Oak Forest HS English Classes Interview Author George Saunders

Oak Forest High School English teacher Ms. Jenny Schanz connected with writer George Saunders so that her Senior Study of Contemporary Literature students could interview him about the things he writes about, his writing process, and growing up in Oak Forest.

Saunders, an Oak Forest High School alum, has written numerous books, the most recent of which is called Tenth of December, which won the Story Award, and a Chipotle bag essay. Students were thrilled he took time out of his book tour, writing and teaching schedule to talk to them.

Saunders says that he gets a lot of questions about the Chipotle bag essay, entitled “A Two Minute Note to the Future,” written in 2014. In fact, Saunders said, “More people from Oak Forest contact me about the Chipotle bags than any of my other writing.”

He fielded several questions about religion since he has said that when he graduated St. Damian’s that he felt his religion leave him. He said, “In the 1970s, religion felt neat, hypocritical. I had a temporary stepping away from faith. Then I had kids and felt I needed it again...typical arc. We belonged to the Episcopal Church when my kids were little. Now we are Buddhist. I can’t separate religion from my life. As a kid, religion was a stuffy thing you got dressed up for. I feel worthy now. I’m now asking the right questions.”

As a young writer, Saunders lived in New York and then got the Syracuse job in 1996. Now Saunders lives in a Buddhist community in the Catskills, a house in the hills for six years now. “It’s great for working, writing, meditating, walking the dogs,” he said.

The students asked about his shift from his first career in mining to his career as a college professor of writing. He said, “I was never meant to be a scientist, but I worked really hard. Working in Asia, I was a mediocre engineer. Reading made me light up. If it is fun and easy, it gives you power, then do THAT. If you love something and you enjoy it and it comes easy to you then you should pursue it. It’s like eating French food and it makes you throw up. When you eat a cheeseburger, it’s great.”

Students wanted to know what Saunders misses most about Oak Forest. “I regret not staying in Oak Forest during my 20s and 30s. I loved the small town feel and missed the humor and sarcasm. My dad owned Chicken Unlimited where I was a delivery driver with a 1977 party van, which was great for trips to the dunes and for meeting interesting people. In trying to court a sophisticated girl who was out of my league, I took her to Willie’s Weenie Wagon. I thought I was taking her somewhere fancy because they served both hamburgers and hotdogs!”

Saunders gave several helpful tips for writing. He said, “Write yourself into a state of confusion. It’s like a date. You can’t plan exactly what you are going to say. That would be boring. Revising gives you the opportunity to find out what you think. I have a quote on my desk about going on these journeys to remind yourself of the path you are on.”

The strangest inspiration for a short story that Saunders has ever had was when he woke from a dream that inspired “Semplica Girl Diaries” when he was living in Syracuse. It was about these women out on the lawn; he was proud of them for some reason. He was such a happy guy in the dream and had to figure out why. The story took 14 years to finish.

Talking about Oak Forest reminds him about his favorite teachers, the Lindblooms. “The Lindblooms encouraged and inspired me when I was drifting. I lived in their finished attic for two-three months, giving me writing time and the opportunity to pursue my dreams.

I teach at Syracuse where 600 students apply for only 6 spots. I had a student who was quite attractive, and dressed the part of a wild child and had a reputation. She would chicken out at the end of her stories, and I helped her… a kid who needed something…just like the Lindblooms did for me. I empowered this female student to go off on an ignorant male student. She tore him to shreds.”

He considers a happy family his best accomplishment. He said, “Our culture tells you that most marriages are unhappy and monogamy is uncommon, but it’s not true.”