Though writing can provide an enormous amount of comfort, it still working, and pushing ourselves to do too much is not always the best. Mariya Khan discusses just this and more in today's chat about her pages penned in pandemic.
What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?
I live in the DC, MD area, and overall, people are pretty good about wearing masks and following safety precautions. People are taking advantage of all the outdoor spaces in our area to hike, walk, picnic, and socialize while still distancing from others.
What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?
I’ve been turning towards 19th and 20th century and historical fiction novels. Recently, I read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Chronicles of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.
Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?
I’ve been rewatching past seasons and the current season of the “Great British Bake Off” and the new season of “Killing Eve.” I’ve also been watching food documentary shows like David Chang’s “Ugly Delicious,” Samin Nosrat’s “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat,” and Padma Lakshmi’s “Taste the Nation” to learn about different food cultures and recipes.
How has the pandemic affected your writing?
I was laid off in April and didn’t get a new full-time job until October, so I spent most of the pandemic unemployed. That gave me more space to devote my time for writing without juggling it with a full-time job or a busy school schedule. However, there are some days during the pandemic where I don't write because I’m depressed and drained, applying for jobs, helping my family, binging shows or reading submissions for the lit mags I volunteer at. Writing prompts and exercises have been particularly helpful in motivating me to continue writing.
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?
Since last summer, I’ve been working more on flash fiction and prose poems, so I’m excited to keep that going! I’m also excited to work on more writing projects that highlight different perspectives of young Muslim American woman and South Asian women. I want to also continue writing prompts and exercises because they’ve jump started some great, unexpected pieces and brought new ideas.
Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?
I moved back to my childhood home last year and was still living there when the pandemic hit. The entire time I’ve been home with my two sisters, my parents, and my grandfather, so that’s been an experience! I also have a lot of cousins and extended family in the area, and we’ve been staying connected through video chats and socially-distanced drive-by hangouts. I've also been connecting with old childhood friends and my writer friends during the pandemic. It’s been great to chat with my writer friends about our writing and experiences.
Is there anything that excites you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?
I’m happy to see more literary magazines and publications becoming more committed to sharing voices of BIPOC writers and donating part of their submission fees and earnings to social justice causes and other important organizations.
Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? Has this changed during the pandemic?
I am definitely somewhere in between! I always have a general idea of what I want to write about and where the story will possibly begin and end. However, I don’t formally outline and plan out every scene. I like to follow my characters and narrators and discover unexpected new directions or threads in my work. The pandemic hasn’t really changed how I write.
Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?
No matter where I’ve lived or been, I love writing near a window. Whenever I’ve been in my childhood home, my favorite place to write is my bed in my room. In the past three years or so, I’ve spent some time writing and reading in cafes and coffee shops. However, that hasn’t happened since February because of the pandemic. My family purchased a cute patio set for our backyard, so sometimes when the weather is beautiful I write outside.
Without too many spoilers, what is your favorite scene / poem you've written since the pandemic began?
I don’t have a particular scene or poem, but certain themes I’ve been writing have been my favorite to explore. I’ve written some flash pieces and poems that are connected to food, culture, memory, relationships, and family. I love the idea of sensory details connecting to memories, and food is one vehicle to discover those connections.
Is there any advice you would give to young writers during this time?
Don’t feel like you have to be creative and constantly writing every day because we’re in a pandemic. Some people encourage creatives to push out content and “do something useful and productive” with their time, but I know there’ll be days or moments where you don’t want to write or produce other kinds of art. Also remember that self-care is just as important. Even though writing can be a release, don’t push yourself to write just so you feel productive. There’s a lot going on in the world, and sometimes taking a break from working is a great way to reground yourself. I’m trying to follow all this in my own life, since I’ve experienced moments when I felt depressed, unmotivated, and a failure for the stressful issues I face because of what happened during the pandemic.
ABOUT Mariya Khan
Mariya Khan is a South Asian and Muslim American writer from Washington, D.C. She is a graduate of The George Washington University and Summer Institute at the University of Iowa International Writing Program. Her work has received awards from the Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition and appeared in Adelaide Literary Magazine, 50 Word Stories, Writing in a Woman’s Voice, Asians in America, and Constellate Literary Journal, among others. When she is not writing, she's trying new recipes and watching crime dramas.
To learn more, follow Mariya and her writing journey at her website and on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Thanks for chatting, Mariya!
