A Look Inside Gay Talese's Creative Process

The room is filled with shelves that reach the ceiling, brimming with boxes adorned with collages of photographs, clippings, and drawings. These files encompass notes for Talese’s numerous books and articles, reflecting a whimsical joy in organization that elevates mundane record-keeping into an art form. Scattered on one desk are Ziploc bags containing photographs labeled with dates and names, alongside more personal images of his wife, Nan, documenting their five-decade marriage. Currently, Talese is sorting through these photographs for a new book that chronicles his marriage, a process indicative of his thorough research approach, typically spanning nine to ten years for a single project.

At seventy-seven, Talese maintains a polished appearance, often making a striking impression on those around him. His father was a tailor, and he believes that his sense of uniqueness was formed through clothing. His finely tailored suits from a Parisian tailor complement his meticulous persona, and he takes pride in his formal appearance, which extends to his writing routine.

Talese writes at a desk equipped with an old computer, regarding it as a contemporary form of typewriter, although he avoids using the Internet and does not utilize email. Instead, he prefers to send typewritten postcards in situations where others might send an electronic message. Above his desk, he displays pages of his work, notes, and ideas on a white board, signifying his traditional approach to writing.

Renowned for pioneering the New Journalism movement, Talese blends fictional techniques into his nonfiction storytelling, which gained prominence during his time as a reporter for The New York Times in the 1950s. His notable works, including "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold," showcase his ability to capture the essence of characters and situations, aiming for a depth rarely seen in journalism. Despite his accomplishments, his work often receives intense criticism, particularly in response to his book "Thy Neighbor’s Wife," which examines the sexual revolution and has sparked debate regarding his methods.

Throughout our conversations in his living room, furnished with leather couches and an inviting atmosphere, I noted how his charm and intensity might overwhelm those he interviews. Talese appears engaged in the act of journalism itself, often refining my questions to ensure they meet his standards of rigor.

In our interview, Talese detailed his writing routine, arising each day to join his wife before transitioning to his fourth-floor clothing area, donning formal attire as if heading to an office. He describes his bunker, a former wine cellar, as a time-free zone, devoid of windows or doors. His writing process begins longhand before transitioning to a typewriter, reflecting his preference for a slow, deliberate approach, where he aims to develop only a page each morning before returning to work after lunch.