Gregory Bennett

Gregory is a writer and filmmaker from Wellington whose accent comes from Invercargill. They hold a Masters in Creative Writing from the IIML and currently work for a disability support services provider in Melbourne, Australia. Their story, ‘Heat Death of the Internet‘, was published in our 110th issue and struck a chord with readers, amassing over 1600 views in the first week. Síle Mannion chatted to Gregory about their hit story.

I love the way you’ve taken the ‘red’ out of, what seems to me to be essentially a bit of a rant, by using the second person.  It gives a gentler shade of rue tinged with  frustration—is that entirely intentional?  Or would you even agree with that ?  

I love the second person and I’m always keen to find an excuse to use it. In this case it felt like the most natural fit—the first person would have felt like a ranty personal essay, instead of a work of fiction centring the reader. I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it as much.

It is a detailed observational piece but reads as…perhaps a more considered kind of stream of consciousness—did you write it that way, in one ‘go’ or ?  

I tend to write the first draft of everything in a single sitting, and then edit, edit, edit in the following weeks. This was no exception. Once I realised it was taking the form of a free-flowing list, it came down to trying to get the right rhythm—setting up repetition then breaking it, turning the screws until I can’t stand it anymore. The first version was a lot longer, with references to autocorrect and self-checkouts, etc. but they got edited out of the flow at some point.

The end line is so good, it really grounds the whole piece, the earth wire: ‘You place a hold on them, then go get your shoes on.’  I find that so encouraging. Heartening.  

The ending had to go in a different direction. I wanted the final paragraph—at first—to feel like more of the same, then perhaps even feel a touch sarcastic, before it becomes clear in its sincerity. It’s not all bad. There’s still joy to be found. Go get your shoes on.

The piece also reminds me a little of Beckett in its awareness of the absurdity of life and the humour and pathos of that…the parody.  Or, at least, that’s what I took from it.  It stands on its own but did you want to say something about that here?  

Love Beckett! The absurdity of life is all-consuming and unavoidable. I feel like a lot of the moments mentioned in the story would feel a little inconsequential on their own, easy to brush off and keep moving, but there is something to be said for experiencing them all at once. I really wanted to put a flag in the ground for this moment in time. At some point in the distant future, the internet will end, and people will look back and talk about what a wonderful invention it was to connect all humankind. And I will agree! However.

Oh yes, what are your current writerly interests and concerns?  

Nothing specific. Just reading and writing more humour and horror.