Writerly Wednesday with Meagan Noel Hart!

Well, it’s been a few weeks, but please give a massive, warm welcome to Meagan Noel Hart for Writerly Wednesday! And thank you so much for joining us here on AZ Pascoe today. Like many other featured writers on this blog (such as Claudia Wair, Carrie Houghton, and MM Schreier, just to name a few) Meagan Noel Hart is a writer friend of mine from an online writing group.

1. I love knowing a little bit more about the wide range of backgrounds and lifestyles different writers come from. Please give us a bit of insight into the person behind Meagan Noel Hart the writer. Where are you from? What fills most of your hours? And what makes you light up? 

I’m originally from Southern Illinois, just outside the St. Louis MO area, but I migrated east to Baltimore to earn my MFA and just kind of never left. I teach at Stevenson University, which honestly takes up the bulk of my time as I teach five writing intensive classes a semester, and I tend to volunteer to organize events (both for work and writing groups), but I’ve got two little boys and a third baby on the way, so I’m sure you know how my evenings and weekends are largely spent. I love my boys so much. My mom used to look at me randomly and tell me how much she loved me, and it was nice, but I never understand where this sudden urge came from. Now I know. If you’re looking for something that makes me light up, it’s them. But I digress.

If there is one thing I am good at, it’s filling my time. Writing is a passion so of course you can find me doing that, but I also really enjoy exploring and getting lost in an adventure, whether it’s a walk down the street with the kids or a road trip. My son and I chased a rainbow a few weeks ago — highlight of my month. I adore animals of all kinds, and currently live with five (two bull mastiffs and three cats), but I used to have rabbits and parakeets and small rodents aplenty. One of my favorite hobbies is cake decorating or fancy baking. I absolutely love making birthday cakes and treats for people I care about and doing my best to make them look pretty or usually like a character they enjoy.

Similarly, my husband and I love to host parties. So beyond birthdays we also host a neighborhood Easter Egg hunt, a 4th of July block party, and a big Halloween party every year. We also invite any friends who don’t have other family obligations over for Thanksgiving. I am also a Netflix binger and video game enthusiast who coined the phrase “the fastest way to free time is procrastination.” Which I find hilarious because it is so not true, and yet, it is. I think at the end of the day from my job to my hobbies, this can all be boiled down to the fact that I love to help people, to make them happy, to help them understand. And I love to discover new ways of looking at the world. I am who I am, and it’s in everything I do. 

Books and Literature

2. All writers are storytellers and I think we tend to value the ability to convey a powerful story. Pick one book that you think is seriously underrated—why?

I am going to cheat a lot here, lol. It is really hard to pick one book because so many actually are seriously underrated. Quitefrankly, horror, science fiction, graphic novel, and children’s books, to a degree fantasy, anything considered “mainstream genre,” largely do not get the credit they truly deserve. They’re written off as shallow for being plot driven as opposed to character driven (sci fi), or they stand in the shadow of a lot of really bad examples (horror), or they’re brushed off on the assumption that their audiences are more immature thus so must be the craft.

Pictures can tell amazingly emotional stories, and if you don’t believe me check out the Flightseries. Volume III offers a particularly nice variety of short graphic stories that should change some minds. Children’s literature? Just go talk to the librarian in the kids department at your local library, and you’ll get served up a host of emotionally poignant and clever works. There is a long history of judging that stems from when ‘common folk’ began to not only read and write but produce literature. Is there a stamp of a great story and beautiful craft? Yes. But it has squat to do with word choice, genre, or subject matter.

I like to use Stephen King as an example of this concept of discounting work based on genre because so many people are familiar with him or his stories.  People will say they loved this or that, but not many will sit down and analyze the depths of humanity that man can bring out in a single sentence. And they don’t expect him to be able to. Perfect example: When I have my students read “Last Rung on the Ladder” (one of his short stories dealing with loss) they seem shocked. How could the same man that wroteIt write this? The answer is that he couldn’t have writtenIt if he couldn’t write “Last Rung.” 

3. Do you subscribe to literary journals or magazines? If yes, what are some of your favorites and why? 

I subscribe to a few, mostly online. I tend to buy physical copies whenever I am at a conference or sometimes I’ll sign up for a short run of one. My favorite right now though has to be Daily Science Fiction. The stories are so diverse in terms of humor or horror or drama, and the writing is so consistently excellent with intriguing concepts. My favorite story from there is “Moon in Her Doorway” by Joy Kennedy-O’Neil, though “Life is Sweet” by Eva Schultz may be a near tie. I think it is good to read as much as you can, and with online subscriptions to my inbox, I do a lot more spontaneous reading. Especially since places like DSF usually put at least the first part of the story, if not the whole thing, in the email.

Where Writing Began

4. Have you always written, or always wanted to be a writer? When did that love of language first show up? 

I’ve always loved it for as long as I can remember. When I got my first diary I mostly used it to make things up. I participated in the young author contests in elementary school, and spun hilarious adventure tales for and featuring my best friends in middle and high school. I have always been drawn to stories whether it was those already written or ones I’d yet to write. I was the kid in the corner with the notebook. I even tried to do an adaptation of a story and film it using it my friends as actors in high school. Two of my leads were dating and broke up, which killed the project though. 

Oddly enough however, the idea of actually making creative writing my career came late, largely because I didn’t want to do what people expected of me. They expected I’d be an author or a teacher, and I wanted to do something different and exciting. (I was a stubborn teenager.) So I went into advertising, then quickly switched to television & radio. I was still writing creatively, and even had a minor in it, but it literally took until my senior year to realize I should major in English (hence why my impressive holding of two undergraduate degrees is the result of stubbornness, not ambition, but don’t tell). Then I learned you could go to grad school and basically do nothing but write and learn about publishing and the rest is history. 

Um, as it turns out, I’m both a teacher and an author. So, yeah, hard headed me lost that battle, but I’m so glad I did.

5. Tell us about your writing rituals—tea or coffee? Music or silence? Key locations, times, writing companions? How do you escape the world to let Meagan Noel Hart, the writer, come out?

I can write almost anywhere. Perhaps this comes form the days carting notebooks and journals around with me everywhere I went as a teen. Sometimes I want quiet, sometimes I require background. If I can find a comfortable place outdoors, I’ll be there in a heartbeat, though using a laptop usually impedes the comfort level. If I’m writing under a deadline, I’ll need a steady supply of sweets and water, gummy bears are a good go to here. Chocolate of course is a craving when I’m in the depths of a complex project.

From what I suspect is undiagnosed ADHD, I have this ability to become hyper focused, which is odd because I can also be hyper-distracted. But when I am in that writing zone, truly in it, the house could basically collapse around me without me losing my stride. But when I’m not in that place, I can come up with all sorts of things to do to avoid that next sentence.

I recently read a Facebook post that said “ADHD is not a disability. It is a superpower you must learn to control.” My son has it, and through his diagnosis I’ve come to learn so much more about myself. And this is one of those things — learn to control that need to constantly be doing, constantly be changing, and get lost in what you care about, and you’ll find you’re actually more productive than the average joe, not less. It also means that if the story is good, I could write or read through a natural disaster.

Focused or not though, indoor or outdoor, lonely or in a group writing room — I pretty much require some kind of break that involves human interaction and usually talking about my story. This isn’t to say that I never write for myself, because I do frequently, but every area of my life is fueled by people and relationships, and knowing that I can talk to someone about my work, share it with them in some way, is what keeps me writing when the words run away from me as opposed to toward me. 

Meagan Noel Hart on Writing

6. It’s fascinating how the various facets that make us up play such a key role in the kinds of writers that we are! What do you find easiest about writing? Why? 

Revising. I will always choose fixing a crap draft over flinging words into the abyss of a blank page. With the material done, it is easier to see what needs to be said, what I was trying to say, and how I can do it better. When I’m in the crating process, even a hyper driven one, getting to the next scene becomes a fumble, either because there are too many words flowing out or not enough. It’s the difference between — now my character has shown up at the store to confront their nemesis, my God how does this go?— and — This fight scene is terrible. It would be better with some banter and oh my gosh her ex should walk in!  The difference between — what do you call that thing? — and — perhaps this term is too technical, what are my other options? Sometimes I wish the ideas in my head would just magically appear on the page so I can get right to the revising part.

7. Do you prefer writing short or long-form works (fiction or nonfiction)? Why? Does that correlate with what you prefer to read? 

I prefer writing short works. Flash, poetry, short essay. I’m most drawn to fiction because I think in an odd way it allows us to explore the truth more fully and on different levels than nonfiction allows. Most of the world is nebulous and needs soaking in, which fiction is perfect for. If I have something I really need said and said clearly, I always turn to essay or even sometimes nonfiction poetry.

I read a lot of flash because of time restraints and I admire and write the form, but when it comes to reading, I want to get lost and lost for a long time, so clearly themed collections, memoirs, and novels tend to be my go-tos. Since I haven’t had a lot of time for reading, I’ve started listening to audio books in the car or listening before bed so I can still rest my eyes in the dark. I got a lot more novels in this way in the last year or two, but I must confess, audio books can still result in late night “reading,” not caring about traffic delays, and sitting in the parking lot for longer than is natural.

Finding Time to Write

8. How do you prioritize writing in your life and find the time to put on your ‘Meagan Noel Hart – Writer’ hat?

First, I want to acknowledge that all writers go through lulls. Sometimes these lulls can last years. At what became the end of a particularly long lull for me, I took a look at how I was spending my time, and basically had this kind of moment where I had to say to myself — either writing is important enough to you to make time for, or it isn’t. Ultimately, I am happier when I am writing regularly. So in some ways it is an act of self-care. In this sense, why I prioritize writing is actually more important than the physical how. 

But as for how, the answer is likely more sporadic than expected. I get that people say you should write every day, and for some that works. For me, I need a purpose, a piece that is really calling to me, a deadline, or a waiting audience. So first, it is a matter of manufacturing those things for myself either by entering writing contests, finding journals with deadlines for submission, or being a member of an online writing group. Every time I log onto Facebook there’s a notification about something one of my writer friends said or did, and it’s a nicely daily reminder that I too am a writer and I too could be writing. So this is how I create the drive to make the time. 
 
To get the time? After having a discussion with my husband some time ago about the mental load I was carrying, he started to take over more of the household management tasks (doctor’s appointments, scheduling things, etc.). We are now pretty good partners in this sense, which frees up mental space for other things. We’ve also both learned that we’re both happier with time for hobbies. First, I was the only one getting hobby time, and after about year, he was unhappy. Now we make sure we both have hobby time, and it is so great.

The kids can be involved in a lot of his, which is helpful because while he’s impressing them with a quadcopter and building a 3D printer, I can be off writing or catching up on work. He also loves going to the grocery store for some reason, so I can write while he’s there as he likes to take the kids. (I promise my husband isn’t crazy. He’s just a good dad.) We used to take turns at bedtime with the kids. So on his nights, I’d write. He’s actually better at bedtime, so now does it most of the time, which is good for me hobby wise. I mean, I also clean up after dinner etc while he’s doing this, but bedtime takes longer than dishes. 

I am also a night owl, so after everyone is asleep (like now… ) I find myself drawn to the keyboard. When I’m in a really good writing mood, I’ll sneak some in during the middle of the day. 

Largely, my family has been really accommodating about giving me time to write whether it is balancing our relationship needs or making the exception for a weekend contest. But it wasn’t always this way. I had to learn to ask for it, and to do that, I had to acknowledge its importance in my life. I recently heard someone say, and I feel bad I can’t remember, that often we look at our hobbies or passions as taking time away from something else, but when we start to realize what really is happening is that the something else is taking time from our passion— you come to the aforementioned cross roads. Either it matters enough to work in, or it doesn’t. Ultimately we do what we want to do. 

Grant it, sometimes life doesn’t allow us any space or time regardless of what we want. Those moments are legit, but they also tend to be temporary; whether it is a week or several years, true obstacles to writing don’t last. The issue is we fall into that comfort zone off not doing it, even if we’re worse off for it, and realizing that we’ve regained the agency or time to write again isn’t always as obvious as it should be. In other senses, I think sometimes, especially if the obstacle is emotionally or mentally draining, it is hard to think of spending time on yourself or doing something “frivolous” when the truth is an hour of writing may be exactly what you need to survive those obstacles. So largely, prioritizing writing time is less about your individual schedule or how consistent it is, and more about how you feel about it and how much control you currently have over the events in your life.

Future Meagan Noel Hart Projects

9. What are some projects you have in the works (or are planning for the future) that you’re really excited about? What’s the next big Meagan Noel Hart output?

I am the lady of a thousand spinning plates, but the project at the forefront of my mind is that I have finally decided to go though and finish a novel. There’s a story that’s stuck with me and I know its home is in a much longer format than what it’s currently in, but given my struggle with creation and my gusto for revision, I also know the time and effort this will entail. Part of the reason I am drawn to short works is because I can come out in a reasonable amount of time with a polished and published piece.

If I want to stick the same level of effort into revising a novel as I do my stories, there’s a grueling path that lies ahead. I’ve decided to accept this, and I am excited about that journey. I imagine the satisfaction of finishing is worth the cost. The novel itself is a fantasy that plays on the roles of life and death and relationships, in a world where magic has a similar role to technology in our world and the coming of death is a visible warning. I’m very excited to see that world fully developed and how my two very different, yet very strong female characters continue to navigate it. 

Quirks and Challenges

10. Do you find certain quirks continue to show up in your writing, sometimes without you noticing? What’s your special Meagan Noel Hart idiosyncrasy?

Yes, my work is routinely described as quirky — even the serious stuff. My quirk is quirk apparently. I’ve been told I’m very good at taking the plain and twisting it into something else. Or at finding the oddities in the everyday. I guess in terms of more concrete things, animals and children make reoccurring appearances. And quiet people.

11. What do you always find yourself editing out of your work? (I talk about stomachs way too much!)

I like the stomach example! It seems my characters are often plagued with looking at things or noticing things. It’s like they’re all just walking around looking for things to stare at, occasionally interrupted by plot. So a lot of that hits the cutting room floor before I send it to my betas. 

12. What scenes really challenge or frustrate you? 

Anything where the reader needs to know what is going on but multiple things are happening at once. It is so hard to depict this clearly without making it sound more complicated than it actually is or not getting quite the right action across. I’ve been told I do it well, but it comes at the cost of agonizing over it too long. Also, discovering the climax of my stories is like the hardest part. I can get started, I can recognize a good ending, but building to the breaking point that leads me to the end? Ugh. This is why my stories are twice as long as they need to be in early drafts.

13. What’s the one piece of advice you would give to other writers that has served you well in your journey so far? 

I have plenty of tips, but if I have to give only ONE piece of advice, it is this: Share your work. Get betas. Get friends willing to talk ideas with. Every other writing problem you have — block, getting started, finding clarity, reworking an idea, facing your characters, determining if it “sounds right,” typos, and the bravery necessary to change all of this — can be solved by a trusted and honest sounding board. The camaraderie will keep you interested in writing, the discussion will keep you growing, and feedback, should you choose to listen, will push your writing to the next level. Especially if you don’t have the support you need at home, this is vital. When I’m not interacting with other writers or readers interested in craft — I’m not writing like I should be.

Thank you so much for sharing a bit about yourself with us today… but now you’ve given us a little insight into your wonderful writer’s brain, we’d love to know more! Where can we find your published work and your social media profiles/webpage/blog? 

Stalk me kindly on Facebook or Twitter @mnhart. You can find a full list of my work on my website: https://mhart06.wixsite.com/mnhart. My most recent pride and joy is “The Art of Reproduction” on Daily Science Fiction… But keep an eye out for the forthcoming “Quantum Love Letters” at Twist in Time Magazine.

See you all next week!

A.