Featured Writer: A.M. Matte
On creating space to write and writing advice.
Welcome to Women Writing, a biweekly interview series about creative practices. This week’s featured author discusses the challenges she faces to find time to write as a busy parent. Have you encountered challenges to your writing? Please share in the comments.
About the author…
A.M. Matte has been crafting stories since she learned to write, and creating theatrical performances since she could speak. Alongside her younger brother, she produced numerous plays in their living room for their parents. First published at age 11 and first produced at age 9, A.M. Matte is an award-winning author, short story writer, playwright, and poet. Recipient of King Charles III's Coronation Medal and the O’Neill-Karch award, she hosts conferences and conducts writing workshops for both children and adults, in English and French. Self-taught as a hard-of-hearing lyricist and composer, her plays and musicals have been produced in Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, New York and Washington state. She holds a certificate in Creative Writing from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Journalism, and a Master's in Communications. Recent publications can be found in Ancrages magazine and Luna Station Quarterly.
On a writing routine …
I wish I had a routine. I admire those writers who are able to carve out significant time to plot, write, edit, submit, and repeat within specific timelines. I’m more of a write-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, on the corner of your desk, "à temps perdu" kind of writer. It means it takes me much longer to finish projects, with minute-long sessions instead of hour-long ones.
On writing spaces …
Given that I write when I can, stealing moments here and there, I don’t have specific or favourite writing spaces. That said, I do enjoy bringing my notebook outdoors to write in the sunshine when I can. If I had a balcony, I suspect it could become a privileged writing space.
On writing communities …
I am fortunate to have several writing communities that support me and my writing. I am very grateful for my Uptown Writers Group, and my Writers' Triangle for their constructive critiques and encouragement for my writing in English. As for my writing in French, I am incredibly lucky and grateful to my "lectrices critiques" readers who provide insight and advice on my short stories and novels. Further, I benefit from the positive and open atmosphere of Franc'Open Mic. I love this encouragement of Francophone artists and their art. When I'm in a writing slump, knowing that Franc'Open Mic is coming is enough to get me working so that I have something to present at the next gathering.
“I’ll plot out scenes in my mind while grocery shopping or working out, I’ll write at lunchtime or on public transportation, or late at night, I'll edit in the early morning if there are no commitments booked for myself or my kids. Again, it’ll take me longer to finish a project, but when I do, it’s so satisfying.”
On challenges …
I’m a sole parent with a full-time job that isn’t writing. So I navigate my schedule and insert writing in between all the other things. I’ll plot out scenes in my mind while grocery shopping or working out, I’ll write at lunchtime or on public transportation, or late at night. I'll edit in the early morning if there are no commitments booked for myself or my kids. Again, it’ll take me longer to finish a project, but when I do, it’s so satisfying.
On the best writing advice …
It’s a cliché, but “kill your darlings“ is one piece of advice I wish weren’t so on point. I find it hard to delete certain sentences, turns of phrase, or even entire chapters I think are particularly clever, but it turns out the deletion is usually necessary to improve the piece in question. That said, as I learned to kill—or strike through and remove—said darlings, I couldn’t murder them all together. I’m a word hoarder and will keep struck out passages for later, in case I can use them in another project. So, dismiss your darlings, until they become useful again.
On advice from personal experiences …
Write. You’re busy, you’re tired, there’s never enough time, you think faster than your fingers type or glide a pen across the page, you think your writing is crap, or your writing is brilliant, but publishers don’t seem to notice—none of that matters. A writer writes.
On rekindling creativity …
When I’m stuck or blocked, one of the easiest ways to get flowing again is a change of scenery, so to speak. If I’ve been writing at home, I go to a shared workspace or a café; if I’ve been indoors for a long time and weather permits, I’ll go work in a park. A change of scenery can also be switching projects—unblocking in one will often unblock the other.
On a recent publication …
I am currently working on two novels (in French) and a screenplay. Recent publications include short stories and poetry in French in Ancrages: https://ancrages.ca/bio/a-m-matte
A.M. Matte’s online spaces …
Trash art photography on Instagram: @urbandebrisurbains
If you are interested in getting your writing project done, join us for the Women Writing Circle. We meet biweekly for 90-minutes to set goals, write, and inspire each other.
Happy writing!
