As we near the end of a year like no other, let us recall the small joys from these months, whether it be a favorite show or book or favorite space create. Today I'm excited to chat about just this and more with Yash Seyedbagheri.
What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?
I live in a rural county, where there have been two fatalities and 75 reported cases. I'm not certain how many of those cases are from my community.
What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?
The Stories of Richard Bausch by Richard Bausch, We Live In Water by Jess Walter, and A Stranger In This World by Kevin Canty.
Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Saturday Night Live,” along with listening to Tchaikovsky and Debussy.
How has the pandemic affected your writing?
It's helped highlight the ethical and moral impulse to write, as well as the need to question the worst human tendencies.
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 considering writing a humorous novel set in an MFA program, involving egos, drinking, and a few trident fights.
Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?
I've been a member of a writing group on Zoom, which has given me a reason to keep writing and an opportunity for personal communion and laughter.
Is there anything that worries you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?
I hope that writing will take on a purpose beyond thinly veiled manifestos. I worry that craft, storytelling ability, and the ability to produce emotional connections will be subordinated to all else. I think there's a time and place for political expression. It's finding the line between political message and narrative, however, that's vital.
Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?
It used to be a coffee shop in Fort Collins, Colorado, where I once lived. Now having come home to tend to family, I write in my room. It's a cozy space of its own, though, albeit without the soothing coffee shop bustle.
If you curated a playlist for writing life in the pandemic, what top 5 songs would be on your list?
1.) “Marche Slav” by Tchaikovsky
2.) “Claire De Lune” by Debussy
3.) “Funeral March of A Marionette” by Charles Gounod,
4.) “Waltz of The Flowers” by Tchaikovsky, ,
5.) “Valse Sentimentale” by Tchaikovsky
Is there any advice you would give to young writers during this time?
Try to write daily. Even if just flash fiction or the beginnings of a longer piece. It's like playing a musical instrument; you need practice and motivation.
ABOUT Yash Seyedbagheri
Yash Seyedbagheri is a graduate of Colorado State University's MFA program in fiction. His stories, "Soon” and “How To Be A Good Episcopalian,” have been nominated for Pushcarts. He has also had work nominated for The Best of the Net and The Best Small Fictions. A native of Idaho, Yash’s work is forthcoming or has been published in The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts, Write City Magazine, and Ariel Chart, among others.
To learn more, follow Yash and his writing journey on Twitter.
Thanks for chatting, Yash!
