Ask the Author with Jackson DiCarlo
TT: How long have you been writing? What interested you about it?
JD: I've been writing since I started school. I remember clearly my first piece was a classic called "The Alphabet." Since then, I've expanded into using multiple letters at a time, sometimes even multiple words at a time. I found myself really enjoying it around late elementary school/early middle school. I came up with epic tales of heroes that just so happen to act and look a lot like me. At some point along the way, I developed my signature sarcastic tone and it's permeated by writing since, much to my many teachers' disdain. Whatever I write is sure to be saturated with silly wordplay, a lot of alliteration, and an excess of expression. It certainly isn't what most would call "artistic," but it's absolutely got personality. Thankfully, I've been told that's what matters most.
TT: What inspired you to write this piece(s)?
JD: I wrote both of these works for my Intro to Creative Writing class during a unit on poetry. "Writer's Block" is something I'd dare to call clever, as an interpretation of a familiar feeling to most writers. It was quite a meta commentary on the class, actually. I recall sitting at my desk for a time trying to think of something to write before I realized I had the perfect topic already. I think it gets the point across pretty well, especially without overstaying it's welcome, as I'm told I do on a frequent basis in and out of writing.
"Good Morning" is a bit of a departure from my usual tone, but it still keeps a bit of the cynicism that I deeply enjoy. It's also different stylistically, playing with the pacing of the piece through punctuation and placement. It was an experiment that I'd say was successful. I think it sets the stage quite well for several students who have suffered in a similar situation. It's quite nihilistic and defeating, which is usually what I avoid in my writing, but I think it works as a short but semisweet story of the morning.
TT: Is this similar or different to other things you’ve written? How so?
JD: Believe it or not, I don't write poetry. Not in my free time, anyway. I actually prefer to write short stories and scripts, none of which were actually good enough to be included, but I write them nonetheless. Regardless of the work, I make sure to put a lot of myself into it. Clearly it works quite well in a poetic setting. Perhaps I'll have to write some more. Or maybe my next script will be in Iambic Pentameter. If I can find the time, I'm sure I can make it rhyme. I guess I'm a poet and I wasn't even aware of that fact.
TT: Who is your favorite author or writer? What do you like about their work?
JD: When I was very young, I really liked the absurdity and playfulness of Dr. Seuss. It was ridiculous! A cat? Wearing a hat? Only people do that! Ham isn't green! You can't jump on your dad! When I did, he dislocated his hip, I don't recommend it. When I grew up more, I appreciated Shel Silverstein's poems for their humor and wit, something I think he took inspiration from after reading my works. And the last author of my youth I can recall fondly is Rick Riordan for his Percy Jackson series. I was quite flattered that he named the titular character after me, however I got about 13 pages into Sea of Monsters before I fell out of the series. Currently, I'd say my favorite author is whoever agreed to feature my work in this magazine, because I'm almost 100% sure the Trident is full of writers and it'd help my chances of getting this interview published.
TT: How long have you been writing? What interested you about it?
JD: I've been writing since I started school. I remember clearly my first piece was a classic called "The Alphabet." Since then, I've expanded into using multiple letters at a time, sometimes even multiple words at a time. I found myself really enjoying it around late elementary school/early middle school. I came up with epic tales of heroes that just so happen to act and look a lot like me. At some point along the way, I developed my signature sarcastic tone and it's permeated by writing since, much to my many teachers' disdain. Whatever I write is sure to be saturated with silly wordplay, a lot of alliteration, and an excess of expression. It certainly isn't what most would call "artistic," but it's absolutely got personality. Thankfully, I've been told that's what matters most.
TT: What inspired you to write this piece(s)?
JD: I wrote both of these works for my Intro to Creative Writing class during a unit on poetry. "Writer's Block" is something I'd dare to call clever, as an interpretation of a familiar feeling to most writers. It was quite a meta commentary on the class, actually. I recall sitting at my desk for a time trying to think of something to write before I realized I had the perfect topic already. I think it gets the point across pretty well, especially without overstaying it's welcome, as I'm told I do on a frequent basis in and out of writing.
"Good Morning" is a bit of a departure from my usual tone, but it still keeps a bit of the cynicism that I deeply enjoy. It's also different stylistically, playing with the pacing of the piece through punctuation and placement. It was an experiment that I'd say was successful. I think it sets the stage quite well for several students who have suffered in a similar situation. It's quite nihilistic and defeating, which is usually what I avoid in my writing, but I think it works as a short but semisweet story of the morning.
TT: Is this similar or different to other things you’ve written? How so?
JD: Believe it or not, I don't write poetry. Not in my free time, anyway. I actually prefer to write short stories and scripts, none of which were actually good enough to be included, but I write them nonetheless. Regardless of the work, I make sure to put a lot of myself into it. Clearly it works quite well in a poetic setting. Perhaps I'll have to write some more. Or maybe my next script will be in Iambic Pentameter. If I can find the time, I'm sure I can make it rhyme. I guess I'm a poet and I wasn't even aware of that fact.
TT: Who is your favorite author or writer? What do you like about their work?
JD: When I was very young, I really liked the absurdity and playfulness of Dr. Seuss. It was ridiculous! A cat? Wearing a hat? Only people do that! Ham isn't green! You can't jump on your dad! When I did, he dislocated his hip, I don't recommend it. When I grew up more, I appreciated Shel Silverstein's poems for their humor and wit, something I think he took inspiration from after reading my works. And the last author of my youth I can recall fondly is Rick Riordan for his Percy Jackson series. I was quite flattered that he named the titular character after me, however I got about 13 pages into Sea of Monsters before I fell out of the series. Currently, I'd say my favorite author is whoever agreed to feature my work in this magazine, because I'm almost 100% sure the Trident is full of writers and it'd help my chances of getting this interview published.