How to Write Better Writing Is Emotionally Expensive
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Apr 23, 2026 Matt Sumell, short fiction writer and UC Irvine MFA whose work has appeared in The Paris Review and Esquire, talks about the emotional cost of writing. He explores using personal life as material. He contrasts composing and editing, explains why he prefers short stories to novels, and shares skepticism about AI and a preference for analog craft.
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Albie Is a Permission-To-Act Character
- Matt Sumell explains his character Albie is an amplified, reckless version of himself used to explore impulses he wouldn't act on.
- He created Albie to generate trouble and plot by letting that character make impulsive, often toxic choices that drive scenes forward.
Voice Over Plot Explains His Story Shape
- Matt Sumell privileges sentence-level voice and musicality over strict plotting, admitting he often 'loses the forest for the trees.'
- His voice-first approach explains why stories prioritize mood and character over linear plot development.
Stop Perfecting Every Sentence During Drafting
- Avoid editing each sentence to perfection during the first draft; give yourself permission to produce messy drafts and return later to revise.
- Sumell recommends embracing the messy 'sandbox' phase because polishing while composing slows production and creates inefficiency.