Tania Moore
Perched at Fifty, a long way down on either side and the sky an arm’s reach away.
North of New York City, along the mighty Hudson River.
MFA Columbia School of the Arts, BA Yale, Cambridge Friends Elementary School, where it all began.
The Writer
Do you have a specific writing style?
I continue to experiment, and my style evolves, but some kernel remains consistent.
Do you write full-time?
I aim for a minimum of ten hours a week, not counting submitting, etc.
What is your ultimate goal as a writer?
To distill truth and beauty into the world.
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?
To justify the time and sacrifice. To believe that what I’m doing is value added to the universe.
The Work
Tell us about your work in Crack the Spine.
My short story, “Off the Curb,” is about a wife and mother who sees faces in trees.
Is there a main theme or message in this piece?
“Off the Curb” is about holding on and letting go and the cracks that result when the tension between the two becomes too great.
What inspired “Off the Curb?”
A short story about a mermaid that I read years ago in Alaska Quarterly Review.
Anything else you’d like to share about your work in Crack the Spine?
I am thrilled to have my story included in the percolating concoction that is Crack the Spine!
Tell us about another project you are currently working on.
I’m working on several short stories and a non-fiction piece for The Teacher’s Voice.
Where/When can we find this work?
For publication news, visit me at www.taniamoore.me
The Methods
How many drafts do you generally go through before you consider a piece to be complete?
I revise and write new material every day, so I’m constantly sifting, smoothing jagged phrases into sand.
What is your usual starting point for a piece?
My work is almost always inspired by characters or situations.
How do you react to editorial rejections of your work?
I think of acceptances as Pokémon chips that I collect, and rejections as foil wrappers that I somewhat regretfully toss.
How do you react when one of your submissions is accepted for publication?
I’m ecstatic, until I become overwhelmed by how much writing there is still to be done.
What is your best piece of advice on how to stay sane as a writer?
Live your life. Be part of the world. Nurture relationships, and guard fiercely the space that you carve out for your writing.
The Madness
What is your favorite book?
War and Peace
Who is your favorite author?
William Faulkner
What makes you cry?
Um. No. I don’t think you want to know the answer to that one.
What’s in that cup on your desk?
Water. In a square glass.
What is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?
My children’s eyes, moments after they were born.
Rain or Sunshine?
Both
Beach or Mountains?
Beach
Cats or Dogs?
Cats. Russian Blue!
Shakespeare or Tennessee Williams?
Samuel Beckett
Additional Reading on Tania
Personal website
Facebook
Linkedin profile
I loved the description of your editing process as smoothing “jagged phrases into sand.” It gives such a tactile feel to something that can seem so internal and cerebral. But, you were mistaken–we DO want to hear what makes you cry!
Patiently sifting to uncover, finally, a character in a time and space I can wholly identify with. Thank you for “Off the Curb” – Gwendolyn’s very specific feelings rang true for me.
How inspiring that you are able to keep up with writing ten hours a week. That must take a lot of discipline! Very admirable.
I can cry at almost anything and I suspect that you can too! What a delightful and creative woman and a wonderful writer.
The Madness
What is your favorite book?
How can one answer this?
Who is your favorite author?
Mark Helprin.
What makes you cry?
Regret.
What’s in that cup on your desk?
Dust and lacquer-hard coffee residue.
What is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?
Whatever is in front of me.
Rain or Sunshine?
The light.
Beach or Mountains?
Beach. Mountains are violent.
Cats or Dogs?
Yes.
Shakespeare or Tennessee Williams?
Nabokov.
What is your favorite book?
One of them is:
“Her World” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Who is your favorite author?
Willa Cather and Charles Dickens
What makes you cry?
Waking up and another day my husband is unemployed.
What’s in that cup on your desk?
Coffee with cream and one truvia.
Rain or Sunshine?
Love both, They inspire me to write. The sunlight at dusk and the lighting and shadows are breath taking. Rain drops on a window in the kitchen gets my pen moving.
Beach or Mountains?
Mountains in the fall for hiking.
Cats or Dogs?
DOGS…
Shakespeare or Tennessee Williams?
Tennessee Williams
What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?
A lover’s face sleeping, when the sun was coming up.
Great interview! I raise your Cat or Dog? & give you: Dog. Russian Wolfhound! The Russian Blue & wolfhounds are often found in boab branches…
As a visual artist, I like the question “What is your usual starting point for a piece?
I always start off playing with a material while listening to a specific soundtrack, then when inspiration hits me from the music the piece seems to form itself.
Talking about what it means to be a writer, and the author’s responses to questions along those lines, are interesting. To me, part of the challenge of writing is to distill events and ideas into something close to a narrative that will resonate with others in a compelling way. It requires insight and vision.
Moore’s advice to “Live your life. Be part of the world. Nurture relationships, and guard fiercely the space that you carve out for writing,” or whatever it is that makes you most authentic and alive, seems wise advice to all!
Love this author and the interview!
could never pick a favorite author
lemon ginger tea
dogs
beach
sunshine
lots of things make me cry, for joy and pain
Keep up the great work Tania!