Big Mouth Feature: Serena Braida

Nov 29

Our next featured writer for No. 11 Big Mouth is Serena Braida, who wrote the short story “Bambino” for the issue.

What was your inspiration for writing your piece “Bambino” and how does it go with the theme Big Mouth?

I wrote Bambino thinking of the theme, Big Mouth. It started with the idea of having two people on either side of a closed door, communicating in some way. They would speak and also signal things via breathing and movement -- leaning against the door, walking away, walking back.

But soon it became clear that the communication was off-kilter: the protagonist was taking up all the space with her thoughts and reasons. Revealing herself to be a bit mouthy and much more interested in Bambino and his presence in her life that she likes to admit. Being ambivalent. Visually, if I imagine the piece adapted for stage or film, I see interchangeably a realistic setting -- the house, the two people, the window, the door -- and a big mouth speaking on a neutral background.

Tell me about yourself, where are you from and how did you become a writer?

I am originally from Italy and I moved to London in 2011 to work in the arts. Writing has always been there, long before I found anybody who wanted to read it and perhaps publish it. I also do performance & theater work and I come from a singing background. Writing is definitely linked to those practices as well.

What do you most like to write about?

At the moment I'm interested in personal mythologies and in the incongruous ways we try to get into communication with one another. Misunderstandings, mistakes, mishearings, longing, that kind of thing. I'm also interested in notions around pleasure and how it can be incorporated in different techniques and practices - both having to do with artistic practice and everyday life.

When you are in a writer's block what helps you get out of it?

If I'm stuck something that normally works is to look at the work of people I admire -- with the proviso that I will get envious and discouraged and bitter at first, and trying to stay in that state of mind as well, to use it. Also going on walks helps, movement, music (only instrumental though), napping, sex; walking away from the page as well as staring at it stubbornly. Oh, and automatic writing.

Other than writing, what do you like to do on your free time?

I love pubs.

Why do you write?

I guess writing makes me feel...real? Like I exist, more than anything else, except for being on stage.

I write for myself because writing is the opposite of dying and that is the origin of it, so to speak. Then there's the pleasure part, the thrill, the speaking it.

When hearing "Big Mouth" what comes to your mind?

The opening scene/song in Rocky Horror Picture Show, Science Fiction Double Feature, Patricia Quinn's lips.

Have you ever had braces before?

Never. I almost had a scoliosis brace, though.

Do you have any crazy mouth relate stories?

Not really, but I use a lot of gibberish exercises when I teach voice.

Check out Serena Braida on her Instagram, @serenabraida and her forthcoming pamphlet with Makina Books.