Local Writer Talks First Novel And Millennial Life In Ditmas Park

Jack Houghteling, 24, has found a unique way to blend two of his identities — picture-perfect millennial and evolving writer.

When we sat down together for a beer in Sycamore’s backyard garden, I immediately saw that Houghteling is smart, confident, and laughs often — with a huge, joyful smile that eclipses his entire face.

He was excited to talk about his just-finished, first manuscript, “Goodman”, a first person narration from the perspective of a millennial. The narrator connects with an older, ex-hippie who is dying but adamantly refuses to enter the mainstream medical establishment — “he doesn’t want to die in a hospital, he wants to just let it go, his body, the way it is,” said Houghteling.

Houghteling describes his millennial protagonist as a phone addict, and admits that he is a die-hard Instagram user — one of his benchmarks of millennial identity. “The main character is a millennial, and so am I,” he said.  “I wanted to write something for that generation, but I think the point of making it a relationship between a millennial and older guy is because I desperately wanted to get out of that mindset.”

Writing a character that’s different from your own perspective, he said, is the hardest part about writing fiction. “Writing about someone who is not you, but not as a caricature and really give them justice.”

When I asked him about his writing process, Houghteling said, “I sit with the characters, I think about them. I put them in a bunch of situations and legitimately think about what they’d do and what they’d say. Some characters are semi-based on people I know in real life, which is like semi-cheating but you need a reference point. Or, you need to make a composite between a few people. You need moving parts,” he said.

And when he needs to take a break, Houghteling can be found wandering around the tree-lined streets of Ditmas Park, listening to music and taking in the neighborhood.

Through Goodman, Houghteling is grappling with two pressing issues of his generation — the rapid advance of technology and how that impacts relationships. He describes Goodman on his website as “a work of literary realism which tries to assess the effects that the modern worlds of technology, commerce, and travel have on thought and action.”

Houghteling started writing essays in college, but transitioned into fiction and using his experiences and education. “I got a masters in the history of economics from the London School of Economics. But everything informs my writing. I definitely try to incorporate that [knowledge] into my writing, even subtly.” Although he didn’t do an MFA program, Houghteling considers writing his first novel the experiential equivalent.

“[My newer essays were] creatively focused. I practiced getting into the mindset of looking at the world in meticulous details.”

A novelist by night, Houghteling doubles as a journalist by day — a reporter for the Financial Times, covering institutional investors (specifically endowments and pensions.) “I have the economics background which is how I got the job,” he said. And as a modest touch, he added, “I like journalism and I hope I get better at it.”

Though Houghteling isn’t new to writing, he is brand new to the neighborhood. “I live on a very ‘vibrant’ block” he said. “It’ll be 3:30 in the morning and I’ll hear music blasting. I want to stay in the neighborhood though, someday move to a quiet block with houses.”

He chose Ditmas for his first apartment in Brooklyn because he had good memories of visiting his brother, when his brother was a student at Brooklyn College. In fact, the new owner of Buffalo’s Famous and Houghteling’s brother met by calling to each other across their Ditmas front porches one summer evening.

What’s next for our neighbor Jack Houghteling and his passion project? After completing his eighth draft of Goodman in one and a half years, he had the good sense to hire an editor from the Sackett Street Writers Workshop to get a new perspective. “It was a key point, I needed second eyes,” he said. “Right now I’m working solo, but I’d like to find a [writers] group, and connect with other fiction writers in the Ditmas area.”

Houghteling is currently seeking an agent and a publisher for Goodman. Visit his website, and email him at jack.houghteling@gmail.com with any inquires, ideas, or resources for local writers.