I met Sarah when I was in grad school and she was an undergrad at The University of New Mexico. My department had just started a creative writing mentorship program and I was assigned to mentor Sarah. I still have a vivid memory of this tall, bubbly, beautiful young woman coming up to me at the café where we had our first meeting. I knew right then we were going to have a blast working together. I’m so glad we kept in touch over the years, as not only is she a fun person to be around, but it has been a joy to see her grow into her writing. I’ve always found Sarah’s work to be unique and full of quirky charm. She’s our featured writer for June, and we hope you enjoy our interview of her!
Plume: When did you know you were a writer?
Sarah Mina Osman-Mikesell: I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was ten years old. I had always found that writing came very easily to me; it was like breathing. I had also enjoyed reading. I loved disappearing into a story. It was a way to escape the chaos of my home life. A teacher of mine, Mrs. Schmalfeld, encouraged me to become a writer. The first story I ever wrote was called “The Rainbow Girls” and was essentially a rip-off of “Sailor Moon”. Each girl had a different power that coincided with a color of the rainbow, and the main character was terrible at math (just like me). When I was 11, we had to enter an essay contest for the Elk Lodge. The prompt was “What does the pledge of allegiance mean to you?” I thought it was rubbish, so I wrote about how my dad, who is from Egypt, came to America for better opportunities. To my surprise, I won, and I won 100 dollars. It was at that moment that I realized I could make a career out of this. I haven’t stopped writing since.
P: Where do you get your ideas?
SMOM: I write a mix of fiction and non-fiction. My fiction tends to be a combination of magic realism and satire. My ideas for fiction tend to come from weird things people tell me or ridiculous ideas we come up with. For instance, my short story, “True American” (now published in Argot Magazine) was inspired by an assignment I gave my AP Language students. They had just read “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift, and I told them they had to write a satirical piece of their own. I needed an example to give them, and my fiancé joked that because I am Egyptian, I will be put into camps–but it wouldn’t be labor camps, they would be summer camps that would teach me how to be American. The idea was so absurd I took it and turned it into a story. My non-fiction is inspired by many things. Weird things tend to happen to me when I travel, so I write about them. I also write a great deal about my identity as an Egyptian woman living in America.
P: Where do you write?
SMOM: I wouldn’t say there is one particular place where I write. I like to write on my couch at home and in coffee shops, because I like to study other people while I write. I sometimes write at school, when my students are writing (we all write!). I sometimes listen to music and sometimes don’t, but I don’t like a lot of noise and I can’t have a conversation and write at the same time.
P: Do you have any writing rituals?
SMOM: Not really, no. Coffee is good!
P: How supportive is your local community for writers?
SMOM: It’s a little tricky being a fiction/non-fiction writer in LA, because nearly all the writers here write screenplays. I have never written a screenplay and don’t want to (it’s just not my medium). So my communities tend to be online. I am part of a lot of the binders groups on Facebook and I have an accountability group that I met at VONA. They mostly live on the East Coast, so I’m hoping to see them in person next time I’m there! I do have a lot of my non-writer friends read my work before sending it out, as it’s good to get a non-writer perspective on a piece. My non-writer friends aren’t looking at the language/style; they’re looking more for if it entertains them/if they gain something out of the piece. So in a way, they are my writing community as well.
P: What are some of your self-care practices?
SMOM: I love going to Korean spas. I love how chill they are and how I can just be left alone to do nothing. I’m also a dancer. My academic advisor in college signed me up for belly dancing, because he thought that I needed an outlet besides writing. I love to dance! I like that it’s challenging in a way that is different from writing, and I love being on stage. I also like to be outdoors. Since I live in a major city, I often need a break from the insanity. I love going to the beach and hiking. I find that it grounds me.
P: What are you currently working on?
SMOM: I am currently working on a travel memoir about the first time I visited Egypt and met my father’s side of the family, and what that experience was like. The book also concerns what it’s like to grow up as biracial and the bond I now share with my father. My hope is to also inspire others to visit Egypt!
Sarah Mina Osman-Mikesell is a writer and teacher residing in Los Angeles, CA. Her work has been featured in Huffington Post, Argot Magazine, HelloGiggles, Dorsia, and more! She primarily writes about the weird things that happen to her when she travels, the odd and unexpected in Los Angeles, and her quirky father. She has a deep appreciation for sloths and tacos. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @SarahMinaOsman.