Comments on: How Being Deaf Has Affected Me as a Writer

By: Nathan McAlister

Nathan McAlister — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 15:32:30 +0000

Hi there… I am aspiring Deaf writer who wrote four unpublished novels. As PSE/ASL user, I also find the difficulties to express the oiled-machine words on papers when I often take for granted on my deafness. Literally, I have to rework everything in the words in order to blend the story together, but its never an easy task being Deaf in the hearing world who found my works unsatisfactory when I thought were one of my best works. I am not quiter, but after an umpteen rejections and negative remarks can take a toll on a human being. Hopefully one day I can break the barrier and be an author.

By: Tara Chevrestt

Tara Chevrestt — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 07:37:21 +0000

In reply to Steve Candler. Hello, Mr. Candler, I have sent an email your way. Thank you for the comment.

By: Steve Candler

Steve Candler — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 22:35:02 +0000

Tara, very interesting and timely (for me) post. I’m working with a new Employee Resource Group at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. The group is called No Boundaries and we seek to help individuals with disabilities be hired and have successful careers with NASA. One of the most significant disabilities we face with our employees are long term hearing loss and hearing loss related to illnesses. Quite a few are aircraft mechanics.

Is there a way I could contact you concerning an appearance here in October 2015 during “Hearing Protection” month for activities our group will sponsor? We are hoping to sponsor our first speaker for our Safety and Total Health Fair. With your background you would be a fantastic choice. Please email me at stephen.l.candler@nasa.gov Thanks and best wishes.

By: Treacy Regan

Treacy Regan — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 23:55:37 +0000

I am deaf myself and can relate here. While writing fiction or poetry I sometimes struggle with wordings for sounds and accents. I once wrote about a deaf character who could talk but not hear and used BSL, but never finish the story because people assumed I was writing about myself … ouch.

By: Featuring Women Writers on WWWB 2013 - Women Writers, Women Books

Featuring Women Writers on WWWB 2013 - Women Writers, Women Books — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 23:11:44 +0000

[…] Loving the Alien – Helen Grant Nourishing the Self by Finding the Time to Write – Sarah Hackley How Being Deaf Has Affected Me as a Writer – Tara Chevrestt Why do you write – Rachel C. Lewis The Verminous Hazards of Research […]

By: Carole of York

Carole of York — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 14:37:14 +0000

Inspiring article.

I am a writer that lacks an opposable thumb on my writing hand. Thank God for puters, right?

Best of luck to you, Tara.

By: Prabha Salimath

Prabha Salimath — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 02:10:18 +0000

Tara really I liked your guts to accept your deafness so frankly & you’re working with that so hardly good luck..
I’ve got a friend ( who’s partly deaf bcoz she grew old so ) whom I tried a lot to understand but misunderstood by her, for people like her & for many of us too you be an inspirational person thanks Tara..

By: Ducky

Ducky — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 17:58:49 +0000

You’re braver than I am. I’ve written one chapter of a novel and various blogs, but one thing I’ll never write about is being deaf. I just can’t deal with other people’s perception that deafness is my defining quality.

By: claire

claire — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 04:40:29 +0000

I have hearing impaired children, and when they’re old enough to read, I’m going to have to remember your books and your story to share with them. Incredible and inspiring. As an author, I know the industry is tough enough as it is without having to deal with ignorance to boot. Well done for sticking by your talent.

By: Di Castle

Di Castle — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 22:17:54 +0000

This is a most inspiring article and very impressive. I am looking forward to reading your books with deaf heroines/heroes.
I am writing a novel with a deaf character and, when it was critiqued by another author, she said something about the deaf and that ‘without language there is no thought’ which I found so very strange. Non-verbal language makes up 90% of first impressions so the deaf toddler is receiving language and thinking about what she or he sees all the time. The visual sense is so much stronger.