Missouri Stories Spotlight with Vincent Thibault

Vincent Thibault won the fellowship with his writing partner, Linda Niccol in 2023 for their script “The Vodnik,” which is the story of a small-town mechanic who dumps toxic waste in a lake, setting off a frightening chain of events—his wife disappears leaving him to care for their autistic daughter, his failing business burns to the ground, and he must vanquish the terrifying monster he has awakened. Vincent is a Canadian writer who has published 15 books in French. From novels to travel memoirs and philosophical essays, his work is surprisingly varied, but keeps exploring key themes, such as the meaning of kindness, courage in the face of uncertainty, and the reconciliation of tradition and modernity. He has also been involved in the film industry in several capacities, especially as a screenwriter, and he’s currently developing scripts for both features and TV pilots.

Where do you get inspiration for your work?

VT: Ideas can come from anywhere. I believe that there are worthy stories all over the place, waiting to be heard, told, unpacked, revisited, or amplified, somehow. What one needs to do is pay attention. To one’s own feelings, sure; but also, to the animate and inanimate universe altogether. The world is mind-blowingly rich and diverse. Ordinary people go through incredible stuff… But to decipher or even acknowledge that richness, we have to manifest some degree of openness. I would even say that the foremost quality of a writer should be empathy. This is how I remain inspired for my work: by deliberately cultivating empathy and compassion.

Tell us about a screenwriter who inspires you and why.

VT: I appreciate Larry David’s work. People who have worked with him say that he knows exactly what’s funny. Whether you connect with his type of humor is another story; but to me this is a person who perfectly understands his craft. I also appreciate the degree of meticulousness that goes into his designing of situations and how the storylines unfold and fit together. It’s all seamless on screen, but there’s a lot of hard work involved, and it requires a clear vision. At the same time, he seems to trust the actors and give them room to experiment.

Describe your writing process.

VT: It really depends on the type of project (novel, short script, feature script, whatever). One thing that I can say is that over the years, I started appreciating the rewriting phase more and more (as opposed to my early years when I only wanted to vomit stuff on the page, if you pardon the image). Whenever I can afford that luxury—and thankfully, I often can—I leave the first draft on the back burner for a couple of days before starting the second draft. (Meanwhile, I work on other stuff: I always have several projects in parallel.)

Also, I like to work in my own office, rather than in cafés and whatnot, but I often go for a walk. It is to the point that, for me, walking and writing are inextricably linked. It’s a way to refresh my brain, activate my body and uplift my spirits.

How do you connect with other writers?

VT: I don’t necessarily feel the need to engage online much, but I do have a few close friends with whom I regularly talk. Some of them live nearby, others are in a wholly different time zone (hello, Linda!) We read each other’s scripts and encourage each other. As well, my partner Alice is the best ally: she can pitch in during a brainstorming phase, read drafts… She’s so positive, creative and supportive. I also think it is important to connect with writers from the past, by reading their works.

How has being a Missouri Stories Fellow affected you?

VT: This was way more than just a welcome pat on the back: it has opened perspectives that I had never considered before (for instance, we are now discussing the possibility of shooting a short film in the state of Missouri and connecting with local talent). Who knows what the future holds? It’s also as if we’re now part of this family… A family that keeps growing! There are plenty of distant cousins I still haven’t met, and yet we feel this connection. I also have to say that Andrea, Grace, the mentors and everyone else were so kind and helpful.

What are you up to now?

VT: My new book, “Overflow: A Buddhist Guide to Recovering Sanity in the Age of Information Overload,” just came out in Australia, and my publisher (Platform Publications) is currently meeting potential partners for distribution in North America. Meanwhile, I am developing a workplace comedy series with a studio in Quebec (I’ll be the main writer on all episodes). At this time, we are approaching local TV channels, but my whole team believes that our concept has fantastic potential for exportation, so we feel optimistic. I am also developing a short-format, limited anthology series in the sci-fi genre. All these projects involve some amazing people!