Member Spotlight: Tara Lynn Masih

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? This is a tough question for me personally. I had an opportunity early on to go in the visual arts direction (photography or painting) but chose instead to work with words. My father said from a young age I was making up stories (apparently I’d tell them to him when he was walking the real dog and I was walking my stuffed dog). So I think it’s just something instinctive, as I was doing it before I knew how to read. I did become an avid reader. There was nothing I loved more than reading a book front to back in the summertime, in a tree, by the pool, in my attic bedroom. Then I had an excellent writing teacher in high school, and really blossomed under her care. I just love imagining, creating a new world, and then seeing those black marks/words on paper that come from my messy brain and get formed into a book with a cover. Why is writing important for the world? After first telling stories orally, then drawing pictograms or hieroglyphs, writing is now our main way of communally recording our history, our dreams, our creations, our mistakes, our triumphs. It helped us evolve. I like to think it’s still helping us evolve.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? I actually never experienced writer’s block! My brain contains too many ideas, too many stories, too many words. My issue is more with sticking with one of those ideas. For the novel, I’ve learned I have to be passionate about the subject in order to be able to finish one. So for me, the challenge is finding that idea that doesn’t let me go. Sorry, that’s not really the right answer. If I had to give advice on writer’s block generally, I’d say go for a long walk. That’s what my father did when he had painter’s block. Walk or mow the lawn with his push mower. Do something repetitive and active so your brain relaxes and isn’t on the spot.

What is your favorite time to write? When I was younger, it used to be between midnight and 2 a.m. The world is so quiet at that time, the air so still. Your brain goes into a different place or zone. Opens up more to your unconscious. Sadly, I’ve aged and can’t stay up that late anymore, but I still prefer writing at night.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? I had an adjunct teacher in college tell us to develop the skin of an armadillo. Which is neither hard nor soft. Meaning, let criticism enter that you feel is valuable, but be strong enough to keep out the criticism that’s harmful. Easier said than done, but I’ve noted that authors who’ve learned to do this are the ones who keep going and succeed.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? I’m so grateful I have direct access to readers, either through social platforms or through online book clubs and appearances. I’ve even met with some international Zoom book clubs. The world has opened up more to us, and I find that part very exciting.

Tara Lynn Masih’s The Silent Women is out now with Storm Publishing.