Q&A with poet Moni Brar

Describe your “writer-self” in three words.

Hyphenated, evolving, storyteller.

What is the most challenging aspect about writing for you?

Trusting my authentic voice and resisting the pressures to change my writing. This is something I’ve been working on for the past year, with the help of a supportive writing community and some fantastic writing mentors. Much of my writing comes from a place of violence, abuse and trauma, and I used to be apologetic for producing writing that was ‘dark’ or ‘depressing.’ I felt pressure, both internal and external, to infuse my poems with positivity and happiness, or at least end them on an uplifting or redemptive note. It’s been hard, but I’ve resisted these pressures as it feels false to write that way as it’s not reflective of my lived experience.  The fact is, I live with depression and PTSD, and my writing is informed by and explores themes related to these aspects. And that’s okay.

Where, when and how are you inspired to write?

When I’m on long walks, I find I’m inclined to recognize new ideas and accumulate words and phrases I later use in my poetry. Nature is an endless source of inspiration for me, be it the natural surroundings I’m immersed in at the moment, or a memory of the natural world of my childhood resurfacing. I feel privileged to divide my time and write in two very different settings: on my family’s farm in the sun-drenched Okanagan valley and the city of Calgary with its big sky and stark seasons.

What are you reading right now?

I’m currently enrolled in about class race, poetry and resistance, so I’m reading a lot of Dionne Brand. Her poetry really resonates with me. I find her words relating to migration, the insatiable hunger for belonging, and the individual and collective histories we carry to be raw and powerful. I’m in the midst of Fierce Departures, and I love how she lays out the truth so honestly.

Best piece of writing advice you’ve received?

To step into your power as a writer. This piece of advice came from Vivian Hansen, a poet and my writing mentor. It’s something I keep returning to, especially when my confidence or resolve wane.

If you could tell your younger writer-self anything, what would it be?

Don’t be afraid. Your wounds are stories, and they matter even though they’re very different from what you see out in the world.

Which poet or character from a book/movie would you invite to dinner and why?

I would invite the protagonist in my favourite book: Saleem Sinai from Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children. I would love to hear firsthand how his individual life story reflects the entire history of postcolonial India.