Creating Something Bigger Than Yourself: An Interview with Debut Novelist and Journalist Katherine Firkin

After many years working as a journalist  both in Australia and overseas, Katherine Firkin has certainly seen some changes to the media and publishing industry. In this interview, we talk about how journalists and content creators can adapt to this “new normal”, what her average day looks like, and the recent release of her debut novel, Sticks and Stones.

You’ve been a journalist for many years, working with CBS New York, as well as Channel 10 and Channel 7. Can you tell me about the changes you’ve experienced during that time?

I’ve seen a lot of changes in the industry through the years.

It’s hard to believe that when I started out at the Herald Sun, you could still phone a story in if you were working remotely, and their online team was really only just starting out. In many ways I feel lucky, because I feel as though I just got the tail end of the ‘golden years’ of journalism.

Now of course there’s the expectation that everyone files remotely all of the time, and online journalism is a given, no matter what medium you’re working in.

 

What’s your average day look like?

 

At the moment, there’s really no ‘average day’ for me. Like many people, working during the time of Coronavirus has made things very different, and there’s a much greater emphasis on working from home.

Pre-COVID, I would arrive at the broadcast centre in New York for whatever shift I was on, and then focus on chasing the news story of the day. Now, I’m temporarily based back in Melbourne, and I either wake at 4am or so and work remotely for CBS, or I go into the Ten News offices and work from there.

I’m sure there are many content creators/journalists out there who are currently moving to the freelance world, especially with everything that’s happening in the publishing and media spheres. Is this something you would consider?

I worked as a freelance reporter for three years during my career, during which time I contracted my services out to various outlets. I really do enjoy the freedom that freelancing brings and I think it’s the way of the world that more and more people will be freelancers or contractors. I’m lucky that I’ve established myself enough now to feel confident that I could switch back to freelancing if I feel like it, but if you’re starting out in the industry I do think it’s helpful to at least be working part time with outlets so that you make those strong professional connections.

 

How do you see the media industry in the future? Is there any way of bouncing back from this?

There’ll always be a place for reporters and writers in the media, so I’m not one of those real doomsayers who feels the industry is at breaking point. We all need to be adaptable and keep changing to work with the latest technologies and trends. And it’s become clear that if you don’t remain flexible and continue updating your skills then you will get left behind.

There’s no question that the shrinking of the industry is worrying, as is the loss of assets like local papers and radio/TV stations, but there’ll always be a place for good, independent reporting, and I think we’re seeing that now during the pandemic more than ever.

 

You started out your career as a sports journalist, before moving to crime reporting (which was the inspiration for your new novel Sticks and Stones). What made you decide to make this transition?

I didn’t want to make the transition initially; it was a decision that was effectively made for me by an editor at the time. But once I became involved in covering breaking news, I became fascinated by this underworld that goes on around us, often in plain sight. Getting first-hand information at crime scenes or sitting through court trials really does open your eyes, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

 Why did you choose to write a novel, rather than a non-fiction book?

There’s a freedom to creative writing that you don’t get in non-fiction, and certainly not as a journalist. As much as we all like to think that we’re fearless, independent reporters, every outlet has its own style guide and formats that you need to adhere to, and I think I wanted a break from all of that. What I love about writing fiction is that there really are no rules, and I have complete freedom to tell my story the way I want.

 

What’s the reader reaction been like thus far?

So far, I’ve been extremely humbled by the positive feedback from readers. Releasing your debut novel is a bit of an anxious time – although it’s also incredibly exciting – because you really don’t know what the reaction from the general public will be. I am grateful that people seem to appreciate the multiple narrative threads I have running through the story, and that the general agreement seems to be that it’s fast-paced and hard to put down. You can’t really ask for more than that!

Were you nervous about releasing your debut novel in the middle of a world health crisis?

 

Initially it was a bit crushing for me, because I knew that all those plans I’d had for in-person events would be cancelled. Certainly it was disappointing to miss out on a launch, because that feels like a rite of passage that I’ve not had, but at the same time the pandemic has really put things into perspective: I’m healthy, I have a job, I managed to avoid getting Coronavirus even though I was living in the epicentre of the disease when it struck America, and I have a book out – so really I’m pretty lucky!

 

What do you want people to take away from reading your work?

I’d love for Sticks and Stones to inspire a conversation about the creation of ‘evil’ people. Are some people just inherently bad, or do we as a society create them? It’s that old nature vs nurture debate, and it’s a theme was certainly at the heart of my book.

 

 

I’m a freelance journalist and editor and proof reader. What’s the best advice you could give me, and other aspiring writers?

For those wanting to work in media, my best advice is to spend time developing professional relationships with others in the industry. Particularly in Australia, the media industry is tiny – and it’s getting smaller by the day! Everyone knows everyone, and you want to establish as many good contacts as you can.

For aspiring writers, my advice is to treat your writing as work – make it a priority not a hobby. There’s a quote by American author Libba Bray that I have as my laptop screensaver: Write Like It Matters And It Will. This sums up my attitude towards my own work – I always sit down with the intention of creating something bigger than myself. Eventually if you chip away at a project long enough, and you’re prepared to do the rewriting and editing that all good pieces of work require, you’ll be amazed at the end result.

 

Katherine Firkin’s debut novel, Sticks and Stones is out now through Penguin Books Australia. To find out more about the book, and others they publish, visit their website. You can also connect with Katherine about her work or upcoming events via Facebook.

 

This interview is part of my Spotlight on Australian Authors series. To catch up on the articles you may have missed, click the image below.

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