Behind the Writing: Mary Claghorn

DISCLAIMER: I want to start this BTW with a notable observation. Mary has the patience of a saint. We did this interview months ago, and she has dealt with my delays with absolute grace.

A newfound trauma-response that I'm leaning into is the whole "everything happens for a reason" motto. I don't actually believe this, but in times of happiness, it does seem as if there is someone inexplicably pulling the strings. I came across Mary's account on TikTok of all places.

Mary Claghorn is a multi-media storyteller, donning many titles as she takes her audience on a tour of human emotion. She is a writer of many trades, as well as a film director and producer. Her content is a source of divine inspiration borne out of the darkest moments. Her works are doused in poetic realism, and serve as consistent beacons for those trapped in the waves of human nature.

I could list praise all day, as she's truly amazing.

Don't believe me? Continue reading.

Q: Starting with my favorite question. What’s your origin story?

A: I’ve always been very into reading. I would be the kid who would stay inside from recess to read a book. I used to go to church and instead of going to Sunday school, I would hide in the bathrooms and read a book. I’ve always been obsessed with stories in general. I remember growing up, I would write stories and then I would run to be parents like “Hey, read this!” but then, you know, that kinda stopped and I got into journalism. I did newspaper and yearbook, and then I was going to major in journalism. I realized I hated doing the hard news. I stopped entirely. I always liked the idea of writing books, but it always seemed so daunting to me, and then I met someone who was a screenwriter. That’s how I jumped on board with that. I also do poetry, too. That’s something I’ve always naturally done.

In the past two years, I finally have thought of myself as like, I am a writer. I guess my origin story was it’s always been there, but now I’m officially like, okay, this is what I’m doing with no plan B.

Q: What was the first piece you remember writing?

A: I remember as a kid, I was very influenced by the Hunger Games. I was 12 when that came out. I wrote my own version of Hunger Games. It was different, but you could definitely tell it had a dystopian vibe. I had 7 to 10 chapters written for it. I was so into it. That’s the first thing I remember writing. I was proud about it.

Q: How would you describe your writing process?

A: My three things with my writing, or what I try to stick to is authenticity, vulnerability and human connection. A lot of my stories are based on my life. A small nugget of it, and then you know, I just take that small nugget and exaggerate it so much to something more interesting than my life. I remember, I was texting a friend--this was the other week--and I was texting her a picture of this guy and was like, “Oh, this would be the perfect guy for me. I wish I could go in the store and buy him.” And then, I was like, wait, what if there was a story where you could go into a store and buy someone who looked exactly like you wanted them to and then you could train them to be the exact person you’d want to be with? Then, you’d realize that the imperfections of other people makes you love them more. There’s more of a fight to it rather than love being so easy. That was one story idea I got from just texting a friend.

Q: What is your biggest challenge as a writer?

A: I think discipline. I am very good at writing in my head a lot. I know what I want to put down, but I think it’s discipline sitting there and actually forcing myself to write. I’ll go through periods where I write a lot, and I won’t write at all. I think I’m my own worst critic because I want to fix my writing while I’m writing instead of doing the free flow thing.

Q: What was your inspiration writing Red Herring?

A: So, actually, funny enough, my boyfriend at the time--he was writing a book and I was so jealous. He was writing a book because, you know, I love dating a writer but then it was the competition of who’s writing the best. That’s how it came out because I was in a slump, not able to write anything. He was finishing this book and his book idea was so good. I had this note in my phone where I was ranting to myself about how awesome he was and how I’d never live up to his writing. Then, I was like, this is a pretty good script. That’s how the Red Herring idea came about. I think success is such a vital thing to being a writer in general. I love the dynamic of, “Can you be in love with someone and be more successful than them?”

Q: What inspires you to write?

A: With actors, you have to eat, breathe, sleep or it’s not the right thing for you. I feel like that’s almost the same thing with writing because it’s such a hard thing. I literally eat, breath, and sleep. There’s really no other Plan B for me. I think that’s a lot of the motivation to write, too. I also have a lot of emotions and I always find it easier to get my emotions out on the page than to other people. I feel like when I read these stories, it’s a snapshot of what I’m feeling at that time and how I’m processing things in my life. It’s almost like my own therapy. I think that what keeps me going is because I’m trying to figure myself out in the writing and that’s how I finished these pieces. I always feel more full at the end of them.

Q: You have a few upcoming projects. What are you most excited about?

A: All of them. I am excited for all of them. Right now, Touch is the farthest along. That’s the short film I’ve worked on. Something tragic happened to me, so that was like a short film to kind of go through those emotions and I had a skin condition that was flaring up at the time. I wrote a script about my skin condition and how it was affecting me. I wrote a piece, and I acted in it. It’s amazing because now my skin condition is gone. After I go back, I’m like wow, that’s the mindset she was in. I’m really excited for people to see it. I think it’s one of the best screen shorts I’ve made and I’m really, really proud of it.

Touch is now available. Please check out Rad Babes Production for news and updates about Mary's film projects with Rad Babes Production Co-Owner Megan Alonso.