We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Meg Hafdahl . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Meg below.

Hi Meg , thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Learning how to be a writer is a life-long pursuit. Fortunately, I started young, as I was an instant bookworm, finding comfort and excitement in reading. It was a natural fit for me to start writing, as I loved to play with words and create stories. The actual art of writing as a career is something that took time. I sent out my first story when I was 16 to Woman’s World Magazine and got a rejection letter back. At the time I thought this meant my writing career was over! It took building my confidence over my 20s and now into my 30s (and lots more rejections) to realize writing, because it truly is an art form, is a skill you build upon forever. Every time I sit down there is not only a creative force brewing, but also a new thing I’ve learned from other writers, or editors, or readers, that I can inject into my story. If I could go back I wouldn’t speed up my journey because I needed wisdom to become a better writer! As far as essential skills, I think you need to grow a bit of a tough skin, because you will get a ton of rejections, not matter how good you are. And to be a successful writer in the publishing industry you have to develop the skill of listening to others. I know, for me, when I was young these were my obstacles that I needed to work on before success came my way!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I have dedicated my career to fostering a creative environment for women in horror, As a fiction author it’s vital that I tell stories that resonate on an emotional level, as I make certain to focus on complicated female characters. As a non-fiction writer I’m invested in telling stories about people who you may never head of, as well as amplifying the voices of creatives in horror. As someone who has loved the spooky stuff since I could walk, I know that it often comes with a stigma. People can make assumptions about those of us in the horror industry (whether we are creatives or fans) and I revel in breaking down those stereotypes. I am most proud of the times of heard from readers who had an emotional connection with my work, whether it was my novel Her Dark Inheritance, or whether they were inspired by the women in The Science of Women in Horror.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I don’t pretend to be an expert on this, but as a “real person” I think I can give a few tips. My first is authenticity, no matter your business I think this is imperative. Sure, building a recognizable aesthetic can be nice, but I think showcasing your very real life is so much more effective. Talk about your mistakes, post pics that aren’t perfect. Also, a big way to grow your following is to invest in others. What I mean by this, is talk about people in your field who you admire. Share their posts. As a horror author, I share books I love and tag the authors. Comment on people’s posts, like their content. By engaging with people, you are showing that you’re not just there to self-promote but to be a part of conversations. I also encourage you to keep the ads to a minimum, of course you should post about your business or art, but people tire of constant advertisements. Share pics and thoughts of what makes you unique and dynamic.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

At first glance there is something inherently selfish about being a creative, because you are investing your time into your own well of thoughts and ideas. Before you get to the editor/agent/publisher stage, writing is indulging in yourself. Don’t get me wrong, I think this is vital to making good art, and I think everyone should take the time to be this brand of “selfish” but what really has been a surprising aspect of this work is the opportunity to help others. Over the years I’ve been able to help those who want to break into this business, and when I see them gain success it is SO rewarding! And the more success I’ve been able to achieve, the better my ability to put out a hand and aid others. It’s a really unexpected perk of being a creative that I hope to do more of!

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.meghafdahl.com
• Instagram: @meghafdahl
• Facebook: Meg Hafdahl; Horror Author
• Twitter: @meghafdahl
• Other: Check out my podcast Horror Rewind wherever you listen to podcasts!

Image Credits
Katrina Hanneman