Often the words we want to commit to the page are not the same as the words we need. Perhaps the tumult of 2020 brought this more clearly into focus, as each of us found our own ways to make it through. Carolyn Linck 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?
There has been a surge in recent weeks and they've rolled back certain privileges we had earlier this year (namely, in-door dining at reduced capacity). We've had a state-wide mask mandate since May that in my city people are very respectful of. I'm hoping the small businesses - especially restaurants are able to survive the long winter.
What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, In Five Years by Rebecca Serle, House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal, and Just Kids by Patti Smith.
If you haven't been reading, what are some books you're most looking forward to reading?
Looking forward to reading The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett and If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha.
Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?
I love the podcast "My Favorite Murder," - though true crime is hardly relaxing, the hosts feel like my friends and I've been listening for years.
How has the pandemic affected your writing?
Prior to the start of the pandemic, I had gotten into a really good groove of going to a cafe to write 1-2 a week. I've struggled to find a routine that works as well for me as that did.
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?
I'm working on a draft of a novel and currently have a little over 52,000 words. The novel is about a classic perfectionist / overachiever who's about to graduate high school. She is extremely stressed about where she'll get into school and where she should ultimately decide to go. When she not only gets accepted but also receives generous scholarships to all four universities she’s applied to, her anxiety rises yet again as she tries to decide which path is the best one to take. Readers get a glimpse of the college experience she would have at each school – from the pre-law track at the University of Chicago, to the sorority house at University of Southern California, to a whirlwind romance at the College of Charleston, or staying close to family and attending her hometown university at Arizona State. Fast forward again and the protagonist is about to turn 30. Similar to Sliding Doors, readers will now see how her life has unfolded in each of these parallel universes based on the college she decided to attend at 17.
If you haven't been able to write, are there any projects you're hoping to work on next?
I've seen a few writing prompts from author Rebecca Makkai on Twitter that I'd like to explore for short stories.
If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?
Write what you NEED to write. The words that circle in your head when you can't sleep. While I wanted to work on my novel more this year, I've written several short stories and poems because those were the words swirling in my brain and keeping me up at night. The novel will come in it's time too, but sometimes having the words come easy reminds me that I CAN do this.
Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?
I am in a class at StoryStudio in Chicago. It started pre-pandemic but we have since continued meeting via Zoom. My classmates and teacher, author Abby Geni, have been extremely helpful.
Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? Has this changed during the pandemic?
Somewhere in between. I've always had a rough outline for my novel, but much what happens in between key plot points, I'm figuring out as I go.
Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?
There is a cafe in Chicago called Fabcakes that I adored writing at.
If you curated a playlist for writing life in the pandemic, what top 5 songs would be on your list?
I don't listen to music while I write.
While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?
Meeting my nephew, who was born in April in Sweden, some day.
ABOUT Carolyn Linck
Carolyn Linck is an aspiring fiction writer, currently working on her first novel in her spare time. Her fiction has appeared in Adelaide Magazine. By day, she works in corporate communications for technology companies where she does everything from ghostwriting executive op-eds to drafting press releases, product descriptions, and blog posts. She currently lives in Chicago with her dog, Bailey.
To learn more, follow Carolyn and her writing journey on Twitter and Instagram.
Thanks for chatting, Carolyn!
