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Wayne Scott

 

Wayne Scott is a writer and teacher in Portland, Oregon. His essays have appeared in The Sun, Salon, The Millions, American Baby, The Psychotherapy Networker, and The Oregonian, where his occasional commentaries and book reviews have appeared since 1999. He has an MFA from The American University. His website is waynescottlcsw.com.

On your nightstand:

Vivian Gornick’s Emma Goldman, Mary Karr’s The Art of Memoir, Claire Bloom’s Leaving a Doll’s House, Helen Macdonald’s H is for Hawk; a cell phone charger; an apology note from my 13-year old son; toenail clippers.

If you could spend a day with an author, who would it be?

Grace Paley. I met her in the 90s when she came to my MFA Program, and I had the privilege of having a workshop with her. Her writing fascinates me and I can’t quite articulate why: the distinctive voice? the depth of compassion? the Yiddishkeit and hyperbole? the two husbands disappointed by the eggs?

What book made the biggest impression on you as a kid?

At the risk of sounding trite, I’d say Charlotte’s Web. The connection between writing and devoted friendship seemed so odd to me at ten, but I’ve since encountered so many writers who save lives.

Who or what inspires your writing?

I love memoir because of the intimacy it creates between the author and the reader, almost like friendship.