I Might Trust You: Interview with Sam Moe

In preparation for the launch of her first full-length short fiction collection, I Might Trust You, I interviewed author Sam Moe to find out a little bit about her writing process, and the inspiration behind her work. You can find the interview below.

Sam Moe: Author Interview

When did you first start writing fiction? Who, or what, inspired you to start writing? 

I wanted to write fiction for a long time, but I didn’t have access to a computer. I remember thinking that if I could save for my first laptop, I’d be able to write a novel. In 2011, I finally saved enough from working multiple retail jobs to purchase a laptop. I had also come across Erin Morgenstern’s novel, The Night Circus, and it changed my life. Immediately after finishing her book, I wrote my first novel and never looked back.

Who are your main influences as a writer? 

R.O. Kwon, Lauren Groff, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, Akwaeke Emezi, Maggie Stiefvater, K-Ming Chang, Lars Horn, Jaquira Díaz, Shze-Hui Tjoa, Sabrina Orah Mark, Safiya Sinclair, T Kira Madden, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah to name a few.

Tell us a bit about your writing process, including how you begin, edit and finish your fiction pieces. 

Until recently, I would try to write all my short fiction pieces in one sitting. I would become stressed out if I couldn’t write a story in one go, be it 500-words or 5,000-words. Lately, I’ve been trying to work at a slower pace. I’ve found working on short fiction in the same manner I do with my novels helps me to remain consistent with my writing practice. With regards to editing, I try to revise every piece three or four times before sending it out for publication. Sometimes I wait a few days to make sure I approach the work with a different attitude. I’m used to an all-or-nothing attitude but lately I’m trying to be gentler. It’s difficult not to write fueled by fear. 

I Might Trust You is your first full-length fiction collection. Did you envisage this collection as a complete book from the start, or did the collection begin to take shape as you wrote? 

I wrote this book in short bursts. I began working as a creative writing professor almost two years ago and I finally have my own office where I can work on writing when I need to. I slowly built this collection inspired by my family’s ghost stories. It wasn’t until I had a decent number of pieces completed that I realized I was moving towards a collection. 

Are there any themes or motifs which are particularly important in your writing? Tell us something about these. 

Fear moves through all my work like an electrical current. I try to use methods which might instill anxiety or distrust in my characters, such as listing, ruminating, and hyper-focusing. As someone with neurodivergence, I ruminate constantly. I try to give this to the work to channel my anxiety. Other themes in my work are trust and curiosity. I love haunted settings. I don’t trust anyone easily. 

Describe your ideal writing environment. 

My ideal writing environment would definitely be a room of my own with a window overlooking a forest. I’ll be attending my first writing residency this year and I’m grateful I’ll be able to work in that setup, for a brief period.

What advice would you give to a writer who is just starting out?

I’ll try to give the advice I wish I had received when I was younger. I think emerging writers (of any age) should be gentle with themselves. It takes so much energy to put words on the page. I didn’t realize I wasn’t experiencing writer’s block, I was just tired, or overworked, or overwhelmed, or going through trauma. I didn’t need to always be writing to be considered a “writer.” I was very judgmental of myself and I still am. But lately, I’m trying to be gentle. If gentleness isn’t possible, I suggest channeling that fear and stress into the writing. All writing is revising. You don’t need to be cruel to your first drafts, or to yourself (easier said than done.)

Thank you, Sam, for giving such an interesting and insightful interview. I Might Trust You is now available to pre-order from Amazon in kindle format. The book will be published on 15 March 2025. Stay tuned for further updates!

Ingrid