) and the care-sector (supporting those who look-after family with illness/long-term conditions). During a mid-life re-assessment he rediscovered a love of poetry and since then has enjoyed developing his ability to broker observations of the world into words. His poetry has been displayed in art galleries, a poetry garden by the Rhine and in various online and print magazines - 'Elbow Room', 'Liminal Residency', 'Re-Side', 'SpillWords', 'Anthropocene', 'Lyrical Aye', 'Dream Catcher' and a recent project by ‘Ice Floe Press’. He is a prize winner in the 2020 Manchester Cathedral Poetry Competition and was commended in the 2019 Gloucestershire Writers Network Competition. He can be found on Twitter at @RogerHare6

 Roger Hare's Dozen Answers, 

and some encouraging words in conclusion.

 

Q: What is your favourite word? 

A: Seaside. If there was a word like ‘Oceanside’ I’d have that, because I adore being on the wild Atlantic coast to soak up the air, the noise and the sights. 

Q: What is your least favourite word?

A: Ought. I’ve lived at various times under the tyranny of this word.

 

Q: What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? 

A: Visiting an artist's studio. I’m fascinated by the spaces and processes of anyone engaged in creativity. Watching and talking-with people passionate for the endeavours is something that stirs my soul. 

Q: What turns you off? 

A: 'Alpha’ male egos. Just don’t do anything for me.

Q: What is your favourite song? 

A:  ‘I’m Still Standing’ by Elton John. This became a theme tune following a period of anxiety and panic-attacks in my 20’s and has retained its value through various other happenings since! 

Q: What is your favourite film? 

A:  ‘Local Hero’. With all those stretches of sand on the West Scotland coast, gentle humour, mild peril and a Hollywood legend this came out top of a close list.

Q: What is your favourite curse word?

A:  Piss …… . Not my most used but my favourite – all that ssssssss!

 

Q: What sound or noise do you love? 

A:  Waves on a beach.

Q: What sound or noise do you hate? 

A: Any sort of domestic building work – heard this too much over the years; often right next door!

Q: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? 

A: Geologist – I did study this for a bit but dropped it in favour of other (at the time) more mainstream subjects. I love what the hidden says about the visible. 

Q: What profession would you not like to do? 

A:  Dentist – drills, blood, spit gaping flesh……., yurgh!

Q: If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? 

A: You’re OK.

Q: Any words of encouragement for writers and writing?

A: Trust yourself and write what you want to write until what you write looks like you.

Read. 

If you want to make a living out of this stuff then find someone whose work you admire and find out how they got where they are. 

            

 

******

Thank you Roger for your dozen answers

and words of encouragement.