As writers, we never know when inspiration will strike. Justine Gardner discusses just this and more in today's chat about her pages penned in pandemic.
What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?
It's New York City, so getting scary (again). Keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.
What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?
The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel was a definite highlight.
Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?
“Lovecraft Country,” “The Mandalorian,” and “The Great British Bake-Off.”
How has the pandemic affected your writing?
During the first shutdown, with the kid home from daycare it was impossible to write anything at first. But inspiration was as vibrant, if not more so, than ever.
If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?
I really recommend a door your can close. And lock.
Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?
Kitchen table. It's the only place in the apartment to write, so it is what I make do with at 5:30 a.m. before the rest of the household wakes up.
Without too many spoilers, what is your favorite poem you've written since the pandemic began?
I started a series of epistolary poems set in a kind of Downton Abbey world where the matron doesn't realize that the life she knows is ending due to catastrophic climate change. I love thinking about her world and how she is perceiving the collapse around her as an annoyance.
While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?
Inauguration day.
ABOUT Justine Gardner
Justine Gardner is a former dog trainer, a past pizzeria proprietor, and a current freelance copy editor and writer. She was born, reared, and still resides in Brooklyn, New York.
To learn more, follow Justine and her writing journey at her website and on Twitter.
Thanks for chatting, Justine!
