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The Stephens family outside their chicken coop on their homestead in Hampton Bays. BY CAROL MORAN
Most everyone would agree that being able to make a living from doing what you love is an ideal lifestyle. Unfortunately, it isn’t often realistic. But Southampton resident Gerren Wegman has found a way to do what he loves— write—while also supporting himself financially with two other jobs.
Mr. Wegman has two self-published short stories on Amazon, “Epiphany” and “Hugo,” and is working on his second novel, “Temperance.”
During a recent interview, Mr. Wegman said he remembers when he first started writing, at age 7. Back then, he had plenty of time to pen stories. But as he got older, the combination of school, work and a social life left him little time to write.
After leaving the East End for a time, Mr. Wegman returned to Southampton about four years ago to care for his ill mother. He then started working at Manual and Sports Physical Therapy in Southampton six days a week. In addition to caring for his mother and working full-time, Mr. Wegman also works as a security guard during events at the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton.
Coming back home also gave him the impetus to get even more serious about writing.
“I was ready to end my partying lifestyle, had just gotten out of a long-term relationship and I knew it was time to relax, reflect, read and write,” Mr. Wegman explained. “But it’s difficult to find time, I knew I had to be more disciplined about it to get my pieces finished.”
His determination paid off when the short-story “Hugo” was published in e-book form on Amazon in April. Shortly after, “Epiphany” also became available online.
According to Mr. Wegman, a number of things inspire him to write.
“Sometimes I’ll be reading and a certain line will just pop out at me and become the concept for a whole short story,” he said.
Real world situations, whether they are pleasant or not, are his favorite topics to write about.
“I like to talk about philosophical ideas, life, relationships, fear of death,” Mr. Wegman expressed. “I’m also interested in characters that live their life a certain way and then they just end up going in a completely different direction. There’s always a good story there.”
Telling a story and putting forth ideas that people can think about are the two main things Mr. Wegman said he loves about writing.
“The main motivation is to try and do for other people what certain authors have done for me,” he said. “They’ve inspired me, taught me. I’m not writing ‘Harry Potter’ and appealing to mass audiences or anything, but even if I can touch a small group of people, that means the world to me.”
Now Mr. Wegman is focusing on his in-progress novel, “Temperance.” The story takes place in a week’s time and is about a young, wealthy man visiting the Hamptons from the city. The plot outlines the modern day, crazy lifestyle he lives. The overall theme of the novel focuses on morality.
Though not based on a particular person that he knows, Mr. Wegman does borrow from what he sees.
“Often I’ll take situations and experiences from people I know and build a philosophical construct around that,” he explained.
Mr. Wegman admits that he has a busy life and has to work hard to find time to sit down and write but said that nothing is more rewarding than putting the finishing touches on a piece he’s been working on. He also had some advice for would-be writers who also feel the time crunch, and for those who might feel a bit of pressure when it comes to their reading audience.
“Just write, find the time to write and don’t worry how anyone else is going to take it,” Mr. Wegman advised. “Some people will hate it, but don’t get discouraged. You can’t please everyone.”
“It’s hard work but its very rewarding. In your mind’s eye, the process of creating releases endorphins in your brain, it’s pleasing to your mind,” Mr. Wegman explained. “Even if no one else reads it or no one else likes it, you still set positive standards for yourself.”
Mr. Wegman alluded that there may be a screenplay or some other novels in the future, though he’s not absolutely certain what form will come next for his writing. But he said he knows one thing for sure: that he will keep writing and doing what he loves regardless of the obstacles.
Heather Girgenti on Sep 7, 2011