Reminders of loss are strange, in that they often arrive without prompting or precision for the actual missing. Hardarshan Singh Valia's poem, "Empty Glass," explores this, and will be available to read January 2021 in the print collective! Until then, I'm excited to chat about Hardarshan's pages penned in pandemic.
What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?
Positive cases are rising.
What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?
Timefulness by Marcia Bjornerud, The Poetry of Pablo Neruda Edited by Ilan Stavans, The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw, Salt by Nayyirah Waheed, The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer.
Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?
“On Being Podcast” by Krista Tipett, “The Moth Radio Hour,” and nature documentaries.
How has the pandemic affected your writing?
Dramatically improved as I was able to take two short course related to Creative Poetry Writing and Writing a Picture Book.
Are there any projects you are excited to keep working on? If so, can you give us any details (no spoilers please!) about your project?
Just finished a picture book entitled A Gift from The Past: A Book About Early Life On Earth. It is a 520-word picture book story for children age 3-6, about a young boy’s love for exploring the mysteries that can be found in layers of ancient rock.
If you haven't been able to write, are there any projects you're hoping to work on next?
To complete two more uncompleted picture books.
If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?
Figuring out New Normal and documenting its impact on human behavior.
Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?
Many fellow writers and poets from: Poetry Tribe, Write on Hoosiers, Magic Hour Writers Group, Poetry Society of Indiana, and SCBWI.
Is there anything that excites you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?
More attention to work highlighting that we all are in together.
Is there anything that worries you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?
Attention being paid on work related to superficial values that do not address the urgent need of the hour.
Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? Has this changed during the pandemic?
I plot stories, poems, essays and the lockdown has helped me to be more productive in my writing projects.
Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?
Home; which has not changed.
If you curated a playlist for writing life in the pandemic, what top 5 songs would be on your list?
My playlist is mostly in Hindi, hence, hard to pen it here.
Without too many spoilers, what is your favorite poem(s) you've written since the pandemic began?
Answers related to two of my published poems: a.) A letter to a child when he grows up narrating scenes from the pandemic era in “Growing up in COVID-19 Times” and b.) How after watching a virtual funeral, life is sprouting outside the window on the sidewalks in “Virtual Funeral in COVID-19 World.”
While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?
Events in life moves as a sine wave so normalcy will take its destined place.
Is there any advice you would give to young writers during this time?
Listen to the 'pulse of all' as we all are in it together.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Stay positive!
ABOUT Hardarshan Singh Valia
Hardarshan Singh Valia is an Earth Scientist. Besides contributing mostly to scientific journals, he has published poems, stories, and essays in journals such as Wards Literary Journal, Northwest Indiana Literary Journal, Poetic Medicine, River babble, Who Writes Short Shorts, Dove Tales – Writing for Peace- an anthology, Dreamscapes – an anthology, Caesura, Sage-ing, Literary Veganism, COVID tales journal, Huffington Post, Northwest Indiana Times, and in books such as Diamonds-75 Years of Indiana Poetry, Hoosier Horizon, A Magic Hour Family Christmas, and Undeniably Indiana (Indiana University Press).
To learn more, follow Hardarshan and his writing journey on Twitter.
Thanks for chatting, Hardarshan!
