Michael Isaac Shokrian Second Interview
We did a second interview with Michael Isaac Shokrian after our Indie Author Spotlight!
What does your writing ritual look like?
Every morning I’m up by 6am. Drive my son to school. Take my dog to the park to play. In home office by 8am. Write from 8am – 11am. Do my law practice work from 1130am – 3pm. Take my dog for a long-ish walk. Do the Thieving Magpie work from 4-530pm. TRY to walk to the gym and be home by 630. IT DOESN’T ALWAYS WORK OUT PERFECTLY. But this is my goal/ritual. Daily.
What’s the worst advice you’ve ever received as an Indie Author?
I’m not sure I have received any bad advice. Writing is a lonely craft. I rarely have the opportunity, privilege or honor of meeting and/or interacting with other writers (and haven’t been to a writing workshop in over 10 years) so I’m not sure I have received any advice, good or bad. Most of the advice I used to get was from my therapist (she was great, worked with many writers) and from reading biographies of other writers from the 20th century.
What’s your go-to book, movie, or musical artist when you need some inspiration (or just a break from the keyboard)? Why?
Great question: Whenever I’m feeling sad, lost or dispirited, I reach for John Fante, Bernard Malamud, Flannery O’Connor, Henry Miller and/or Sherwood Anderson. They get me back on track. Musically, if I’m feeling agitated or frantic, I prefer live music and, without sounding like a poser, I prefer live jazz. There are a few record albums I listen to when feeling flat: “Local Hero” by Mark Knopfler (soundtrack to the movie); “Aja” and “Countdown to Ecstasy” by Steely Dan; “Communique” and “Making Movies” by Dire Straits; and “Song for my Father” by Horace Silver.
If you could snap your fingers and be “known” for one piece of your writing, what would it be? Is it something already published? Or is it something in your heart you’ve not yet written?
Hopefully, it will be the story after the one I’m working on now. I have the raw work done, need to start carving and shaping it in the rewrites and excited to start on it. But right now, my time is spent on (a) promoting American Playground, (b) writing the Rug Merchant/Boss’s Wife story, (c) running the Thieving Magpie, and most importantly (d) my law practice (because we all have bills to pay).
Any other tidbits you wanna share?
I truly and wholeheartedly believe in the idea of “be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” Life is too short to lose at your Plan B. If you’re going to lose anyway, you may as well lose at your Plan A, not your Plan B.
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