We love learning more about our contributors, and an interview seemed like a fun way to hear more about the writers and artists we publish, so we gave them a choice of questions to answer. We hope you also enjoy hearing more about the artists and their works. Get yourself a copy of our Work and Labor Issue to read "Essential" from Tara Manshon...
What is your creative process? Do you plan pieces out or let them happen as they come?
All my stories begin with the character first. "X character finds Y thing or meets Z character" and then I'll build around that, asking questions as I go. What kind of world is this taking place in? Why would these characters interact? What do their families look like? Those things help me figure out what kind of people I want my characters to be and what kind of direction I want the story to take. I generally have a clear idea of how the story ends even before I write it, so it's just a matter of finding my way there.
We think of "after happy hour" as the time you can really let loose and be yourself. What is your after happy hour?
I have a very dark and dry sense of humor, which can be a little shocking for some folks. I'm usually on my best behavior around new people, coworkers, things like that, so my "after happy hour" is when I'm with friends and family who are on the same wavelength as me. The kind of people who can read my deadpan and know I'm joking. Basically people I don't need to use emojis for.
Why did you feel like After Happy Hour would be a good home for this piece?
I have really fond memories from grad school of sitting in a pub with my father after workshop class. We'd look over my work in the worst light imaginable and discuss storytelling techniques and different types of English. It only felt right to send my story to a place that was built from the same premise, a place that continues to foster care and community among writers.