Greta Browne
BIW Member Interview
Greta Browne, mother of three and grandmother of three, lives in Bethlehem, PA, with her husband and two cats. She is a therapist, a chaplain, a peace and justice activist, and a writer in a line of writing women. She lived in China and Brazil as a child and in Niger as well as the United States as an adult.
Moe When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Greta Browne: As a young teenager I thought of myself as a writer, and secretly named myself Inky because of the smudges from the fountain pen that I loved to use. Living in the boondocks of Brazil as the daughter of missionaries, I avidly consumed books that came in boxes and barrels from the churches that supported missionary families. Lorna Doone, Girl of the Limberlost, The Book of Knowledge A – Z, these helped create my mental universe, and somehow I was aware of the authors that nurtured my imagination. Wasn’t writing the noblest of occupations!
Moe: Describe three lessons you have learned about writing?
Greta Browne: One of the first things I learned about writing was that for me real life trumps writing, as long as life is engaging and rewarding. A second learning was that wonderful things happen when I make myself spend the time it takes to write an idea or story all the way to the end. I learn so much; my imagination leaps to new places; I understand myself better. My third lesson would have to be that I’m not as great a writer as I thought when I was 14, but I don’t have to be great to make it worthwhile, and I can work at honing my skills and developing my art.
Moe: What are you working on now?
Greta Browne: I am working on my life record as a basis for memoirs I hope to write, and on a novel that allows me to travel with my characters on their futuristic sailboat, between the U.S. and my beloved Brazil, without increasing my carbon footprint.
Moe: What is your favorite writing related book?
Greta Browne: I love to read about writers and am often inspired by their stories and lives. For a couple of years, long ago, I read from The Letters of Virginia Woolf. I learned about her loneliness as well as the importance of the friendships she was able to maintain.
Moe: What is your favorite writing website?
Greta Browne: Other than BIW, I don’t use the internet much for my writing tips. I suppose I could access writing magazines online instead of reading them at the library.
Moe: Do you have an important BIW tip to pass along?
Greta Browne: I found that at first I was shy about sending in comments and sharing my observations with the listserv, especially when no one acknowledged them. But I persevered and now I feel entitled to welcome people, congratulate them, and tell them (briefly) what’s going on in my writing life.
Thank you Greta. I’ve added Virginia’s letters to my wish list at Amazon.
I think many members feel intimidated by posting. Probably because I have so many rules. But if they keep their messages writing related and not off topic there is definitely no problem.
I always enjoy reading your posts to the list!
Hi Greta,
Great interview! And thanks for that comment about feeling shy about posting. I was the same way…good to know I wasn’t alone. Best wishes on all your projects.
Rita H. from Tennessee
I enjoyed the interview especially your memories from the age of 14 – the nickname Inky. I used to call my writer self Lara.