Member Spotlight: Francine Falk-Allen

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? I love expressing myself through words (obviously). I used to paint, draw and sing, but somehow writing has been an avenue that is much easier for me, and I feel I reach far more people this way. I feel that people get to know other cultures and how other people think and feel through reading, and this fosters compassion and empathy… and it’s great entertainment!

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? Sit down at the computer and just start writing. I also started a writers’ group 11 years ago; we now meet on zoom, and our intention is to write uninterrupted for 2 hours, twice a week. This gets us started and if the week becomes too bogged in domestic stuff, we know we have this dedicated time.

What is your favorite time to write? Afternoon, generally, and sometimes evening.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? Reach out to other writers and readers; ask them to beta read your work; accept some of the feedback, especially if several people tell you the same thing!

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? Connecting with people who like the same genres and types of writing as I do… also since my current book is historical fiction, it gives an opportunity for people to look at how women’s lives in particular have both changed greatly and unfortunately stayed too much the same, in terms of living with patriarchy.

Francine Falk-Allen’s A Wolff in the Family is out now with She Writes Press.