New York-based writer and cultural icon David Coggins knows a thing or two about a few things, including men’s style, travel, art, and fly-fishing. Recently we spoke with him about his passions and his profession.

What are your own family roots?
I grew up in America’s Midwest, in Minneapolis; between Chicago and Canada, for those not locked into these matters. My family still has a cabin a few hours away in Wisconsin, where I still go each summer, and where I learned to fish.

When and why did you first want to be a writer?
I grew up in an artistic house, and I was interested in literature at a young age. Writing was something you were expected to do. But I’m not actually sure when I considered writing professionally – that’s a daunting thing to admit you want to do. I started writing about art in my twenties; that’s what I did for a number of years, and I enjoyed it.

Are they the same reasons that you continue to write today?
It’s evolved over the years. These days, I write about other things I care about: travel, fishing, style and design, and other more esoteric topics.

What are the challenges of the vocation?
Well, you have to have conviction in what you’re doing, which I suppose is true of most work. Writing is something that is very private and then becomes very public. So, you might struggle with something on your own, and then it’s out in the world. That takes a certain amount of balancing.

What are the rewards?
When things work out – when a story or book is the way you imagined it – and people respond to it, that’s a nice feeling. Sometimes people will tell me they recognized something in what I wrote that meant something to them, or even something that made them laugh. It doesn’t happen all the time, by any means, but it does make it worthwhile.

How have you evolved as a writer over time?
When I wrote about art, I was much more focused on style. I think I was more concerned with drawing attention to the way I wrote and the points I was making. That’s a bit embarrassing to admit. These days, I try to write in a way that might be considered more natural; I don’t draw attention to the style quite as much. But I still try to get a line in that might surprise people.

Is your writing and/or creative process more ‘inspirational’ or ‘perspirational’?
Ha! That’s a good question. I try to write quickly and a lot. Then I edit even more. For a book, I edit an incredible amount. It’s just combing through again and again. So, I guess it’s some inspiration, and then a fair amount of the other.

What is feedback like from readers? And is that important to you?
First, you write for yourself. You’re making this thing that you want to have meaning to you. But it’s not fully realized until it’s out in the world, so feedback is important. I do a lot of book signings and events, and it’s nice to meet people who’ve read my work.

The podcast, the newsletter – what is the response like from your audience?
Well, the internet is very different. The feedback to a newsletter or podcast is immediate, where a book takes years to come out. I like newsletters because I can react to what’s going on in the world and going on in my life. They’re much more conversational and, in a way, more intimate.

As you note, fly fishing is more than a sport (or an art, science, etc.…) – it is a metaphor of sorts for living – was that intentional on your part with The Optimist, The Believer, and all the fishing articles?
Well, fishing is a funny thing to write about, because it’s so fraught with metaphor. There’s good reason for that, but sometimes you try not to make fishing about everything – you just want to catch a trout. In those books, I tried to communicate the straightforward pleasures of the sport, but also the feeling of failure and triumph that are also part of it. I like writing where the author cares about something – if he or she does, then I feel a connection to them, even if the topic is sailing or cooking or ceramics. So, I try to make clear what I feel about fishing, and hope that comes through to the reader.

Do you have a favourite fishing book and/or author?
Well, I have many. I love Thomas McGuane, who’s a wonderful writer and inspiration and is very celebrated. I would also note Blood Knots, an incredible memoir by Luke Jennings, about his English childhood, his father’s military life, and a charismatic schoolmaster he had who had a mysterious life. Now that’s a fishing book that’s really about everything. And his writing is painfully good. It makes me proud to speak English.

You’ve fished in Scotland – what was that experience like for you, and how was it different from other spots?
I love Scotland, and I love fishing in Scotland, despite a certain lack – or real lack – of success. The landscape, the rivers, the ghillies, the fishing huts. I love all that. Estate tweed – you’ve got to be kidding me. I caught my first Atlantic salmon in Scotland (after a long line of failure), so I have a special relationship to the country.

Have you fished in Ireland or Wales? If not, are they on the list?
Not yet, but they are on the list in a big way. The list is, alas, very long.

In your opinion, is fly fishing still a gentleman’s sport? 
Well, that’s a good question. I think some of the principles remain gentlemanly (if I can use that word). That’s to say, you’re not fishing in the easiest way. You’re using light tackle, often a dry fly, and try to return the fish to the water with a minimum of harm. I really believe in those things. But the sport is open to everybody, and that’s a good thing too. Many of the best anglers I’ve met were certainly not born on estates, and that’s just fine.

From your perspective, what makes a modern gentleman?
I think you want to be kind and patient. The world moves fast, and we can be under the illusion that we’re on our own — that we have to act quickly, and in our own best interests. So, I would say that a person who sees the humanity in other people, who brings a little dignity to small interactions, that’s a good way to be in the modern world.

What’s the difference between fashion & style?
Fashion is transitory and probably involves being embarrassed when examined in retrospect. It usually starts from above – that’s to say, a designer, who has their own agenda. Style is from within an individual, is more enduring, and explains something about how you view the world.

What advice might you have for younger people looking to start a career in writing and/or journalism? 
I think you should try to write a lot – that hasn’t changed – but you should also take advantage of technology, which has evolved. You should write about things that you know and care about. How did you learn to drive? What was the first summer job you had? These are good things to write about – they are universal but also very specific. It’s also good to write about something that obsesses you, whether it’s a football team or a heavy metal band.

What advice might you have for younger people looking to start fly fishing?
In a perfect world, you’d be taught by an old timer who knows you. If there’s an uncle or stray cousin, then ask them to teach you. Otherwise, try to learn with a friend. Go to a fly shop, see if they teach lessons (many of them do), then maybe head out with a guide. That’s the fastest way to learn.

What’s next on your fishing/writing agenda?
I’m working on a few travel stories. A few fishing stories. And working on the proposal for my next book.

What is your favourite cuisine?
My favorite places to eat are Paris and Tokyo – I love France and Japan. But I’m an equal opportunity trencherman. I might stop short of haggis, however.

What is your favourite whisky/whiskey?
Again, I am very Catholic in my whisky choice. I used to be very into Islay whiskies and still love them. But a dram of Campbeltown sounds good to me right now.

www.thecontender.co
@davidrcoggins