Member Spotlight: Marlene Targ Brill

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? Writing feeds my soul and mind. I particularly love the research: interviewing new people and visiting different sites pertaining to my book topic. I write mostly nonfiction and historical fiction based on a real person or event. Through my books, I hope to empower young readers, bring more balance and unsung voices into the mainstream in terms of women and minorities, and show that nonfiction can be fun and enjoyable. Writers–and readers–know that words matter, and always will.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? I rarely get writer’s block, although I do have problems sitting still. When I get distracted too often, I take a break, often go for a walk (showers and walks are the best places for ideas to pop up), or just put the manuscript aside for awhile, returning with fresh thoughts. To help keep writer’s block away, I’ll stop writing for a break either in the middle of a sentence or mid-thought. Since I reread what I’ve written whenever I start again, my mind engages in what I wrote and almost automatically finishes the sentence or thought. After that, I’m on the way to writing progress. As I’m aging, I often make a to-do list for the next session before I stop for the day: that helps me organize my thoughts.

What is your favorite time to write? I try to have certain morning routines, like breakfast, exercise, attending to the business of writing, like emails or research. Once in a work mode, I’m rereading what I wrote the day before and dig in. So I guess late morning is when I start writing. Sometimes, once into a project, I have trouble stopping as the sun goes down.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? Patience and persistence.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? I’m still excited by the detective work involved in finding an interesting subject and digging up enough interesting clues to create a story others might want to read. That includes new avenues still being invented as well as others from history that need revealing.

Marlene Targ Brill’s Judith Resnik: Unsung Astronaut is out June 16 with ‎Ohio University Press.