Member Spotlight: Karen F Uhlmann

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? Telling stories has always been important to me. I began as a journalist and slowly shifted into fiction writing. In today’s chaotic world, it’s crucial that all kinds of different stories are told and diverse voices heard. Although, I’ve left journalism, it’s especially important now when democracy is being challenged Stories, both fictional and not, bear witness.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? When I’m stuck, I usually turn to poetry. The imagery is a huge help to me.

What is your favorite time to write? Early afternoons.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? The old one. “Ass in chair.” I strive to have mine in one every day.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? That there are so many voices. We are exposed to important issues through the stories being told today. The Palestinian poet, Mosab Abu Toha, just won the Pulitzer Prize for his essays about Gaza in the New Yorker magazine. The world has become a scary place, and we need art to keep our hearts and minds open. Art of all kinds is much needed now.

Karen F Uhlmann’s Intersections is out now with She Writes Press.