Herman Wang
Whenever I have a random creative thought, I put it down on a scratch list I keep for that specific purpose
1. Tell us about yourself and your most current project/s?
My name is Herman Wang and I’m an indie web series producer working from Toronto. The sci-fi comedy series Illuminagents that I write and direct just released its third season online.
2. Where did the inspiration/idea come for this project?
Everyone knows about conspiracy theorists, but they may not fully realize the implications of having large portions of society segregated into this subculture of magical thinking. I wanted to write something that was entertaining and goofy, but also with the goal that it would encourage people to think more deeply about what they believe and why.
3. What does the writing process look like for you?
I’ve started a new writing tradition the last few years. There’s a small town about an hour’s drive from me with a hotel that borders on a picturesque lake. I’ll book a 4 or 5-night stay and spend daytime hours in the hotel room writing with occasional breaks for strolls along the lakeshore. It’s been a solo writing retreat for me so far, but I’m trying to turn it into a group outing so we can gather in the evenings to unwind and provide mutual support.
4. How do you handle writer’s block?
Running a web series means I’m often doing a lot of the production work myself. When I’m blocked creatively, I have the option of switching to other production tasks, especially the ones that are more mechanical in nature, such as scheduling, budgeting, that sort of thing. Doing grunt work that doesn’t require a lot of creative brainpower is a good way for me to recharge. As they say, sometimes a change is as good as a break.
5. How do you feed your creativity when feeling drained?
Whenever I have a random creative thought, I put it down on a scratch list I keep for that specific purpose. I don’t try to flesh it out or tie it to a specific context, I just make sure I get it down. There are 50-odd items on that list that I’ve collected over the years. Whenever I feel I’m running dry on ideas, I can go to that list to find something creative I came up with earlier and run with it.
6. What advice would you give writers who feel stuck or uninspired?
One time I was manning a convention booth for an earlier web series I’d written. Things were slow and the day was starting to drag on. Then a young girl came by the booth with her father in tow. She lit up when she saw the booth – she knew our series! She took selfies with our poster, then moved on and I thought that was the end of it. At the end of the day she came back and bought a T-shirt. Her father told me she had a strict budget, and after touring the entire booth area she’d decided on one of our shirts. You never know who your writing is going to touch, and small victories matter.
7. Have you ever thought about giving up writing? If so, what pulled you back?
My focus for creating has never been for others, I do it from internal motivations. I haven’t had a time in my life when I didn’t feel like making something new, even if it was only for me and never got seen by anyone else. The act of creation can be its own reward.
8. How do you keep your voice or ideas fresh over time?
On the web series, I always try to do something new each season, a new challenge to push my envelope. On the first season it was writing a musical episode. For the second it was shooting an entire episode virtually. For the third it was stretching what we could accomplish with special effects. Breaking new ground is a good way for me to keep fresh and engaged in the creative process.
9. What do you wish more people understood about the creative process?
I think many people believe that creativity alone is the crucial ingredient, but it’s not. I know creative people who have lots of ideas but never seem to finish a project. I think the real crucial ingredient is persistence, the ability to keep at something until it’s done, no matter what it takes. Without that drive, good ideas are useless.
10. What is the most honest thing you’ve ever written - and did it scare you?
Before filmmaking, I was writing songs with my band. One album I wrote was largely influenced by the bad situation my marriage was in. I was putting into lyrics the thoughts in my head that I couldn’t get out any other way. Not long after that, the marriage ended and the turbulence that came with that was difficult to deal with, but I think the creative process helped me get through it and come out somewhat whole.
Where can my audience find you and your work?
You can view episodes and learn about the series here