Noodler of the Month – Charity Tahmaseb

Q. Tell us a little about your writing journey so far.

A. I decided to try fiction writing not long after my son was born, at the five-week mark. I’m still not sure making such decisions while in the throes of post-partum hormones is something one should do, but here I am, ten years later, still writing.

I’ve written a variety of things: short stories, romantic suspense, a paranormal romantic mystery, a couple of mainstream and young adult stories. I think I’ve finally settled down into what it is I want to write. I used to wonder at published authors who’d declare: Unpublished? You lucky thing! You get to write what you want.

I guess I’ve been unpublished long enough to finally get it. They’re right. It took a while (a long, long while) to get here, but I am very grateful these days to be writing what I do and loving it.

Q. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received from another author?

A. Early on, I attended a writing panel sponsored by my local Sisters in Crime chapter. Ellen Hart, M.D. Lake, and R.D. Zimmerman all spoke, but R.D. Zimmerman said something that I’ve never forgotten. “You got to finish what you start. You got to get to ‘the end.’ Nothing else can happen until you do that.”

Q. If you could spend an hour picking the brain of anyone, who would it be?

A. Jane Austen, Shakespeare, Anton Chekhov and, because I recently read Black Hawk Down, I’d really like to talk to Mark Bowden.

Q. What do you feel is your best strength as a writer?

A. I’ve been told that it’s characterization and dialogue. I think that’s why, in part, I’ve moved away from writing suspense and mystery and other tightly-plotted types of stories and moved into more character-driven work.

Q. Is there a type of book you’d love to write that you haven’t?

A. I’m happy to say that this spring, I finished the rough draft of my manuscript, The Boys’ Club. It’s an epic — in size, I must add, not necessarily quality. It spans the timeframe from right before the fall of the Berlin Wall, through Desert Storm, to the Battle of Mogadishu—essentially, Cold War to the New World Order. What I wanted to do was use this as a backdrop but write a very intimate story of one woman’s experience, not just in the larger “boys’ club” of the U.S. Army but with a close-knit group of guys (hence the title, The Boys’ Club). 

I came up with the idea when chick lit was at its height. Everything was Prada bags, girlfriends, Manolos. And everything I did in my twenties was so not. It was rucksacks, guy friends, combat boots. One day it hit me: Why not write about that? 

Q. What, in your opinion, are the three writing books that no writer should be without?

A. I’m a new convert to Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass. It’s a fantastic tool for revision. I’d also have to say a really good dictionary and any book that has made you sit up and say, “Yes! That’s how I want to write!”

Q. What is your writing process like?

A. I tend to hit upon a “what if” situation. Some characters suggest themselves to me; some come barging on in, unasked. I usually write a few scenes to see if this could be a long-term relationship. If so, I start in on pre-work (I don’t call it plotting): character bios, collages, a soundtrack playlist for my iPod, plot points, and so on. Oh, yeah, then the rough draft. I slog through this so I can get to the other side: revision. I’ve learned to let things sit in between drafts. Time and distance are wonderful editors.

Q. Other than writing and reading, what other activities do you enjoy?

A. I like to work out, jogging and walking with my daughter (she’s still small enough for the jogging stroller). Any sort of mini-adventure with my kids: children’s museum, library, even Dairy Queen. I like to travel, but don’t get to as much these days. I enjoy going to plays with my theater buddy (my mom).

Q. What is your dream vacation?

A. I’d love to do a grand European tour. Not a Tuesday/Belgium sort of thing, and not a backpacking/roughing it sort of thing (I’ve had my fill of sleeping in German mud). Lots of museums, lots of art, lots of castles, lots of great food, lots of time to explore. With comfortable beds. And terrific in-room coffee. (Hey, it’s my dream vacation. I get the terrific in-room coffee.)

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