While we've said goodbye to 2020, the notions of uncertainty still exist. Sometimes it takes a day spent pursuing creative endeavors, but some days all you need is a deep breath, to forgive yourself for needing rest. Margaret McNellis discusses just this and more in today's chat about her pages penned penned in pandemic.
What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?
It’s starting to pick up steam again, but fairly slowly. I live in a small town of about 6,000 people, but here in Connecticut, we have some hot spots. For us, this would be our third wave.
What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker, and The Vermont Plays by Annie Baker are among my favorite reads of this pandemic.
Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?
I rewatched “Schitt’s Creek” because who doesn’t adore David Rose? I’m currently rewatching “Lark Rise to Candleford.” I’m finding comfort in rewatching shows. I also enjoyed “Enola Holmes,” and I’m currently watching “The Great British Baking Show” Collection 8, and some scary movies because it’s October.
How has the pandemic affected your writing?
This is something I’ve thought a lot about. When the pandemic began eight months ago, my initial response as a writer was to flit around from project to project. At one point, I was working on six books at once, every day. Part of me knew I was never going to really get anywhere at that pace, but I felt powerless to stop it. Then, over the summer, after talking with a mentor of mine, I managed to put some projects aside. Now I’m working on just one novel, which is almost drafted. It will be my fourth drafted book, and hopefully my debut. The story takes place ca. 160 C.E., so I’ve been spending a lot of time imagining myself living in a past world (I do this a lot since I mostly write historical fiction, but this is the most distant past I’ve written in). The poems I submitted for this project fell onto the page one day after a morning meditating at the beach. Many of my thoughts that day were of the pandemic, and it crept into the verse a bit, but also, I was trying to distract myself with some of them by focusing on what I saw that day. The structure of sonnets gave me something to puzzle out, something I could solve, in a time when the world at large was too confusing.
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?
The novel I’m drafting right now, for one! I just got an idea for another book the other day, which I think I’ll tackle next (but not until I finish my Ancient Rome story). Then I have 5 other novels in-progress/in the wings, as well as a short story collection. Writing has always provided an escape, a way to re-envision the world, an opportunity to examine a particular element of human nature—but during these times, I find myself feeling bereft if I don’t have creative work to focus on. I’m fortunate to have a bunch of projects, so long as I can keep myself from going back into that early pandemic mode of jumping from one to the other.
If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?
Writing is a lifeline. In a time when there’s so much destruction (not just the pandemic, but also destruction of our natural world, of people’s homes in natural disasters, and via threats to our democracy by the Trump administration), to be able to create something is worth clinging to. More than that, to be able to create something and share it with others, to keep the storytelling going, to connect with people through words when we’re unable to connect in the same room, is something special, something cherished.
Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?
Oh goodness, yes. Everyone who is a current student, alumni, or faculty in the Mountainview MFA program, for starters. I’ve also recently begun training for a book coach certification, and am meeting lots of writers through that program. Last but not least, some of my dearest friends I’ve had for years are writers. We FaceTime, watch shows together over video calls, text daily, talk about stories, characters, etc. I write letters by hand to friends—I’ve done this for years, but during the pandemic, it feels even more necessary.
Is there anything that excites you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?
I think the publishing industry is opening its eyes to the injustice against writers who have been systemically marginalized over the past many centuries. It’s an exciting time to be alive and seeing so many #ownvoices projects coming to light, seeing writers coming together under #publishingpaidme. I hope it leads to a fairer marketplace for the sake of authors, and a broader range of published stories for readers.
Is there anything that worries you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?
I think whenever there is a move toward progression, there exists a risk to snap back in the other direction in a two-steps-forward, one-step-back pattern. The best thing we can do to guard against this is to continue to support a diverse industry. One trend I see happening now that worries me a little is cancel culture. The only reason this concerns me is I think that, taken too far, it could venture into the realm of censorship. Rather than cancelling someone, I think it’d be better to try to educate them. Cancelling is like shunning somebody, excommunicating them from our global society. How will people learn to be more tolerant if we cancel them? I do believe in supporting authors who demonstrate empathy, but I also think that we have an opportunity to educate and elevate, to increase empathy in the world, and cancel culture precludes that opportunity.
Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? Has this changed during the pandemic?
I’m a plantser. For me, copious plotting can feel stifling. It also delays my getting into the story, which I don’t personally care for. I’ve tried pantsing once, and it led to disaster for me. That project never got past 25,000 words, and it was meant to be a novel. It derailed and went to some illogical places because I had no idea where I was going. It was like trying to drive through thick fog when you can’t even see the front of your car.
Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?
I write at my desk, with active noise-cancelling headphones playing some Bach, Mozart, or other instrumental music. I also like to write by hand at the beach. This hasn’t really changed, though right before the pandemic, I found a little coffee shop I’d have liked to write in. I’m hopeful it will still be open when the pandemic ends...so far it’s still open, so my fingers are crossed.
Without too many spoilers, what is your favorite scene you've written since the pandemic began?
This is hard to pin down, but I’ll try. There was a section of my current novel I penned about one of my narrators, a Druid woman, that felt to me like it really got to the truth of her character. It was visceral and open. It’s still in a pretty rough draft, but the scene itself exposes her character at her most vulnerable, even while she’s trying to be anything but. I feel really good about that scene and its promise. Here’s hoping it will stay in the book!
While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?
December 31? In all honesty, I’m really looking forward to the latter half of December. I’m going to have some time to really focus on my writing, and I love the winter months. Nothing like cold, short days to inspire reading by the fire with a cup of herbal tea or escaping into the past to write.
Is there any advice you would give to young writers during this time?
Go easy on yourself. Remember that no one produces perfection on a first draft. Remember that these are uncertain times, uncommon times, unprecedented times, and you can forgive yourself if your writing habits or production isn’t what you expect. Take it one day at a time, stay healthy, and just try to bring honesty to the page.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
I believe everyone has a story to tell. We all can have a voice, and that is the gift of storytelling. It’s what unites us. Humans have been telling stories since we first came together in caves. We experience our world and each other through story. We develop empathy through story. Whether fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, etc., story matters. It’s a way to connect when we can’t gather. Whether you write, read, or both, give space to story in your life right now and always.
ABOUT Margaret McNellis
Margaret holds a B.A. in Art History, an M.A. in English & Creative Writing, an MFA in Fiction, and she also has a graduate certificate in the teaching of composition. Margaret writes historical fiction, YA fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and occasionally, a contemporary story. Margaret is one of the editors of Revolt Literary Magazine, and she has served as a fiction reader for The West Trade Review, and is launching services as a book coach.
To learn more, follow Margaret and her writing journey at her website and on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Goodreads.
Thanks for chatting, Margaret!
