Interview with Meghan Rose Allen

Meet NUNUM's Contributor: Meghan Rose Allen

2/10/2022

NUNUM

Blending Flash Fiction & Art

Interview with Meghan Rose Allen

Meghan thank you so for letting NUNUM include your story Breathe in our Winter 2021 issue, for us it was a must have. But now that we have you here, let's get to it. What was the first book you remember picking and reading by yourself?

A book about slugs. It wasn't deep or meaningful, but a counting book. I loved that book on slugs from the library. Also, my day job is teaching mathematics, which sometimes involves counting. Coincidence?

What was the last book you read that made you say damn that was a good book?

I just finished the Red Riding quartet by David Peace. It's gruesome and violent and very good.

Who are your go-to writers when you need something to read on holiday?

I tend to read mystery novels on holiday, a lot of Tana French or Minette Walters.

What writer(s) or which book(s) influenced your decision to become a writer.

Breathe words by Meghan Rose Allen, Art by Scarlett Weissman

**My favourite book growing up was The War Between The Pitiful Teachers And The Splendid Kids by Stanley Kiesel.**

Breathe words by Meghan Rose Allen, Art by Scarlett Weissman

It's a bizarre world of talking ants and sewer dwelling bookworms (the talking ant is an actual ant; the bookworms are kids). Parts haven't aged gracefully, but the general idea of writing intelligent stories no matter the audience is timeless.

Which contemporary writer do you most admire?

Zadie Smith. I love Zadie Smith. Sadly, we are not friends, because she does not know I exist, nor have I done anything to remedy that situation.

Is there a writing craft book that you would recommend to new writers?

I've read almost no writing craft books. I'm stubborn and don't like being told what to do. I do read a lot of fiction books though, and steal shamelessly from those.

Is there a writer who has influenced your current writing style?

I think everything I read influences me. I have a bad habit of reading a book, and then writing like that author for the next little while, then reading another book and writing like that author, etc. I am a writing-leach.

Breathe words by Meghan Rose Allen, Art by Scarlett Weissman

Why write flash fiction?

Breathe words by Meghan Rose Allen, Art by Scarlett Weissman

I never write something with the goal of it being any certain length. I write until the story seems done. So sometimes it only takes a hundred words, sometimes it takes fifty thousand. Sometimes one scene is enough. Sometimes I have to build a whole world.

What advice would you give someone who is just starting to send their work out to journals?

Be prepared to be disappointed.

I also tend to only send work out on Fridays. That way I have one day a week I have to build my resolve up enough to send stuff out, knowing that most of it will be sent back without finding a home.

What is your favourite type of penguin?

My favourite type of penguin is the adelie penguin, because it is so tiny. However, the only penguin I have seen in the wild is the African penguin, in South Africa.

Breathe words by Meghan Rose Allen, Art by Scarlett Weissman

What writing "tic" do you despise?

Breathe words by Meghan Rose Allen, Art by Scarlett Weissman

Ellipses. I hate ellipses ... A writer friend of mine gave me one of their manuscripts to read and each page was dotted, literally, with the darn things. Perhaps my hatred is irrational, but at the same time, complete your thoughts fictional characters!

COVID: a boon for creativity or a drain?

I was very productive at the start of COVID and wrote fifteen short stories. Then, about a year ago, I slowed down. I think I have finished one story since the start of 2021, and it wasn't good. Maybe 2022 I'll start being productive again.

Meghan Rose Allen has a PhD in Mathematics from Dalhousie

University. In a previous life, she was a cog in the military-industrial complex. Now she lives in New Brunswick, Canada and writes. Her short work has appeared in Dreamers, FoundPress, The Puritan, and The Rusty Toque, amongst others. Her first novel “Enid Strange” is published by DCB/Cormorant and was a finalist for the 2018 New Brunswick Book Awards. One can find her online at www.reluctantm.com or on Twitter.