Tashi Saheb-Ettaba would rather be in a company of cats than people. She was a reader for FORESHADOW: A Serial YA Anthology. When she is not writing, she likes to travel, watch horror movies, dye her hair in obnoxious colors, and decorate the world with stickers. She currently lives in Tucson, Arizona. She graduated from Hamline in July, 2015.

What is your writing life like?

Writing has definitely built my courage over the years. I never thought I would see my short NF piece published, or be a member of an online short story anthology. Each day, I like to challenge myself on both the small and big goals, so it’s been an exciting life so far.

What is your writing routine?

I try to spend at least two hours on my writing each day. For first drafts, I love to write by longhand in journals or notepads. For revisions, I like to write freestyle in my journal first before tackling the revision on my computer.

What advice do you have for folks?

Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t accomplish your daily or weekly writing goals. Life happens, and sometimes we just need to take care of ourselves. When you find the time to sit in front of your computer, it should feel like a welcoming experience, not a toxic one.

What is your preferred time of day to write?

Night. That’s the only time I get to talk to ghosts. 🙂

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m neither a full plotter nor pantser, so I would have to say I’m in-between.

Do you have any writing assistants?

My gray tuxedo cat, Prospero, is an excellent editor. He insists on checking up on my progress every time I work.

Where do you work best?

At home with my kitties. 🙂

What have you been working on?

I’m ready to finish a new YA horror draft with multiple points of views and my love for punk rock, so I’m stoked to keep going with it!

What are you grateful you learned at MFAC that you’re applying now?

It’s all about experimentation. Sometimes, you just have to try out different genres and styles to make your story powerful.

What is your favorite genre to write?

Horror. I love monstrous stories. 🙂

Have you explored out of that genre? If so, what has that been like?

Before getting comfy with horror, I used to write a lot of fantasy and historical fiction. Afterwards, I explored magical realism, contemporary, and picture books. Personally, I like to write short stories in different genres, because they help me understand the purpose of pacing, details, and movements.