Creative Writing Grad Publishes First Book
Fri. Feb. 12, 2016
Matthew Tétreault is a graduate of the UW’s BA stream in Creative Writing. He is currently a graduate student in English and Film Studies at the University of Alberta. What Happened on the Bloodvein, his debut collection of short stories, was published by Pemmican in 2015.
Here are some of his thoughts on his first book.
What is the collection about?
“The book is a collection of loosely interrelated short stories, set in southeast Manitoba, that tap into the experiences, tensions, and characters of that space. It consists of a number of very different short stories, but the overall goal was to recreate and explore on the page that space in which I grew up, warts and all. And in a way, the warts are what I find most fascinating.
Many of the stories dwell on themes of francophone and Métis identity, isolation (made ironic as Winnipeg is so near, just over the horizon), and experiences of place (a shared connection and experience of space; a shared history and geography). For example, that spot, east of Winnipeg just past Ste. Anne, where the prairie ends and the forest begins has always intrigued me.
For some of the stories, I was interested in the struggle for francophone and Métis rights, not so much in the actual legal battles or political manoeuverings, but rather the underlying tensions created by that struggle and resulting clashes of cultures, and how it comes to permeate and shape interactions between people.”
What inspires you to write?
“My literary inspirations are numerous and diverse, and I read widely while writing, devouring short story collections in particular. I kept a stack of books next to my desk for quick inspiration during the writing process, including, but not limited to: Chekov’s comedic stories, Joyce’s Dubliners, Hemmingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, collections by Alice Munro, Margaret Atwood, Richard Ford’s Rock Spring, Raymond Carver’s collected stories, John Cheever, Flannery O’Connor, and Denis Johnson’s Jesus’ Son. Also, Margaret Laurence’s work in the Manawaka series prompted me to consider a fictional reflection of my own hometown. Finally, inspiration always seems to come on the road, when driving on the highway and staring at the horizon.”
How did you start writing these stories?
“Many of the stories had beginnings in the UW creative writing program, specifically ENGL-3101 and a special studies course, and through Margaret Sweatman’s instruction and my classmates’ helpful workshopping they began to take shape. Many fruitful discussions in and outside of class greatly helped in the creative process; the exchange of ideas and writing stoked the creative juices. I’ve learned, through a lengthy and painful process of trial and error, that writing is very much a craft that needs to be honed, and creativity a skill that needs to be exercised. The UW creative writing program enabled me to focus my efforts and provided a solid foundation (an understanding of character, setting, narrative structure, storytelling, etc.), upon which to grow.
In the last year of my undergrad degree, I had the opportunity through the Manitoba Writers’ Guild’s Sheldon Oberman Mentorship Program to work with Dave Williamson, and over a six-month period I wrote a few more stories, and we gathered these stories into a collection.”
What are you working on now?
“I am currently writing a novel exploring francophone-Métis identity in Manitoba for my MA thesis at the University of Alberta. The novel is very much connected to the stories in this collection, as not only do they share settings and themes but they also share a narrator of a number of the stories. And as with the stories in What Happened on the Bloodvein, my novel explores linguistic and cultural assimilation, and the re-emergence of Métis identity.”
The Department of English congratulates Matthew on publishing his first book and wishes him many future successes with his writing!