The Trident 2020 Issue
Author Interviews from 2020 issue
Jordyn Lee, “A Choice” and “Inner Demons”
1. What inspired you to write your piece?
“A Choice” was created from a prompt I had in my Intermediate Fiction Writing class. I was inspired to write closer to what I know and what I know is inner conflict. In a way, the protagonist is a reflection of an interpretation of my personality. That interpretation is of the sense of duality I struggle with; the constant awareness of being human and having the ability to commit heinous acts, yet also being able to fix mistakes and commit acts of goodwill.
2. What’s your perfect writing environment? What kind of environment did you write this piece in?
My perfect writing environment is of space and maximum comfort. I like to have background noise, comfortable seating, and room to wander to gather my thoughts. Ironically, “A Choice” was written in a classroom, in a hard seat and small desk, with near-perfect silence.
3. Who is your favorite author and why?
Tough choice, but I would say Edgar Allan Poe. I always found such a sorrowful yet enticing feeling when reading his work. My favorite pieces of Poe’s would be “Annabel Lee” and “Alone”, for their romanticized sadness.
4. If you listen to music while you write, what kind of music do you prefer to listen to? Are there any specific artists that help you write?
I listen to music that generates the emotions I need to write, which changes from scene to scene. However, this typically doesn’t go by genre, but by song. I often develop playlists for the stories I write, which encompasses picking songs for characters mostly. I don’t normally gravitate for specific artists unless I know a song that fits the emotion I want to focus on.
5. Was this story originally only three paragraphs long, or did that just naturally happen?
The story’s length just happened to end up being three paragraphs long. It might be hard to believe, but “Inner Demons” was never edited or revised. I wrote it back in high school, in my first creative writing class, and have never touched it since.
6. This is a very poetic, almost lyrical piece. Did any music serve as inspiration while you were writing?
No. What inspired me was my interest in the paranormal and 19th-century asylums.
Katelyn Davis, “Vienna”
1. What inspired you to write your piece?
My piece was partially inspired by a conversation I overheard one day about the feelings of dissociation. I had written only one paragraph describing the setting when I realized how well that concept would fit in with the life I wanted to give my main character, Leysha. A few moments in the story like the part about the mustard stain are based loosely on real experiences. I like to add in real life influences to contribute to believably.
2. What’s your perfect writing environment? What kind of environment did you write this piece in?
The perfect writing environment for me is somewhere quiet and near a natural light source. I wrote this piece near the window in my dorm's common room when no one else was around to distract me. I also like writing late at night because I feel like I come up with my best ideas at night.
3. Who is your favorite author and why?
My favorite author is L. M. Montgomery. I reread Anne of Green Gables a few years ago and I was still so inspired by the way the author describes a positive and curious outlook on life. Another would be Barbara Kingfisher for her portrayal of the connection between women and nature and the idea of beauty even in the face of adversity.
4. If you listen to music while you write, what kind of music do you prefer to listen to? Are there any specific artists that help you write?
I prefer complete silence when I write. When I try to listen to music I get distracted.
5. About your piece, "Vienna".
I really had to trust that what I was writing would make sense in the context of the story. Sometimes I would have a random idea in my head and I would just write it into the story even if it seemed disconnected from the scene a little bit because I wanted to shape Leysha to be disconnected from her reality. I usually like to sit down and finish a story in only a few sittings but for this I wrote it in many shorter periods of time so I would have less time to overthink my character's actions.
Dylan Murawski, “Into the Snow”
1. What inspired you to write your piece?
I was inspired to write this after reading a collection of short stories by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, titled Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory. It was a beautiful collection, and featured several stories in the second person point of view. It really made me fall in love with the POV.
2. What’s your perfect writing environment? What kind of environment did you write this piece in?
I usually write best when I'm sitting in a room alone, headphones on, sitting at my desk with my laptop. This story was all written in my dorm in Hendrix Hall.
3. Who is your favorite author and why?
I don't think I necessarily have a favorite writer, but some of my favorite stories/collections include Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon, Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Ernest Hemingway (though I haven't read nearly enough of his work yet), etc etc etc etc.
4. If you listen to music while you write, what kind of music do you prefer to listen to? Are there any specific artists that help you write?
It depends on my mood, but for the most part, ambient music is my go-to when writing. My absolute favorite album to listen to while writing is "Somewhere in the Distance, Somewhere Toward the Mountains" by Flatsound! Some other albums include "25 All-Time Greatest Recordings" by The Chordettes, and "The Simulacra Transmission" by Shipwreck Karpathos.
5. About your piece, "Into the Snow"
I actually chose second person before I had written anything for this story. As I was very heavily inspired by Bob-Waksberg, I really wanted to test my hand, and see if I could pull the POV off. Using second person did have a major impact on the story I wanted to tell. The two pitfalls I was trying to avoid were 1.) make the story seem too gimmicky (i.e. putting too much weight on the POV, to the point where characterization begins to suffer), and 2.) make the reader uncomfortable (i.e. "I wouldn't do these things! Why is the writer calling this character me??"). So, I wanted to tell a real story, about a genuinely imperfect protagonist, while at the same time making sure the protagonist isn't too imperfect that it dismays the reader from appreciating the story. It was quite the balancing act for me! I found it very personally fulfilling, testing how far I could push those boundaries of "likability" with a character that the reader is supposed to directly identify with. It was so much fun! This story was my very first foray with the second person POV, but it certainly won't be my last :)
Robin Eassa, “Disparition” and “Symbiosis”
1. What inspired you to write your piece, "Disparition?"
The podcast "Welcome to Night Vale" really inspired the tone of this piece. I loved the podcast's embrace of the weird and surreal, and the morphing of seemingly regular situations into something supernatural. The piece started as a sort of spin-off of a certain episode/plotline revolving around sandstorms, and then turned into what it is today after four years of edits and tweaks.
2. What inspired you to write your piece, "Symbiosis?"
I wrote this piece after going through a rough patch with my best friend. I had had feelings for him for years now, and I finally told him, and he cut me off completely for a while. I wrote this piece in the midst of my isolation as I began to question why they acted the way they did. I began to see myself as the bad guy in the situation, and wrote this with vindication and shame, as well as sorrow for what could have been (they had told me they had feelings for me as well, but a long time ago, and they never acted). This piece encapsulates every negative thought I had while I was torn away from by best friend.
3. What’s your perfect writing environment? What kind of environment did you write this piece in?
I tend to do a lot of my writing on my laptop in my room. Some people prefer to write on paper, but I appreciate the efficiency I get when I type. Writing Disparition specifically, I was up late at night and listening to Disparition (the band that composed most of the background music for Welcome to Night Vale), and I got an idea based off of some of the songs that were playing, songs that were still by the band but weren't used in the podcast. I put on my earbuds, turned on a single light, and began writing. As for symbiosis, the first draft was in the notes app on my phone while I was sobbing into a pillow at midnight on a school night. The polished piece is actually very close to the raw draft, which is rare for me. But the writing wasn't planned, it was just me throwing out my feelings in any way I could.
4. Who is your favorite author and why?
I've always had an affinity for Christopher Paolini's Inheritance cycle because of the way he dealt with balancing a fantasy story about dragon riders and elves with a story about dissenting politics and revolutions within that fantasy world. The balance between the fantastical and the realistic was excellent, and everything fit neatly into the world while still managing to be complex and reminiscent of real-world issues.
5. If you listen to music while you write, what kind of music do you prefer to listen to?
Are there any specific artists that help you write? I've already told the story of Disparition's music, but I like to listen to instrumental music while I write. Soundtracks to movies and original compositions are excellent. Some of my favorites include the Journey/Flower/Flow OST, johnny_ripper on bandcamp, farren on bandcamp, and flatsound.
Casey Huber, “Weekend”
1. What inspired you to write your piece?
When I wake up at night and can't sleep, I write. Usually the product is a manifestation of the reason I couldn't sleep.
2. What’s your perfect writing environment? What kind of environment did you write this piece in?
At my computer, blasting music, writing as the words flow out of my fingers.
3. Who is your favorite author and why?
Hunter S Thompson - he is funny, witty, elegant, and intriguing.
4. If you listen to music while you write, what kind of music do you prefer to listen to? Are there any specific artists that help you write?
Synthwave - Carpenter Brut and Perturbator are the best
Jules Hoepting, “Stuned Minds, Stunted Space”
1. What inspired you to write your piece?
When I moved to Fredonia, I moved from a fairly conservative town to a liberal campus. I loved being around people with open minds, but I found that they thought they knew more than they did. The small-minded adults I knew also felt like they knew more than they thought they did. I felt a great clash between the liberal, city mindset and the conservative country mindset. I felt as though neither side understood each other nor really wanted to. With this poem, I was trying to get at that no one really understands the big picture, we all have our own perceptions of it.
2. What’s your perfect writing environment? What kind of environment did you write this piece in?
I like to be alone in a quiet environment when I write. That way I can walk around and talk to myself without anybody watching. Sometimes I get ideas while I go for walks and jot them down on my phone. This piece was for a creative writing course assignment, so I probably wrote it in the library or in a dorm.
3. Who is your favorite author and why?
Mark Twain. He's got an incredible way of capturing humans and the society they live in. He's also got great wit.
4. If you listen to music while you write, what kind of music do you prefer to listen to? Are there any specific artists that help you write?
No, I find it distracting.
Jay Darling, “Ice Cream Showers”
1. What inspired you to write your piece?
“Ice Cream Showers” is a reflective piece of my experiences working at a small ice cream business over the summer of 2019. The weather had been less than ideal over the summer, so most days, once I finished my chores, I spent my shift gazing out the windows as the rain and wind tore through the area. Only a few brave souls and the most dedicated of fans would come out for ice cream on those days. However, on good days when our customers were numerous, I met so many kinds of people. For those that kept coming back on my shifts, I would surprise them by remembering their orders! So, when I sat down to write this piece, I thought of my experiences working there and the story just came to me!
2. What’s your perfect writing environment? What kind of environment did you write this piece in?
My perfect writing environment is somewhere quiet, with little to distract me, where I can relax and engage in deep thinking. On SUNY Fredonia’s campus, I found this perfect writing environment in the Daniel A. Reed Library. I like to sit away from the computer area, get out my Chromebook and plug in my earbuds for music, and type away! It was this kind of writing environment that helped me produce “Ice Cream Showers”.
3. Who is your favorite author and why?
A while ago, I discovered the author, Tamsyn Muir, a New Zealand author who authored my favorite book to-date, Gideon the Ninth, which is the first book in her Locked Tomb trilogy. It’s a blend of fantasy, science fiction, and horror and has a leading lesbian character. I can’t recommend it enough! As an author though, I admire Tamsyn’s writing style—how she brings to life the setting and characters through vivid descriptions. I’m a huge fan of writing that accomplishes that! However, this is not what made her my favorite author. It was what she said during her interview with the Three Crows Magazine that did. It was a short, simple line, but profound for me. She said she wrote Gideon the Ninth for her seventeen-year-old self. This turned a light switch on in my head. It can be nerve-wracking to author a story and share it with the public. There’s always the concern over how people will receive it. In my past pieces, I typically worried about how people would react to my blatantly nonbinary and gender-nonconforming characters. However, upon reading what she said, my attitude changed. Of course, I’ll be receptive to constructive criticism. I love to hear what people have to say on how I can approve my pieces! But I can’t knock my stories down before they’ve even had the chance to walk. So to aspiring writers out there, take Tamsyn Muir’s advice, and write the kinds of stories your younger self needed growing up.
4. If you listen to music while you write, what kind of music do you prefer to listen to? Are there any specific artists that help you write?
I love listening to Lofi Hip Hop music while I write. Lofi is so soft, comforting, and stirs up feelings of nostalgia for things I haven’t experienced yet. I know the last point is a weird way of describing it, but I don’t know how else to say it. For artists I would recommend, check out ‘In Love with a Ghost’ and ‘City Girl’. They are not Lofi Hip Hop artists, but they both capture the same feelings I detailed above. However, if you want music that’s a little more upbeat, check out SIAMÉS. My two favorite songs by them are, ‘Summer Nights’ and ‘Mr. Fear’.
About your piece, “Ice Cream Showers”,
5. Your ability to make a rainy day at an ice cream shop compelling was impressive. How did you bring to life a day that is, by your character’s admission, mundane and make it exciting?
I believe that in part, it was how I treated the setting that generates this excitement. It’s raining. The ‘OPEN’ sign is blinking out at the cars. The rain drums on the pavement. In other words, I didn’t describe a snapshot. I described several snapshots: a film. So, perhaps that’s what generates this excitement because even though my main character is in this mundane situation, the setting is anything but. Adding to this is the subsequent confrontation between Mike, the three main characters, and ‘Snotty’. So, in summary, I tried to make this piece exciting by keeping the ball rolling throughout. Perhaps it wasn’t a steep incline, but it continued forward, even as the character was mostly stuck in place.
Alexa Kartschoke, “closed” and “moments in our time”
1. What inspired you to write your piece?
When I write, I tend to get inspired by specific visual images that I find in my life. For "closed" I had the image in my head of someone biting their lip and smiling when they're nervous so I started there. For "moments in our time" I started with the image of leaving someone's car after a date and deciding if you were going to turn back. I took those images and went to form the rest of the piece around it.
2. What’s your perfect writing environment? What kind of environment did you write this piece in?
I don't really have a specific perfect writing environment just somewhere that I feel comfortable and is calm enough that I can focus. I think I wrote both of these poems at either my desk in my room or on the couch in the lobby of Rockefeller Arts Center. As long as it's a place that I feel comfortable and isn't overwhelming, I can pretty much write anywhere.
3. Who is your favorite author and why?
My favorite fiction author is Marissa Meyer. I have never read a book of hers that I didn't like, she creates well rounded characters that never fall completely on the "right" or "wrong" side of morality and so that draws me in. Also, all of her casts of characters are super diverse which is really appealing and nice to see.
4. If you listen to music while you write, what kind of music do you prefer to listen to? Are there any specific artists that help you write?
I do listen to music while I write because sometimes having complete silence can be too overwhelming to put my ideas to paper. Usually when I am writing, I listen to two specific albums. They are albums that I pretty much know by heart so they help me get into the zone. So I'm either listening to "Boy in Jeans" by Ryan Beatty or the cast album of the musical "Ordinary Days". Both of them are so familiar to me, it helps me to feel right wherever I am writing.
1. What inspired you to write your piece?
“A Choice” was created from a prompt I had in my Intermediate Fiction Writing class. I was inspired to write closer to what I know and what I know is inner conflict. In a way, the protagonist is a reflection of an interpretation of my personality. That interpretation is of the sense of duality I struggle with; the constant awareness of being human and having the ability to commit heinous acts, yet also being able to fix mistakes and commit acts of goodwill.
2. What’s your perfect writing environment? What kind of environment did you write this piece in?
My perfect writing environment is of space and maximum comfort. I like to have background noise, comfortable seating, and room to wander to gather my thoughts. Ironically, “A Choice” was written in a classroom, in a hard seat and small desk, with near-perfect silence.
3. Who is your favorite author and why?
Tough choice, but I would say Edgar Allan Poe. I always found such a sorrowful yet enticing feeling when reading his work. My favorite pieces of Poe’s would be “Annabel Lee” and “Alone”, for their romanticized sadness.
4. If you listen to music while you write, what kind of music do you prefer to listen to? Are there any specific artists that help you write?
I listen to music that generates the emotions I need to write, which changes from scene to scene. However, this typically doesn’t go by genre, but by song. I often develop playlists for the stories I write, which encompasses picking songs for characters mostly. I don’t normally gravitate for specific artists unless I know a song that fits the emotion I want to focus on.
5. Was this story originally only three paragraphs long, or did that just naturally happen?
The story’s length just happened to end up being three paragraphs long. It might be hard to believe, but “Inner Demons” was never edited or revised. I wrote it back in high school, in my first creative writing class, and have never touched it since.
6. This is a very poetic, almost lyrical piece. Did any music serve as inspiration while you were writing?
No. What inspired me was my interest in the paranormal and 19th-century asylums.
Katelyn Davis, “Vienna”
1. What inspired you to write your piece?
My piece was partially inspired by a conversation I overheard one day about the feelings of dissociation. I had written only one paragraph describing the setting when I realized how well that concept would fit in with the life I wanted to give my main character, Leysha. A few moments in the story like the part about the mustard stain are based loosely on real experiences. I like to add in real life influences to contribute to believably.
2. What’s your perfect writing environment? What kind of environment did you write this piece in?
The perfect writing environment for me is somewhere quiet and near a natural light source. I wrote this piece near the window in my dorm's common room when no one else was around to distract me. I also like writing late at night because I feel like I come up with my best ideas at night.
3. Who is your favorite author and why?
My favorite author is L. M. Montgomery. I reread Anne of Green Gables a few years ago and I was still so inspired by the way the author describes a positive and curious outlook on life. Another would be Barbara Kingfisher for her portrayal of the connection between women and nature and the idea of beauty even in the face of adversity.
4. If you listen to music while you write, what kind of music do you prefer to listen to? Are there any specific artists that help you write?
I prefer complete silence when I write. When I try to listen to music I get distracted.
5. About your piece, "Vienna".
I really had to trust that what I was writing would make sense in the context of the story. Sometimes I would have a random idea in my head and I would just write it into the story even if it seemed disconnected from the scene a little bit because I wanted to shape Leysha to be disconnected from her reality. I usually like to sit down and finish a story in only a few sittings but for this I wrote it in many shorter periods of time so I would have less time to overthink my character's actions.
Dylan Murawski, “Into the Snow”
1. What inspired you to write your piece?
I was inspired to write this after reading a collection of short stories by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, titled Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory. It was a beautiful collection, and featured several stories in the second person point of view. It really made me fall in love with the POV.
2. What’s your perfect writing environment? What kind of environment did you write this piece in?
I usually write best when I'm sitting in a room alone, headphones on, sitting at my desk with my laptop. This story was all written in my dorm in Hendrix Hall.
3. Who is your favorite author and why?
I don't think I necessarily have a favorite writer, but some of my favorite stories/collections include Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon, Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Ernest Hemingway (though I haven't read nearly enough of his work yet), etc etc etc etc.
4. If you listen to music while you write, what kind of music do you prefer to listen to? Are there any specific artists that help you write?
It depends on my mood, but for the most part, ambient music is my go-to when writing. My absolute favorite album to listen to while writing is "Somewhere in the Distance, Somewhere Toward the Mountains" by Flatsound! Some other albums include "25 All-Time Greatest Recordings" by The Chordettes, and "The Simulacra Transmission" by Shipwreck Karpathos.
5. About your piece, "Into the Snow"
I actually chose second person before I had written anything for this story. As I was very heavily inspired by Bob-Waksberg, I really wanted to test my hand, and see if I could pull the POV off. Using second person did have a major impact on the story I wanted to tell. The two pitfalls I was trying to avoid were 1.) make the story seem too gimmicky (i.e. putting too much weight on the POV, to the point where characterization begins to suffer), and 2.) make the reader uncomfortable (i.e. "I wouldn't do these things! Why is the writer calling this character me??"). So, I wanted to tell a real story, about a genuinely imperfect protagonist, while at the same time making sure the protagonist isn't too imperfect that it dismays the reader from appreciating the story. It was quite the balancing act for me! I found it very personally fulfilling, testing how far I could push those boundaries of "likability" with a character that the reader is supposed to directly identify with. It was so much fun! This story was my very first foray with the second person POV, but it certainly won't be my last :)
Robin Eassa, “Disparition” and “Symbiosis”
1. What inspired you to write your piece, "Disparition?"
The podcast "Welcome to Night Vale" really inspired the tone of this piece. I loved the podcast's embrace of the weird and surreal, and the morphing of seemingly regular situations into something supernatural. The piece started as a sort of spin-off of a certain episode/plotline revolving around sandstorms, and then turned into what it is today after four years of edits and tweaks.
2. What inspired you to write your piece, "Symbiosis?"
I wrote this piece after going through a rough patch with my best friend. I had had feelings for him for years now, and I finally told him, and he cut me off completely for a while. I wrote this piece in the midst of my isolation as I began to question why they acted the way they did. I began to see myself as the bad guy in the situation, and wrote this with vindication and shame, as well as sorrow for what could have been (they had told me they had feelings for me as well, but a long time ago, and they never acted). This piece encapsulates every negative thought I had while I was torn away from by best friend.
3. What’s your perfect writing environment? What kind of environment did you write this piece in?
I tend to do a lot of my writing on my laptop in my room. Some people prefer to write on paper, but I appreciate the efficiency I get when I type. Writing Disparition specifically, I was up late at night and listening to Disparition (the band that composed most of the background music for Welcome to Night Vale), and I got an idea based off of some of the songs that were playing, songs that were still by the band but weren't used in the podcast. I put on my earbuds, turned on a single light, and began writing. As for symbiosis, the first draft was in the notes app on my phone while I was sobbing into a pillow at midnight on a school night. The polished piece is actually very close to the raw draft, which is rare for me. But the writing wasn't planned, it was just me throwing out my feelings in any way I could.
4. Who is your favorite author and why?
I've always had an affinity for Christopher Paolini's Inheritance cycle because of the way he dealt with balancing a fantasy story about dragon riders and elves with a story about dissenting politics and revolutions within that fantasy world. The balance between the fantastical and the realistic was excellent, and everything fit neatly into the world while still managing to be complex and reminiscent of real-world issues.
5. If you listen to music while you write, what kind of music do you prefer to listen to?
Are there any specific artists that help you write? I've already told the story of Disparition's music, but I like to listen to instrumental music while I write. Soundtracks to movies and original compositions are excellent. Some of my favorites include the Journey/Flower/Flow OST, johnny_ripper on bandcamp, farren on bandcamp, and flatsound.
Casey Huber, “Weekend”
1. What inspired you to write your piece?
When I wake up at night and can't sleep, I write. Usually the product is a manifestation of the reason I couldn't sleep.
2. What’s your perfect writing environment? What kind of environment did you write this piece in?
At my computer, blasting music, writing as the words flow out of my fingers.
3. Who is your favorite author and why?
Hunter S Thompson - he is funny, witty, elegant, and intriguing.
4. If you listen to music while you write, what kind of music do you prefer to listen to? Are there any specific artists that help you write?
Synthwave - Carpenter Brut and Perturbator are the best
Jules Hoepting, “Stuned Minds, Stunted Space”
1. What inspired you to write your piece?
When I moved to Fredonia, I moved from a fairly conservative town to a liberal campus. I loved being around people with open minds, but I found that they thought they knew more than they did. The small-minded adults I knew also felt like they knew more than they thought they did. I felt a great clash between the liberal, city mindset and the conservative country mindset. I felt as though neither side understood each other nor really wanted to. With this poem, I was trying to get at that no one really understands the big picture, we all have our own perceptions of it.
2. What’s your perfect writing environment? What kind of environment did you write this piece in?
I like to be alone in a quiet environment when I write. That way I can walk around and talk to myself without anybody watching. Sometimes I get ideas while I go for walks and jot them down on my phone. This piece was for a creative writing course assignment, so I probably wrote it in the library or in a dorm.
3. Who is your favorite author and why?
Mark Twain. He's got an incredible way of capturing humans and the society they live in. He's also got great wit.
4. If you listen to music while you write, what kind of music do you prefer to listen to? Are there any specific artists that help you write?
No, I find it distracting.
Jay Darling, “Ice Cream Showers”
1. What inspired you to write your piece?
“Ice Cream Showers” is a reflective piece of my experiences working at a small ice cream business over the summer of 2019. The weather had been less than ideal over the summer, so most days, once I finished my chores, I spent my shift gazing out the windows as the rain and wind tore through the area. Only a few brave souls and the most dedicated of fans would come out for ice cream on those days. However, on good days when our customers were numerous, I met so many kinds of people. For those that kept coming back on my shifts, I would surprise them by remembering their orders! So, when I sat down to write this piece, I thought of my experiences working there and the story just came to me!
2. What’s your perfect writing environment? What kind of environment did you write this piece in?
My perfect writing environment is somewhere quiet, with little to distract me, where I can relax and engage in deep thinking. On SUNY Fredonia’s campus, I found this perfect writing environment in the Daniel A. Reed Library. I like to sit away from the computer area, get out my Chromebook and plug in my earbuds for music, and type away! It was this kind of writing environment that helped me produce “Ice Cream Showers”.
3. Who is your favorite author and why?
A while ago, I discovered the author, Tamsyn Muir, a New Zealand author who authored my favorite book to-date, Gideon the Ninth, which is the first book in her Locked Tomb trilogy. It’s a blend of fantasy, science fiction, and horror and has a leading lesbian character. I can’t recommend it enough! As an author though, I admire Tamsyn’s writing style—how she brings to life the setting and characters through vivid descriptions. I’m a huge fan of writing that accomplishes that! However, this is not what made her my favorite author. It was what she said during her interview with the Three Crows Magazine that did. It was a short, simple line, but profound for me. She said she wrote Gideon the Ninth for her seventeen-year-old self. This turned a light switch on in my head. It can be nerve-wracking to author a story and share it with the public. There’s always the concern over how people will receive it. In my past pieces, I typically worried about how people would react to my blatantly nonbinary and gender-nonconforming characters. However, upon reading what she said, my attitude changed. Of course, I’ll be receptive to constructive criticism. I love to hear what people have to say on how I can approve my pieces! But I can’t knock my stories down before they’ve even had the chance to walk. So to aspiring writers out there, take Tamsyn Muir’s advice, and write the kinds of stories your younger self needed growing up.
4. If you listen to music while you write, what kind of music do you prefer to listen to? Are there any specific artists that help you write?
I love listening to Lofi Hip Hop music while I write. Lofi is so soft, comforting, and stirs up feelings of nostalgia for things I haven’t experienced yet. I know the last point is a weird way of describing it, but I don’t know how else to say it. For artists I would recommend, check out ‘In Love with a Ghost’ and ‘City Girl’. They are not Lofi Hip Hop artists, but they both capture the same feelings I detailed above. However, if you want music that’s a little more upbeat, check out SIAMÉS. My two favorite songs by them are, ‘Summer Nights’ and ‘Mr. Fear’.
About your piece, “Ice Cream Showers”,
5. Your ability to make a rainy day at an ice cream shop compelling was impressive. How did you bring to life a day that is, by your character’s admission, mundane and make it exciting?
I believe that in part, it was how I treated the setting that generates this excitement. It’s raining. The ‘OPEN’ sign is blinking out at the cars. The rain drums on the pavement. In other words, I didn’t describe a snapshot. I described several snapshots: a film. So, perhaps that’s what generates this excitement because even though my main character is in this mundane situation, the setting is anything but. Adding to this is the subsequent confrontation between Mike, the three main characters, and ‘Snotty’. So, in summary, I tried to make this piece exciting by keeping the ball rolling throughout. Perhaps it wasn’t a steep incline, but it continued forward, even as the character was mostly stuck in place.
Alexa Kartschoke, “closed” and “moments in our time”
1. What inspired you to write your piece?
When I write, I tend to get inspired by specific visual images that I find in my life. For "closed" I had the image in my head of someone biting their lip and smiling when they're nervous so I started there. For "moments in our time" I started with the image of leaving someone's car after a date and deciding if you were going to turn back. I took those images and went to form the rest of the piece around it.
2. What’s your perfect writing environment? What kind of environment did you write this piece in?
I don't really have a specific perfect writing environment just somewhere that I feel comfortable and is calm enough that I can focus. I think I wrote both of these poems at either my desk in my room or on the couch in the lobby of Rockefeller Arts Center. As long as it's a place that I feel comfortable and isn't overwhelming, I can pretty much write anywhere.
3. Who is your favorite author and why?
My favorite fiction author is Marissa Meyer. I have never read a book of hers that I didn't like, she creates well rounded characters that never fall completely on the "right" or "wrong" side of morality and so that draws me in. Also, all of her casts of characters are super diverse which is really appealing and nice to see.
4. If you listen to music while you write, what kind of music do you prefer to listen to? Are there any specific artists that help you write?
I do listen to music while I write because sometimes having complete silence can be too overwhelming to put my ideas to paper. Usually when I am writing, I listen to two specific albums. They are albums that I pretty much know by heart so they help me get into the zone. So I'm either listening to "Boy in Jeans" by Ryan Beatty or the cast album of the musical "Ordinary Days". Both of them are so familiar to me, it helps me to feel right wherever I am writing.