Interview
Interviews with Medium Experts on Living the Writing Life: Sherry McGuinn
The inaugural edition of our new series which discusses how expert writers experience and cope with the writing life
Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a career writer (advertising, marketing, P.R. journalism, essayist, etc.) and screenwriter. I’ve had two short films produced, one in L.A. and the other in New York, both of which won several awards and screened at festivals. I live in a suburb of Chicago with my husband and our three beloved cats. Incredibly driven, I push myself both mentally and physically, perhaps too much at times, but that’s me.
As a writer, what are the things you find most stressful in your life?
As with most people, I imagine, the pandemic is among the top things on my list. There is also the fact that my husband is an insomniac and has many related health conditions. My family also has a history of cancer, which I find quite stressful.
More specifically, I have a dream of becoming a “working screenwriter,” yet, the older I get, the “cloudier” this dream is becoming. Now I’m thinking of turning one of my screenplays into a novel as Hollywood seems to love adaptations. Then, if the book takes off, and they want to “adapt” it, I’ll already have the script.
It also stresses me out that it often seems that the crap is what rises to the top on Medium. For, people who consider themselves to be “real” writers, as I do, this is extremely frustrating.
Has your experience of stress as a writer been influenced by the pandemic?
Absolutely. It’s hard to think straight much of the time but conversely, my “restless ramblings” as I call my writing, are often fed by stress. Too, there’s only so much sitting around on one’s butt in front of a computer that one can do before going stir-crazy. I used to go to a gym several times a week and that was a great break in my day, but, even though it reopened, I don’t feel safe going back just yet. So I work out at home.
Do you think that stress in general affects your writing life?
Again, absolutely, but sometimes for the better. For example, my screenplay “DEAD TIRED” was inspired by my husband’s struggle with insomnia, which is horribly debilitating. Another screenplay, “The Month We Fell Apart” was written after my parents were diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and two months later, I received my own diagnosis of breast cancer. So you can imagine how stressful that period in my life was. It was surreal, actually. They passed nine months later and I think about them every day.
How do you cope with the different types of stress you experience? Are there particular strategies you use?
I work out and I drink wine. The first is good, the latter, not so much. My cats are a phenomenal source of strength for me as their unconditional love is invaluable.
Do you think that writers experience unique types of stress that are different from what others may experience?
That’s a great question. My only answer is that perhaps, depending on how driven we are, tend to be very hard on ourselves. This is especially the case we don’t see or feel the level of validation we believe we deserve.
Are the strategies you use to cope with stress as a writer different from those you use for other stress in your life?
Not really. For me, exercise is absolutely essential or I go a little crazy. I’m not the type of person who can sit around all day. If I’m not at my computer, I’m doing chores or working out.
Do you think writing helps you cope with other types of stress in your life?
I do, as fueling my creativity helps to keep me sane, or as sane as I’ll ever be, anyway.
Do you ever feel like an imposter or a fraud, doubting your writing skills, despite your success?
Never. He probably doesn’t know this, in fact I’m sure he doesn’t, but I owe my confidence as a writer in part to the actor Bryan Cranston. He read my short script that was produced in L.A. and premiered at the Los Angeles Film School and referred to me as “gifted.” I never forgot that, nor do I want to. My director was a friend of Bryan’s and asked him to read it and offer up his suggestions. We actually wanted him to star in it, but he was busy with “Breaking Bad” and other projects.
How do you think the things we tell ourselves as writers affect the amount of stress we experience and our ability to cope with it?
Well, again, if we choose to beat ourselves up for not becoming the next Flannery O’Connor or Stephen King, this, naturally, is going to work against our health and well-being. Some of us need to learn how to be kinder to, and more accepting of ourselves.
Do you think that having a special writing space helps decrease some of the stress or disorganization writers may experience? Do you have a special writing room or area and if so, what does it look like? If not, tell us what you would create if you could.
I absolutely agree with this. Having OCD, I have a hard time with clutter. As my husband uses our actual “office,’ I have an area in our large finished basement that I use for mine. It’s neat, tricked out with ambient lighting and close to my workout area.
If I could create one, I’d have an ocean view!
If you could build your perfect writing retreat where you could go whenever you needed to get away, where would it be and what would it look like?
Another tough one because there are so many places. Let’s see: A villa in Tuscany with a view of an olive grove. A log cabin in the North Woods of Wisconsin, with a roaring fire. A house on the beach in Carmel or Sausalito or Malibu. A country cottage in Kent or any number of quaint London towns. A flat in Paris on a street filled with charming shops and eateries. An Irish pub!
What advice would you give writers just starting out for handling the stress they experience in their writing life?
Life is stressful enough so you’d better get a handle on it. If you truly love writing, try not to think of it as a stressful activity, rather, one that nurtures you.
Do you know of any resources that might help writers, especially new writers, cope with the writing life?
Not especially as most of my resources are for screenwriting. Do what everyone does: Google. Some of the Medium Facebook groups are quite helpful as there are a number of smart and gracious folks there. One of the most important things a writer can do to improve their craft is to read. It’s so basic, but so vital.
Is there anything on Medium that you have written when you were trying to handle a stressful situation, writing related or otherwise?
Yes. I actually have several, but here are three that come to mind.
OCD is No Fun. And It’s Not Funny
I Spent Thanksgiving Thinking I Was Mortally Ill
What is the link to your Medium Profile?
Where can readers connect with or follow you outside of Medium?
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherry.mcguinn
- Twitter: @SherryMcGuinn1
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherry-mcguinn-3187953/
I rarely use Instagram, but probably should!
And now, for some fun facts about Sherry!
- Favorite Color: Fiery Red
- Favorite Dessert: Double Chocolate Brownie
- Favorite Place to Visit: Haven’t been there but would love to visit Tuscany
- Favorite Food: Pasta
- Favorite Candy: Don’t really eat candy, but I’d say frozen Snickers bars!
- Favorite time of day to write: Morning
- Favorite Book: That’s hard as I have many. “Lonesome Dove” is one.
- Favorite TV Show: Many, but the most recent would have to be “Fargo,” which is loosely based on the film.
- Favorite Movie: “All About Eve”
- Favorite Saying: “God made the cat so that man can caress the tiger.”
- Favorite Hobby: Reading film reviews and screenplays and working out. (A love/hate relationship with the latter.)
- Favorite Song That I’m Embarrassed to Like: “Bust a Move,” by Young MC
- Favorite Movie Star: Scarlet Johansson, because she’s talented, unconventionally gorgeous, smart, funny, and down to earth!
- Other Favorite Outside of Writing: Our cats and all animals. Dancing.
- Any Other Favorite: Dancing alone in our kitchen to “Bust a Move!”
- Any Other Fact About Yourself You Want to Share: The first short screenplay I wrote produced and shot in New York, was awarded “Best Short Film” at the Pan African Film Festival in Cannes.
I’d like to thank Sherry for being our inaugural Expert Writer Interview! She is someone I admire greatly and I am so pleased she agreed to start off this series. Stay tuned for more interviews in the coming months. Our next Expert Writer will be Shannon Ashley so be sure to keep an eye out for that one!
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