The Writing University conducts a series of interviews with writers while they are in Iowa City participating in the various University of Iowa writing programs. We sit down with authors to ask about their work, their process and their descriptions of home.

Today we are speaking with Connor French, an UI undergraduate double majoring in Cinema and Screenwriting Arts.

Connor French is a fourth-year double major in Cinema and Screenwriting Arts at the University of Iowa. When he’s not in class, he enjoys running the Cinematic Art Student Organization, working at Theatre Cedar Rapids, and going to FilmScene with friends. He is currently a Fulbright Thailand semi-finalist for his research on LGBTQ+ representation in Thai television and its impact on social values and human rights policy.

1. Can you tell us a little bit about what brought you to the University of Iowa?

I knew in high school that I wanted to study Cinema and Screenwriting, so I was looking for a university with a rigorous writing program, in a location that would foster my love for art. Honestly, I was surprised that Iowa City would be that place; I grew up 45 minutes away, and I thought I had experienced everything Iowa had to offer. But when I stepped foot on the University of Iowa campus, I felt a sense of novelty, a place that would offer fresh perspectives that writers are always looking for.

In the classroom, I was excited to learn from working screenwriters and filmmakers, and academics who have made critical contributions to the field of film studies. In the city, I was interested in local spots like Prairie Lights and FilmScene, both of which host authors, filmmakers, and artists from around the world to discuss their work with students. I simply don’t think there’s a better place for writers.

2. What is the inspiration for your work right now?

Traveling. A lot of my work revolves around community and survival, and I get those perspectives from the places that I go. In 2022, I spent three weeks in Athens, Greece, visiting ancient sites and talking with several archaeologists working on them. I learned about the collective histories that many communities share, and the complicated friction between digging up sites that people currently on. In 2023, I spent a semester at Victoria University of Wellington in Wellington, New Zealand. I flew in right after a major tropical cyclone hit the country, so I learned how storms affect that city, and how they recover. In the screenwriting course that I took there, I learned from several Māori classmates about their perspectives on writing and cinema. As I prepare to (potentially) undertake research in Bangkok, Thailand, I have learned about the various LGBTQ+ communities in Thailand, and how they compare and differ to LGBTQ+ communities in Iowa.

I believe that interacting with as many people from as many different backgrounds as you can is one of the most important things you can do as a writer. My outlook on the world has been challenged and expanded through my travels, which has inspired me to write more daring and personal pieces.

3. Do you have a daily writing routine?

Creating and maintaining a writing routine during my undergrad years has been difficult – between classes, two jobs, and extracurriculars that often take up my nights and weekends, I often find myself too tired to write. Other times, I’m just plain uninspired. But, beyond all the tips and tricks and formatting rules, the secret to being a writer is actually writing. The rule I’ve set for myself is that I need to write 200 words per day – that’s only about two paragraphs – on either my creative work or my thesis. By setting a low goal that I can accomplish in less than an hour, I feel much less intimidated about starting each writing session. If I only write 200 words, then I can feel satisfied! I hit the goal! Oftentimes, though, I surpass that 200 words because I’m not feeling pressured to reach an outrageous word count. I’ve also begun writing with pen and paper, then transferring it to my laptop. Writing by hand does take longer, and retyping the work is time-consuming, but I’ve found that I get more done this way because I’m not constantly looking back at the previous paragraphs and trying to fix them (editing is important, but editing too early is a hindrance).

4. What are you reading right now? Are you reading for research or pleasure?

I do a lot more watching of film and television than reading right now, but I am making my way through a few different books right now! For fun, I’m reading The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, which is a collection of different horror short stories based on fairytales. It’s really well-written, and I’m interested in the ways that the stories we’ve been telling for decades can be reimagined. For research, I’m reading Theorizing World Cinema (edited by Lucia Nagib, Chris Perriam, and Rajinder Dudrah), which is a collection of academic essays about different world cinema movements and how we can apply film theory practices to them in a way that does not center Western views.

5. Tell us about where you are from - what are some favorite details you would like to share about your home?

I’m originally from Marion, Iowa, which is right outside of Cedar Rapids. Most people I tell are surprised to find out that the area has a very robust community theatre scene. I started volunteering backstage with Theatre Cedar Rapids as a freshman in high school, and I still work on most of their shows today! There is so much talent in the area, and having such an amazing theatre so close to home encouraged me to pursue the arts as a career.

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Thank you!