“Rascunhos”, Marcelly Tatiani‘s most recent work, transcends the boundary between reader and writer, inviting the public to become part of the narrative. Each chapter of this unique book features a poem that delves into universal themes of human experience, accompanied by a blank page ready to be shared with the author.
Through these pages, the pain of unrequited love, the incessant search for freedom in the nuances of everyday life, the exploration of the meanings of life, the loneliness that accompanies growth and the vertiginous passage of time come to life. Tatiani’s words also explore the intricacies of friendships, the impact of feelings of insignificance and the delicacy of goodbyes.
This set of 41 poetic texts, affectionately called “Rascunhos” by the author, was generated along different stages of her journey. From childhood, when she began to create, to the years that followed after obtaining her BA in Literature and her post-graduation in Institutional Journalism, these words were meticulously guarded. Now, they come to life on paper while maintaining the purity and authenticity of those moments when they were conceived.
Through this work, Marcelly Tatiani not only gives a new look to feelings that have been imprisoned for a long time, but also frees them, making room for new experiences to flourish. This is a deeply personal act, but it also acts as a guide for readers to reflect on their own journeys, rekindling emotions that have silently resided over time. “Rascunhos” is more than a book, it is a shared journey through the vast terrain of existence.
The concept of “Rascunhos” is quite unique, inviting readers to become co-authors by filling in the blank pages with you. How did the idea of creating this interactive experience with readers come about?
Writing, for me, has always been something liberating and functional. As a teenager, I started to structure what a possible book of mine would be like and this idea came up of leaving a blank page so that readers could also experience liberating writing.
His poems address a variety of universal themes, from love pains to reflections on the meaning of life. How did you choose these themes and what inspired you to explore them?
In fact, when I started writing them, I didn’t have the self-knowledge I have now, even because of the immaturity of age, these themes were named to hide something deeper, the existential emptiness I felt and didn’t know how to identify, so I tried to find something that would make me understand what those feelings were that took up residence in me. I believe that the inspiration was the search for understanding feelings that bothered me and as a liberating act, I wrote by hand on topics that I thought were pertinent to the occasion.
The book includes poems written at different stages of his life. What was it like revisiting these texts after years and deciding to share them? Did you make any changes to the original poems?
For years, I hid them from people, but I kept revisiting them. I believed that if people had access to them, they would identify situations experienced in my life and I was always a very discreet person, until during the process of self-knowledge, I decided that I would publish them to meet the wishes of the child/adolescent I was and continue my life as the woman I am today. In some writings, I made small changes, but I wanted to leave the most similar to what I originally wrote.
The essence and innocence of the moments when you wrote the texts are kept in the book. How do you think this authenticity adds depth to the reading experience?
Some writings still impact me today, because I remember the writing process. I was very intense, I still am, but today I can see that their essence is precisely due to the fact that they were written in different phases, from when I was 8 years old.
“Drafts” feels like an emotional journey for both you and the readers. What feelings do you hope readers experience as they fill in the blank pages?
I didn’t think of a single feeling, because feeling is very particular, but the book was written for readers to write what they think should be written, trapped feelings to, after some time, be revisited and resignified. I hope that the reader of “Rascunhos” will also practice liberating writing on the blank pages of the book or on any other tool.
Reframing trapped feelings is an important part of the book. How do you think this process can positively impact the lives of readers?
Often, to get to know each other better, it is necessary to give a new meaning to our life story, believing that everything we experience is learning, this includes the successes and mistakes we make along our journey, this process brings us more security and clarity of what we truly are.
In addition to being a writer, you have a degree in Literature and a postgraduate degree in Institutional Journalism. How have these academic experiences influenced your creative work?
“Drafts” predates all my academic training, but today I know that having studied Literature and a postgraduate degree in Journalism were very important in my writing process, as I have a little more knowledge during textual production, in the choice of words, in coherence of the text, in the transmission of the message, all these factors also influence the creative process.
Psychology is an area that you have also begun to explore. How does understanding the human mind influence your approach to writing and character creation?
I still haven’t had the creative opportunity to explore the universe of a character I created after I started studying psychology. I have some handwritten stories that have fictional characters, with their natural life processes written a few years ago.
Psychology is my purpose in life and I dedicate almost all of my free time to understanding the concepts that are presented in theoretical classes and in supervisions, today watching movies or reading books that address psychological issues, for example, attract me a lot. Thinking about developing a character based on the understanding I have about the human mind is a big challenge, not only because the human mind is complex, but also because I am a student and still in the process of choosing the theoretical approach I want to take. I will continue as a psychologist.
“Drafts” allow readers to reflect on their own experiences. Can you share any personal experiences that were particularly meaningful to you while writing the book?
I believe that being on public transport with many people around me and feeling alone. In fact, the moments when I felt most alone were the moments when I was surrounded by people, as they made me reflect on the existential emptiness inside me, which at the time I called loneliness and then wrote about. I always left a pencil and a notebook in my bag, even with my cell phone in hand, I rarely used the cell phone as a storage tool for my writings.
Now that “Drafts” has been released, do you have plans for future projects? Can we expect more interactive books or exploring other creative ways?
I have a project that will come out at the end of the year: I will be one of the co-authors of the book “As Donas da P*** Toda”, volume 4. very objective and particular.
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