Interview with Author Brenna Marie Gautam

We love a good speculative fiction piece. Brenna Marie Gautam's short story "Chloe and the Sad Twin" explores the great concept of perception and memory, and what might happen when these basics of human experience are weaponized. Join us as we get to know the author in our interview below!

What makes you keep writing, even when it's hard?

When writing a given scene or passage becomes difficult, I try to hold myself accountable to my imagined audience, even if that audience is small. Often, I write with my best friend in mind. I know he’d want to know how the story ends. So, finish this scene and onwards! 

Advice on creating that you’ve learned by trial and error.

Be intentional about the media you consume while you’re creating, and don’t be afraid of experimenting. I’ve noticed my prose improves when I read more poetry in my free time. 

What's your favorite underappreciated

novel or short story (a work you never hear anyone else talking about)?

Three short stories I wish even more people were talking about: “Gloves” by Karina Dove Escobar, “This Delicate Stage” by Laura Wang, and “Fortified” by Vena Bloice! 

Do you have a favorite book on writing or creating that's been a helpful resource?

Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg. Her writing advice is so simple but has helped me overcome so much self-doubt.

Are there aliens out there, and if so, where are they?

I hope so! It would be a lonely universe without them. Wherever they are, I hope they’re caring for their planet and each other. 

What is your writing strategy? Do you write every day with a rigid schedule, or are you more flexible with your practice?

I try to write something every day (mornings are best for me!), but I’m not rigid about a daily word count. I also run as a hobby and consider running as part of my writing strategy. It’s a special time when I can let my creative mind wander and brainstorm different elements of my works in progress. 

Do you have a New Year's resolution this year?

Stay hopeful and keep going! 

Brenna Marie is an author and attorney based in Washington D.C., where she lives with her beloved husband and cat, Pip. She is currently at work on a speculative fiction novel about a school counselor coping with the aftermath of a nuclear exchange. Her previous works have appeared in Baby Teeth Journal, Heroines: An Anthology of Poetry and Short Fiction, Heavy Feather Review, and more. When she's not writing, she's outside running or trying to find other ways to persist.