Paul Dhillon (he/him) is a second-generation newcomer to Canada. He lives on the unceded and ancestral lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, where he is a high school English teacher. His work has appeared in multiple literary journals and has been finalist for a National Magazine Award.
Interview by Nikki Hillman
Nikki Hillman (NH): What risks have you taken with your writing. And have they paid off?
Paul Dhillon (PD): Playing with the form of a story actually has allowed me to find a better portal or vessel to tell a story with more emotional truth and resonance. Always asking myself “does it have to be this,” and not being afraid to completely start over and write a completely new draft. Though time consuming, it makes the work stronger.
NH: Is there an author in your genre that you most admire? If so, how do they inspire you?
PD: How about 15!
For Non- Fiction: Alexander Chee, Roxane Gay, Samantha Irby, Durga-Chew Bose, Ian Williams, Ross Gay, Jo Ann Beard and Claudia Rankine. All for their clarity, compression, humour, and playing with the form of non-fiction.
For Fiction: Karen Russell, George Saunders, Jhumpa Lahiri, Sidik Fofana, Dantiel W. Moniz, Danielle Evans, & A.M. Homes. All for originality and showcasing, while pushing the boundaries of the short story form through subject matter, prose style, and inventiveness.
NH: What is your writing process like? Do you have any rituals or habits that help you get into the writing mind set?
PD: A good night’s sleep will always lead to a positive writing day. I often free write to start my writing day. A mind dump where I don’t censor myself or worry about writing that is grammatically correct. Let the sleepy genius rise to the surface. Much easier to shape poor writing then be a perfectionist. If the writing is hard reading and absorbing language helps inspire. Or drawing the structure of the story keeps me at the desk to try again.
If none of this works for whatever reason, I will exercise, cook, or connect with a loved one. The more I am moving my body, my heart, my mind, the easier the writing comes. No need to sit and quietly die while writing the early drafts.
NH: What are the main takeaways or messages you hope readers will gain from your work?
PD: A deeper insight into the experience of Punjabi/Indian diaspora and that identity is ongoing and dynamic. Also, that the diasporic experience can be one filled with joy and humour.
NH: Did you face any ethical considerations or dilemmas while writing your work?
PD: Always, and it falls in two categories: Am I writing to settle a score or to understand? If the former, write the piece and burn it. If the latter, elevate the subject matter, and those who are being written about, so myself and the reader, can understand that on a different day, or if circumstances were different, I/they too could have acted like that or held those viewpoints.
NH: What’s your favourite writing snack or drink?
PD: I am simple, black coffee in the morning to come online, and sparkling water in the afternoon to stay refreshed.