Halfway through the week, that Monday energy starts to fade. Yet there’s still something good to be found, and today I'm excited to chat with M Tomko about their pages penned in pandemic.
What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?
Lots of home-away-from-homes have shut their doors, some until regulations loosen, some for good. I've lost favorite drink spots, beloved theaters, and a writer's co-op that couldn't survive the closures. These places aren't more important than lives, but their loss makes me wonder: when the world reopens, what kind of world will it be?
What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?
The poetry of Erika L. Sánchez
Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?
Weekly tabletop RPG sessions have been keeping me sane these past few months. Exploring the worlds of “Spire and Masks” has given me a sense of adventure, even when I can't leave my apartment.
How has the pandemic affected your writing?
Feast or famine, depending on the week. Some days I'll fly through pages, some days I'll struggle to even get a document open.
Are there any projects you are excited to keep working on?If so, can you give us any details (no spoilers please!) about your project?
My short play, “Words Heard from the Trojan War,” has been a cathartic and sometimes painful pandemic project.
If you haven't been able to write, are there any projects you're hoping to work on next?
A Shakespearean murder mystery.
If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?
A messy page is better than a blank one.
Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? Has this changed during the pandemic?
Pantser all the way. Don't get me wrong, I still write an outline - but then I watch that outline get flushed down the drain while the characters pull a one-eighty and do whatever they want instead.
Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?
I, like many, used to love sitting in busy cafes and watching they city come to life while I wrote. Now I'm mostly relegated to my home desk. The view isn't as exciting, but my cat sometimes "helps" me by sitting on the keyboard and knocking over my coffee mug when I've been at it too long.
Without too many spoilers, what is your favorite scene you've written since the pandemic began?
“When your world is taken from you, what would you do to get it back? Where do you turn and who do you hurt?”
While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?
Crisp leaves crunching under autumn boots.
ABOUT M Tomko
M Tomko is a Chicago based writer and playwright. Their works have been developed by Chicago Dramatists, Devious Maid Productions, Horizon Theatre, and Last Frontier Theatre Conference. When not writing, they can be found petting dogs, drinking tea, and pretending to enjoy cardio.
To learn more, follow M Tomko and their writing journey on their website, Twitter, and Instagram.
Thanks for chatting, M!
