An Interview with Wendy Besel Hahn

By Paris Sanchez

Wendy Besel Hahn was raised in Utah but born in Idaho, and her childhood involved executing figure skating moves on her living room carpet. Her writing, influenced by both her Western upbringing and the political environment of D.C., explores how geography, religion, and history shape characters. With an MFA from George Mason University and experience at the Bread Loaf Writers Conference, she is the nonfiction editor for Furious Gravity: Vol. IX. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, Scary Mommy, Redivider, and Sojourners. In this interview, Wendy Besel Hahn shares insights about both her personal life and how that intertwines with her life as a writer. 

How has your recent relocation from D.C. to Denver impacted your writing process and themes, particularly in exploring concepts like geography? 

Regions have identities, so I find myself leaning into a bit of the rugged individualism that permeates the Western U.S. It’s an identity I grew up with living in Utah until age 27, but I am seeing it with new eyes now. As someone writing historical fiction, I am exceedingly interested in how vast, open landscape of Colorado imbues female characters with a sense of self-sufficiency. Women out here were among the first in the nation to vote. They aren’t shy about their opinions.  

Reflecting on your time near the nation's capital, where you developed a passion for political writing, how does this interest intersect with your curiosity of how geography and historical events shape characters in literature? 

Living in the densely populated Metro DC area for over 20 years, I found it easier to think about the collective good. Westerners don’t like being told what to do. Out here, people are often less trusting of institutions in general. 

Drawing from your childhood experiences in the Western U.S., how do these memories influence your storytelling, especially in capturing the essence of place and culture? 

Throughout my childhood, my grandfather told stories of close calls in dangerous situations while mining for uranium in the remote areas of Colorado. Although he had a Master's Degree in Geology, his emphasis was always on common sense and resourcefulness. 

You've served as a panelist at admirable literary events such as Fall for the Book and Gaithersburg Book Festival. How have these engagements enriched your understanding of writing and reading, both as a writer and as an editor? 

Conversing with other writers fuels creativity and gives us a chance to feel less alone in what is often portrayed as a solitary process. I think most readers would be shocked at how much writers share their work with each other in order to revise and hone their craft. 

What's your process for editing stories for Furious Gravity: Vol. IX?

 In editing nonfiction stories for Furious Gravity, I looked for pieces that were as entertaining as fiction. I wanted the reader to understand how nonfiction is often stranger than fiction. 

Your writing has been featured in diverse publications, from The Washington Post to Scary Mommy. How do you adapt your writing style and subject matter to cater to different audiences and platforms?

 Much of successfully placing an article depends on knowing the publication and who reads it. Usually, I start with an idea—taking my 15 yo son to see the Barbie movie—and think about who publishes those types of pieces with weird angles. Last summer, I pitched the idea to HuffPost, knowing I would get a lot of hateful comments about trying to raise a son to be a feminist. They have an amazing circulation and embrace controversial topics. The editor there responded to my pitch in less than an hour. After a whirlwind 48 hours of writing and editing, the piece went live. I shared the piece on social media and then promptly deleted Twitter because I knew the bulk of nastiness would come from that platform. The piece garnered 284 comments on HuffPost, but I didn’t read a single one. I focused on the feedback from other writers and friends who could cheer me on. 

What key insights or advice would you offer to aspiring writers based on your experiences as both a writer and an editor?

 Volunteer to read submissions for a literary magazine. Allow yourself to write a shitty first draft. Find supportive people who understand that a creative life is not a linear ascent. Read.  

How do you interpret Virginia Woolf's statement, "A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write," and how does it resonate with your own journey as a writer?

 I understand the sentiment, but I take her words in context. Virginia Woolf came from a very different time when there were few women writers and those who published didn’t have children or the need to earn a living. Most women writers I know go beyond that. They have children, careers (often in academia), AND manage to carve out time to write. They didn’t have the privilege Virginia Woolf did. 

Have you encountered creative burnout in your writing journey, and if so, how did you overcome it?

 In 2014, my mother had a health crisis and was given only a few months to live. (Fortunately, she received experimental treatment and is still living.) At the time though, the shock and grief really untethered me from my writing for a period of several months. I was a mother with young children at the time, so writing had been a survival mechanism to combat the doldrums of daily chores. During that time, I began knitting hats and scarves because it kept my hands occupied and gave me a repetitive task. Fellow writers gave me some space, but also coaxed me gently back to writing.  

With a background in both fiction and nonfiction writing, do you find certain storytelling techniques or themes more suited to one genre over the other? 

Good writers borrow tools from every genre and use them wisely. Nonfiction without character development in the form of dialogue and scene-making reads like a textbook. Fiction relies on an eye for detail and a sense of irony that nonfiction writers often excel at. Poetry demands a conciseness and attention to form that we all benefit from.

Wendy Besel Hahn can be found at https://wendybeselhahn.com