12 minute read
The Writer's Desk: Craig Johnson
In Wyoming’s expansive, often unforgiving landscapes, New York Times bestselling author Craig Johnson has found the perfect backdrop for his unique brand of crime fiction.
Story by George "Clay" Mitchell
With a penchant for the noir genre, Craig Johnson sought to break free from its conventional constraints by situating his stories in the least populated county of the least populated state—setting the stage for his celebrated protagonist, Walt Longmire. This choice not only refreshes the genre but also challenges the limits of its narrative possibilities.
Through the lens of Longmire’s experiences, from his days as a young man to his reflective moments in Vietnam, Johnson explores the enduring questions of character and justice. As Johnson crafts tales that straddle the line between mystery and the deeply personal journeys of his characters, he invites readers and authors to step beyond their literary comfort zones, championing the idea that good storytelling transcends genre boundaries.
THE LONGEVITY OF WALT LONGMIRE
Johnson wanted to take on the crime fiction noir as a writer. He wanted to get away from the traditional points of the genre. So, he decided to have it occur in Absaroka County, Wyoming.
“That sort of setting gives you a very different character and environment, and the difficulty it would entail. How many can you kill before it becomes ridiculous?” Johnson chuckled. “By the second book in this series, I figured out that if the protagonist is good enough, I could branch Walt out to other Wyoming counties or states.
“I could also go back in time and tell stories of Walt’s life before we meet him in the first book. Rediscovering and researching the Vietnam War was just fun for me. It allowed me to explore how he became who he is and not impact the stories I already told.”
Johnson covered Walt’s and Henry’s journey from college to Vietnam. He said the characters had very different ideas when they were 22. That Walt was “a different breed of cat. Exploring their lives at that time is just as compelling to me as I’m doing right now.”
Johnson said he doesn’t put himself in a specific box when he writes but aims for the reader who wants more. He also added that there’s a danger in getting stuck in a rut if you only read one kind of book (genre) and that the reader or the writer should challenge themselves with different ones. “When you read other genres, it will be a constant training ground for you.”
“I’m kind of a crow, flying around all over the place, picking up shiny things and bringing them back to the nest that’s my book. I firmly believe that genre is only a sales term the publishers use to pigeonhole books into marketable packages. There are only two genres: good books and bad books. The trick is reading the good ones and avoiding the bad. I like writing the books in layers, attempting to reach readers in every way possible.”
WHO IS WALT LONGMIRE?
Characters are often an extension of the author, but Johnson said that he and Walt are nothing alike except for their sense of humor. Johnson added that humor is difficult to write but manages to get it across with Henry’s dryness, honesty, and Vic’s sarcasm. However, writers should take caution because even if you find something funny, someone else may not.
“I’m not Walt, but I travel along with him. I don’t always agree with him, but he’s honest and has a lot of things that I like about him. I’m fortunate that I don’t have the kind of drama in his life… his tragedies. He’s got advantages, and I know how to cripple him. His strengths are tied to his weaknesses, and that’s a direct reflection of their strength. You must consider those things when you put [your characters] together. You like them for their virtues, and you love them for their faults. It’s all interconnected.
CHALLENGE YOUR READING
Johnson grew up reading the action adventures of Louis L’Amour, Robert Louis Stevenson, and what he calls “young boys’ literature.” He also explored worlds created by Zane Grey and the prose of John Steinbeck.
“I enjoyed reading those… Canary Row, East of Eden, Tortilla Flats, ‘Grapes of Wrath. Those tackled social issues and seemed to be more aware of what’s going on than just storytelling,” said Johnson. “It’s the kind of literary fiction that is lost, and those were beautifully done.”
He talked about meeting one of his literary heroes, John Hillerman. “I asked him many questions about writing, and he said, ‘Don’t forget to tell a good story. I sat enough around campfires telling stories, and you must have a beginning, a middle, and an end.’ I took that to heart.”
Johnson added that books should be “trigger mechanisms” for the imagination. He said this was one of the advantages books had over Hollywood, which often compromises the story to make it work for television or film. “With books, you don’t have to worry about budgets, locations, and stars. Hollywood can’t compete with that.”
CREATING CHARACTERS
When writing a long-term series like the Longmire novels, Johnson doesn’t see any way that there aren’t new characters in each book. Each character has to be as interesting and compelling as the main character. “It’s not like I’m re-inventing the wheel, but each [book] has to be different from those previous,” Johnson said. “For me, the support characters must be just as interesting and compelling and capture your imagination. They inevitably turn back up, which is one of the joys of writing a larger tapestry than a single book. Having readers suddenly realize that they were introduced to a character a couple of novels ago is a blast.”
Johnson said you mustn’t reinvent the wheel to maintain characters beyond one book. Find a way to challenge the characters and the readers. He said to seek out interesting plotlines that will pull at the character’s resources. Also, look at where your characters are at in their lives and what they are involved with. “That will help create conflict and pull them from their comfort zone.”
This even extends more to the antagonists that Johnson pits against Longmire.
“The Northern Cheyenne have a saying, ‘You judge a man’s strength by his enemies.’ I think the challenge is finding antagonists strong enough to go up against Walt, but also believable and relatable enough for readers to find them as compelling as Longmire,” said Johnson. “I love it when readers write to me and say that they may not have liked a character, but they understand why it is that they did what they did. I think the antagonist has to be properly motivated, and as my ol’ buddy Tony Hillerman used to say, ‘You have to sit in all the chairs.’”
DESIGNING THE PLOT
Johnson outlines his books. He breaks everything down by characters, chapters, and scenes before he begins writing.
“My ideas tend to get harebrained and psychological. Even while I’m working on the outline, something will happen, and I’ll go in a different direction,” said Johnson. “That’s really your subconscious mind. The conscious mind does all the prep and the outline, and the subconscious is the backseat driver. When you start writing, the subconscious starts throwing something over the seat. Some writers don’t want to let go of that outline and hold on to it like a life preserver. We should get more relaxed with our writing and have an improvisational moment that lures us onto thin ice. It can lead to powerful writing, and we must be open to that.”
He also said that writers should play fair when designing a mystery. It helps to be well-versed in the genre to “see what’s been done before.”
“I don’t write period pieces, and I really can’t ignore what’s going on in the country,” Johnson added. “If I’m going to be honest and contend with those issues, I need to make sure that I understand the message I’m trying to get out.”
Johnson seems content to keep Walt in Wyoming, the Big Horn Mountains, or other wilderness areas. So, we won’t find Walt trying to solve a murder mystery in New York, L.A. or deal with international terrorists. Johnson laughed at the prospect of Walt being stuck on a cruise ship. “He’ll never set foot on one.” But “never say never.”
“A strange thing happened to me a while back. I got a VIP treatment on an aircraft carrier. There were some actors, other writers, politicians, and I thought, ‘My god, it’s like an Agatha Christie novel.’ In one of my books, Walt knows someone who was one of the Doolittle pilots, so it’s there to happen. I even asked the NCIS liaison what would happen if there was a murder on the carrier and a VIP was killed. He set up a scenario that I could use Walt to solve the murder. It would be different. He was a marine investigator, so he had some experience on a Navy ship. The question would be how much difficulty would it be for him. Who knows?” Johnson laughs at the idea.
WORKING WITH A PUBLISHER
Johnson said that his publisher was responsible for getting Longmire to the screen, and he’s happy that his character and, by extension, his books found a new audience. Even though the series last aired in November 2017, Johnson said he continues to meet people who have just discovered it.
“They don’t put pressure on me. I can do whatever I want. They would ask me for a synopsis when I started writing the next one. The only directive I get from them is that it must be a mystery and have Walt Longmire,” he added. “They have faith in me to provide them with a product they can sell. For me, it’s about writing a good book for them. It never hurts to have a bestseller. I feel like I’ve done good work for them for 20 years, and they give me the freedom to go in any direction. Penguin has been pretty wonderful. The fans still enjoy it and still read the book. It was a wonderful thing to happen, and everything fell into place early on. I think it was the attraction of Walt himself… he’s intelligent, funny, and fun to be with. I have no complaints, and he’s good company.”
‘BLUE COLLAR WRITER’
Johnson has written 25 novels and ebooks and has released at least one a year since 2009. He doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon. He’ll write for four hours a day. He’ll spend up to a year getting a new Walt Longmire story ready, and by the time he sits down to write, Johnson is “chomping at the bit.” He also enjoys the research aspects of preparing for a novel and will try to find ways to weave in some of the history he’s learned into his stories. “I’m a blue-collar writer. I write all day, evenings, and weekends to finish it.”
“It’s a challenge to set something in reality. It’s important to give honesty to the geography and the people to provide the reader with an honest portrayal of the book. That’s what they’ll respond to,” Johnson said. “Even when I’m writing, the research continues, but I will look it up when I’m not writing. I tell students to disconnect from the internet, or you can spend all day looking up different aspects of the Navajo.”
“The best way I start writing is by reading what I wrote the day before. I will sometimes have to fix it if I find something wrong. Otherwise, it’s going to haunt me or stop me from writing. I know it’s not perfect, but the best way is to find what works for you and get your creative juices flowing. Everyone approaches it differently. I enjoy the process of writing. Write on that empty page and see where it will go. I would be in rough shape if I didn’t have Walt. It’s a joy I have to be able to write, and you should allow yourself to get carried away. You should be having fun when you’re writing. Every opportunity to write is a godsend.”
Johnson’s latest Longmire book, First Frost, is on sale now.
George “Clay” Mitchell is an award-winning reporter and photographer, a founding partner of Saddlebag Dispatches, and Executive Vice President and Publisher of its partner company, Roan & Weatherford Publishing Associates
