Pages Penned in Pandemic with Jasmin Lankford

Perhaps in our deepest grief, we feel more connected to the way nature, too, must give itself over to the passage of time. Jasmin Lankford's poem, "Ocean and Orca," explores just this, and is now available to read in the print collective! Until then, I'm excited to chat about Jasmin's pages penned in pandemic.

What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?

Unearth [The Flowers] by Thea Matthews and Diving into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich.

Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?

I have been escaping into Disney movies, “Bob's Burgers,” “Spongebob,” and “Sister, Sister.”

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

It has been so difficult to write during the pandemic. I have pieces of poems and draft ideas, but I've been struggling to finish anything. Also, my writing is usually quite sad. So I decided not to put too much pressure on myself since this year has felt like one moment of sadness after the next.

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?

I'm excited about my debut poetry collection, "Don't Forget to Water the Flowers." It was supposed to come out in January 2021, but due to the pandemic the date was pushed. I'm so grateful to have more time with it.

Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?

The Kitchen Table Literary Arts community has helped me stay connected to writers in Florida and around the country. I'm so grateful for the sacred space they provide for Black women and women of color writers.

Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? Has this changed during the pandemic?

I'm usually a plotter. But the pandemic has shifted me into a pantser because this year has been so unpredictable.

Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?

I love writing at the beach! But for the majority of the year, it really hasn't been safe to go and spend the whole day there. During the pandemic, I created a cozy space on my patio to write and get some fresh air.

If you curated a playlist for writing life in the pandemic, what top 5 songs would be on your list?

I typically write in silence, but here are songs I listen to before or after writing:

1.) “Ungodly Hour” by Chloe x Halle Bigger

2.) “Beyoncé pov” by Ariana Grande

3.) “Good Morning” by Natalie Lauren

4.) “Closer” by Goapele

Without too many spoilers, what is your favorite scene you've written since the pandemic began?

I'm in love with a scene I wrote about Paris. I'm excited to step away from poetry for a bit and focus on creative nonfiction.

While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?

This year I am looking forward to the latest issue of L'Éphémère Review. It is my dream journal and I'm so honored to have two poems coming out soon!

ABOUT Jasmin Lankford

Jasmin Lankford’s debut poetry collection, Don’t Forget to Water the Flowers, is forthcoming from Vital Narrative Press. Her work has been published in several journals including Kissing Dynamite, Parentheses Journal, and elsewhere.

To learn more, follow Jasmin and her writing journey at her website and on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for chatting, Jasmin!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Kate Pashby

The only way to grow as a writer is by writing more. Kate Pashby discusses just this and more in today's chat about their pages penned in pandemic.

What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?

A lot of favorite local music venues and bars have folded. Most federal government offices (and the Smithsonian Museums) closed pretty abruptly, started to open back up, and then closed again. People have been flocking to parks, but for a time, police were kicking out everyone who wasn't walking a dog. Masks are technically mandated, but somehow that didn't get enforced when the Proud Boys, Oathkeepers, and other far-right groups came here to protest a few weeks ago.

What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?

Diannely Antigua's Ugly Music and Kay Ulanday Barrett's When the Chant Comes.

Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?

I've been marathoning a bizarre mix of podcasts that includes "Making Gay History," "Spooked! by Snap Judgment," and "Revolutionary Left Radio." I don't have a TV, so I listen to podcasts while cooking and cleaning (and I cook A LOT).

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

At first, all I could write about was coronavirus, which got pretty depressing, so I stopped writing. After about a month, I was able to start writing again, and recently I've been reading and writing a lot of poetry.

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?

My chapbook! I still need to submit it for publication to a few different places, but I can tell you that it's part of the story of my life: growing up closeted in a Catholic, multiracial family, recovering from trauma, and searching for spirituality.

Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?

I'm high-risk, so out of necessity, I've only been able to write in my 485-sq-ft studio apartment. In the good ol' days, I liked going to one of DC's many free museums or gardens, armed with a pen and notebook.

Without too many spoilers, what is your favorite poem you've written since the pandemic began?

It's impossible to choose, but one I really like is "I bleed dysphoria every month," which is about my experiences as a non-binary person who was assigned female at birth.

While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?

My original plan was to spend as much time kayaking during 2020 as possible, so once I get the vaccine, I'll be spending 2021 kayaking.

Is there any advice you would give to young writers during this time?

Keep writing! "Practice makes perfect" is a cliche because it contains a grain of truth. The best way to improve your writing skills is to write more.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I started off pandemic by learning how to bake cakes from scratch (sans icing) and ate cake almost every day for breakfast for months. Then I got tired of cakes and have been making rice pudding for breakfast instead. So far I've made Filipino, Thai, Iranian, Ukrainian, and Russian rice pudding, and I intend to continue my culinary journey through the rest of the world's rice pudding recipes.

ABOUT Kate Pashby

Kate Pashby (they/them) is a queer Mexican American poet from San Jose, California who resides in Washington, DC. Their work has been published or is forthcoming in Genre: Urban Arts' House, Northern Otter Press, Embryo Concepts Zine, The Confessionalist Zine, Burrow, Rogue Agent, and Rabid Oak. Kate was nominated for Best of the Net 2020.

Thanks for chatting, Kate!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Melissa Boles

Writer or not, many of us have gotten lost in our own imaginings for better. Melissa Boles' short story, "Lukewarm Cake," explores just this, and is now available to read in the print collective! Until then, I'm excited to chat about Melissa's pages penned in pandemic.

What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?

I'm in Chattanooga but just moved from the Pacific Northwest, so it's been interesting to observe the difference. Chattanooga just moved students back to two days a week in-person at school (they were going full-time in person for a while), and most restaurants and stores are open, though masks are required to enter and should only be taken off if you're eating/drinking. I live with 3 people and 3 of the 4 of us work from home, so we're home even more than normal because we don't feel comfortable in coffee shops (and most won't let you sit for very long). Our fourth person works for a cycling place that won't be opening until 2021, so her job is a little unusual right now.

What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb, Untamed by Glennon Doyle, Miss Subways by David Duchovny (definitely recommend the audiobook), The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd, Know My Name by Chanel Miller, Sammynolie and Other Stories (a great audiobook done by a group of actors), and every lit journal issue I was able to consume.

Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?

“Madam Secretary,” The entire Marvel universe (especially anything with Tony Stark), A Rising Tide (2015), You Kill Me (2007), any episode of “Real Housewives Central Park,” folklore by Taylor Swift, “Fine Line,” by Harry Styles, “Three. Two. One.” by Lennon Stella, “Gaslighter” by The Chicks, any music released by Caamp, "Kokomo" by Holiday Sidewinder, and “This talk” by Tim Daly: Producer, Director, Actor and Activist: Tim Daly - 2018 Storytellers.

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

It's been interesting because, due to losing my job and using it as an opportunity to finally try to be a writer full-time, I've definitely been writing more than ever before. It's also been hard because I sometimes feel like I don't have anything to write about stuck inside the house. And writing about love (which I love to do) can be a little tough when you're single during a pandemic.

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?

I'm working on a short story collection about love (tentatively called "Like Swinging") and am hoping to finally complete some stage plays.

If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?

Art saves people. I've believed that for a long time but rediscovered it during the pandemic and the current state of the world is really solidifying it for me. As a writer, I have the opportunity to share the stories that people can identify with and that make them feel warm inside. These past few months have also taught me the importance of sharing the writing (and art) of others. It makes me feel good to read the work of others, and I think their art can really save people.

Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?

My two friends Aly and Kate, who I've known about 14 years, have been a huge support during this time. We met online over a shared love of “Grey's Anatomy,” and we've been friends ever since. They're both writers too, so they're two of my best sounding boards. My friends Jenna and Audrey, who invited me to move to Chattanooga after I lost my job and offered me a safe place to live for a new start. Jenna is a musician and her music often inspires my writing. My friend Tara, who I lived with before I moved, and who pushed me to follow my dreams. She's a teacher and is so impressive to me. I have met a whole bunch of fellow writers on twitter through following lit journals and they are truly some of the best people I know. I would not be where I am now without them.

Is there anything that excites you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?

I'm excited to see what comes for the publishing world but I'm still learning about what the changes mean, to be honest. I hope I will continue to see more diverse writers published and that small presses are able to continue to be as amazing as they have been for so many writers.

Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? Has this changed during the pandemic?

I'd say that I'm more of a pantser than anything. I often write very quickly and without a lot of planning. This hasn't really changed during the pandemic, though I am trying to do more planning for the stage plays I am hoping to write.

Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?

I have always loved writing in coffee shops, which I can't really do right now. I'm trying to find a new favorite place to write now that I've moved.

If you curated a playlist for writing life in the pandemic, what top 5 songs would be on your list?

1.) “exile” (feat. Bon Iver) by Taylor Swift

2.) “Kokomo” by Holiday Sidewinder

3.) “Running Through The Night” by Erich Bergen

4.) “Daze Inn” (Acoustic) by Carlie Hanson

5.) “This Could Change Everything” by Francesca Battistelli

Without too many spoilers, what is your favorite scene you've written since the pandemic began?

This is one of my favorite scenes from my favorite short story I've written this year: "Later, when they’re nearing the end of Temple of Doom, he finally asks the question he’d been embarrassed to ask. 'Is his name really Indiana?' She laughs. 'No, it’s a nickname. I think his name is Henry.' There’s something about the way she says the name that is different than he’s ever heard before. 'What did you say?' She turns her head up to look at him, surprised when his voice cracks. 'I think his name is Henry?' He’d expected his body to tense when she said it a second time but it doesn’t. Instead his name, his full name, sounds like a balm coming out of her mouth. He refused to let anyone call him Henry after his grandfather died. Suddenly it’s the only thing he wants to hear her say ever again."

While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?

In May of 2021, my first chapbook, We Love in Small Moments, will be published through ELJ Editions and I can't wait for people to read it.

Is there any advice you would give to young writers during this time?

Even on the days where it seems difficult, just keep moving. Keep writing, and keep reading. Find a community, whether online or in person, who supports your writing, and be sure to support theirs. Even when you're rejected, remember that it isn't because your writing isn't good, it's just not the right fit for where you submitted it. You'll find the right space for your writing, and it will be a joyous day.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

If you have loved a writer this year, whether as a partner or friend or just someone who shares their writing, thank you.

ABOUT Melissa Boles

Melissa Boles is a writer, storyteller, and impatient optimist from the Pacific Northwest who recently relocated to Tennessee. Her writing focuses on art, mental health, love, and the human connection. Melissa has been published in The Daily Drunk, Emerge Literary Journal, Stone of Madness Press, and at Fanfare and Sexology on Medium. Her debut chapbook, We Love in Small Places, will be released via ELJ Publications in May 2021.

To learn more, follow Melissa and her writing journey at her website and on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for chatting, Melissa!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Wim Owe

n dreams, we may find alternate version of ourselves, but ultimately reality returns. Wim Owe's poem, "[untitled]," explores this dreaminess, and is now available to read in the print collective! Until then, I'm excited to chat about Wim's pages penned in pandemic.

What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?

Victoria has been somewhat protected by the Island effect, meaning we haven't had the outbreaks and lockdowns that mainland BC and the rest of Canada has been having, but it looks like the barrier is breaking down a bit, and we may be in for a rough winter.

What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?

Yukio Mishima's Spring Snow—if he can get that much out of looking at wet grass in the rain while feeling overwhelmed by sadness, there may be hope for us out here after all.

If you haven't been reading, what are some books you're most looking forward to reading?

I've been putting off reading John Elsworth's translation of Andrei Bely's Petersburg for over a decade now: during the last major global crisis, I joined the Vancouver Balalaika Orchestra to practice my Russian through music, and the whole community seemed overjoyed to have the whole novel finally ready and accessible.

Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?

“Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu”—it's an animated show about two generations of Rakugo artists, a kind of bawdy storytelling tradition in Japan, spanning most of the 20th century. It really is a testament to the power of the voice of the storyteller, a power which voice actors Kouichi Yamadera and Akira Ishida bear with great respect, as well as the sacrifices and relationships that accrue over a lifetime of dedication to an art form.

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

It's made me nearly incapable of focus, the thought dashed away seems all I have been capable of when called to work on something new.

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?

I've been editing and digitizing a mountain of notebooks that I've let accumulate over the years.

If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?

That I don't need to press onward too quickly in life or in writing, that writing should be recursive, and sometimes the greatest joy is to try to collaborate with my past self.

Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?

I've always been a bit of a quiet person, and much of what I look for in a social life is the opportunity to build a relationship with someone through listening. I'm a bit worried that more than ever this pandemic has made it so that social connections need to be made through broadcasting and marketing yourself, which makes me miss the quieter, off-brand moments of a social life. I am immensely grateful to the friends and family that have made the effort to stay connected to me in this way.

Is there anything that worries you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?

I've found the online events to accentuate my feeling of isolation, as though nothing exists any more than the public-facing side of literature anymore.

If you curated a playlist for writing life in the pandemic, what top 5 songs would be on your list?

1.) “Take Two” by Chong the Nomad & Hollis

2.) “TOKiMONSTA” by Renter's Anthem Leaf Off

3.) “The Cave” by Jose Gonzalez

4.) “Monsters” by SAULT

5.) “A l'affût d'un Complot” by Conventum

ABOUT Wim Owe

Wim was wearing masks before it was mandated. He's a WA-BC cross border baby living in Victoria and missing his Seattle friends and relatives.

To learn more, follow Wim on Tik Tok.

Thanks for chatting, Wim!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Dónal Fogarty

Writers often discover certain ideas that feel more special than others, making it more troublesome than ever to let them slip by. Dónal Fogarty's short story, "Tomorrow, James, and the Blue Cat," explores ideas in all their forms, and is now available to read in the print collective! Until then, I'm excited to chat about Dónal's pages penned in pandemic.

What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?

Finishing my Masters, teaching online, and marking student papers means that if I want to still have my eyesight when all this is over, I've had to curtail my reading for pleasure.

If you haven't been reading, what are some books you're most looking forward to reading?

Nikki Marmery's debut On Wilder Seas—a ridiculously well researched novel based on an unbelievably true, true story. And for some much need laughter, I'm looking forward to re-reading The Peculiar Memories of Thomas Penman by Bruce Robinson.

Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?

I don't really want to hear the news much now. But at the start of the pandemic, BBC Radio 4, in typical stoic British stiff upper style, played out their 'PM' news program with uplifting tunes chosen by the listeners. When they ended the show with Ry Cooder's “I think it's going to work fine,” it became an anthem in our house.

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

As working from home blurs into home life and with my five-year-old son at home all the time, it's been almost impossible to find the time to think about my writing.

If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?

I should follow my own advice (see my advice to young writers below).

Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?

I've been overwhelmed by the generosity of established writers from all genres who have put on 'pay what can' webinars on the craft of writing.

Is there anything that excites you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?

My Masters dissertation, grounded in and inspired by current events, received a distinction - so maybe those in positions of power are listening to artists and other people imagining a better post-COVID world.

Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? Has this changed during the pandemic?

I'm a recidivist pantser—I even wrote about this condition on my blog.

Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?

My kingdom for a quiet place to write!

Without too many spoilers, what is your favorite poem you've written since the pandemic began?

“Gross Encounter of the Third Kind,” a short story hiding within a poem. However, the grossness of the incident it recounts will ensure that this particular piece of tomfoolery will never find a home.

Is there any advice you would give to young writers during this time?

It doesn't matter what 'time' it is; keep writing, keep reading, repeat. Others will give up. If you hang in there, someone will find you and your work.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I was delighted to volunteer as a reader for the Wilbur Niso Smith Foundation this summer. The entries from the young writers to their Author of Tomorrow Competition were so original and pleasure to read.

ABOUT Dónal Fogarty

Dónal’s fictional and factual works span a variety of genres. He teaches academic communication at colleges on both sides of the Atlantic. His irreverent spoken word poetry on a theme of education has been performed at the University of Nottingham and Exeter College, Oxford. He has also written and edited scripts for the UK stage and radio. He is currently seeking representation.

To learn more, follow Dónal and his writing journey at his website and on Twitter.

Thanks for chatting, Dónal!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Ben Nardolilli

When the pandemic began, there were spaces in which the wild took over. Ben Nardolilli's poem, "Zoonotic," explores this wildnerness, and is now available to read in the print collective! Until then, I'm excited to chat about Ben's pages penned in pandemic.

What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?

It's heating up again in parts of it. People generally still wear masks.

What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?

Middlesex and Black Reconstruction in America.

Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?

“Schitt's Creek.”

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

I finished a novel.

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?

Finishing some short stories.

If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?

How little isolation changes being a writer for the most part.

Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?

Yes.

Is there anything that excites you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?

Not really.

Is there anything that worries you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?

I worry about an end of readings and bookstores closing.

Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? Has this changed during the pandemic?

A plotter?

Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?

My room. No.

If you curated a playlist for writing life in the pandemic, what top 5 songs would be on your list?

1.) “Little Sister” by Nico

2.) “Djohariah” by S. Stevens

3.) “Blue Condition” by Cream

4.) “Maybe this Time” from Cabaret

5.) “NY Girls” by Steeleye Span

Without too many spoilers, what is your favorite scene you've written since the pandemic began?

I wrote a play within a play for a novel I finished this summer. That was nice.

While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?

Maybe going home for Christmas.

Is there any advice you would give to young writers during this time?

Keep writing and remember writers have put words to paper in worse pandemics.

ABOUT Ben Nardolilli

Ben Nardolilli currently lives in New York City. His work has appeared in Perigee Magazine, Red Fez, Danse Macabre, The 22 Magazine, Quail Bell Magazine, Elimae, The Northampton Review, Local Train Magazine, The Minetta Review, and Yes Poetry. He blogs at mirrorsponge.blogspot.com and is trying to publish his novels.

To learn more, follow Ben and his writing journey at his website.

Thanks for chatting, Ben!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Jerica Taylor

Too many allow the small moments of the day to slip by without notice. Jerica Taylor's poem, "For the Hopeless Scroll Under the Swipe of Your Finger," reminds us to pay attention to these moments, and is now available to read in the print collective! Until then, I'm excited to chat about Jerica's pages penned in pandemic.

What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?

I live in a small town where people are conscientious with mask wearing and safety, and restaurants and schools are open again, though not everyone is comfortable about how quickly that happened. The town is almost at its normal level of activity though many people who can stay home are doing so. Neighboring towns are going up in their reported number of cases, so a return to lockdown might be in our future.

Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?

“The Untamed,” a Chinese fantasy drama with a beautiful romance and so many incredible characters.

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

I have a young kiddo, so my time has been even more sparse with distance learning and the disappearance of our usual routine and activities. I learned a lot about myself and how frequently I set my own work aside for things that I viewed as more important. When I made the decision to make my writing a priority in my own mind, I found a new sense of purpose and energy. Laundry and dishes and yoga and all of the things I thought I had to do first before I was allowed to do what I wanted shifted into deliberate choices. What did I want to do most? Sometimes it was write a poem, then do the laundry. Often it was skip exercise and read instead. The act of making the choice—being intentional about what I did with what little emotional energy I had—saved me from exhaustion day after day.

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?

I'm writing linked flash stories about a person who stress bakes in space and their alien crew mates are baffled by the whole thing.

If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?

WRITE WHAT YOU WANT! I mean it in all-caps, full voice enthusiasm. Write where inspiration takes you, no matter how weird, no matter how certain you are that you don't write that kind of thing, or you're not good at that type of writing. WRITE WHATEVER THE HECK YOU WANT.

Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?

I've met so many wonderful, supportive, incredibly talented writers on twitter who are publishing in small online journals and presses - and the people running the journals and presses!

Is there anything that excites you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?

So many small and independent journals and presses! Virtual readings! Videos of poets reading their own work and their favorite poems by other writers aloud!

Is there any advice you would give to young writers during this time?

Your words matter! They matter to you - and there's someone out there who needs them, too.

ABOUT Jerica Taylor

Jerica Taylor is a non-binary neurodivergent queer cook, birder, and chicken herder. Their work has appeared in Schuylkill Valley Journal, Postscript, Stone of Madness, and perhappened. She lives with her wife and young daughter in Western Massachusetts.

To learn more, follow Jerica and her writing journey at her website and on Twitter.

Thanks for chatting, Jerica!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Justine Gardner

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!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Paul Beckman

There is a lovely rhythm to be found in the routine of writing and editing. Paul Beckman discusses just this and more in today's chat about his pages penned in pandemic.

What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?

People mask up in stores but not so much in parks and town green.

What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?

What Are the Chances?, Going Short, Root, Branch, Tree, and Jack Reacher novels by Lee Child.

If you haven't been reading, what are some books you're most looking forward to reading?

Anything by Charles Wiliford, Raymond Chandler, Dashell Hammett.

Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?

With cable there's always something to watch that's not news.

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

Slowed it a bit.

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?

New collection of flash—just finished and proofing now.

If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?

I like being alone with my rescue dog.

Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?

Definitely.

Is there anything that excites you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?

I run a Zoom reading series and am loving that.

Is there anything that worries you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?

Going from 4 majors down to 3 is not a good idea.

Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? Has this changed during the pandemic?

Pantser all the way.

Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?

Bedroom overlooking the back yard.

If you curated a playlist for writing life in the pandemic, what top 5 songs would be on your list?

1.) Stevie Wonder

2.) Ain't Misbehaven

3.) Billy Joel

4.) Ray Charles

5.) Chopin

Without too many spoilers, what is your favorite story you've written since the pandemic began?

My new collection of attached stories featuring Mirsky.

While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?

Tomorrow.

Is there any advice you would give to young writers during this time?

Write, edit, write, read aloud, edit.

ABOUT Paul Beckman

Paul Beckman’s a Connecticut writer whose latest flash collection, Kiss Kiss (Truth Serum Press) was a finalist for the 2019/2020 Indie Book Awards. Some of his stories have appeared in Spelk, Anti-Heroin Chic, Necessary Fiction, Fictive Dream, Pank, Playboy, WINK, and The Lost Balloon. He had a story selected for the 2020 National Flash Fiction Day Anthology and was short-listed in the Strands International Flash Fiction Competition. Paul curates the monthly FBomb NY flash fiction reading series.

To learn more, follow Paul and his writing journey on Twitter and Facebook.

Thanks for chatting, Paul!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Jeana Jorgensen

Throughout the life of any artist, there may be times when it feels like our creative spark has been extinguished forever, but this is not true. Jeana Jorgensen 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?

Here in Indianapolis, many people are still going out unmasked and dining indoors. We have correspondingly high case rates. It's not pretty.

What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?

The new graphic novel The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen was amazing. I also devoured fantasy and sci-fi novels like The Cruel Prince, Gideon the Ninth, Empress of Forever, The Bear and the Nightingale, Artificial Condition, and The Starless Sea. In terms of nonfiction, I devoured Dying of Whiteness and Angry White Men.

Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?

Dark as it is, I've been enjoying Westworld these days.

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

I barely wrote for the first 3/4 of the year. I was just trying to make it through a semester where suddenly I had to learn to teach online. Then I was unemployed over the summer, and I managed to write (and publish!) a few personal essays. In the fall, some of my writing inspiration came back, and so I've been blogging more, and writing poetry, too.

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?

I might start doing some freelance writing and consulting work, so I'm excited to investigate those opportunities!

If you haven't been able to write, are there any projects you're hoping to work on next?

When I haven't been writing, I've been baking with my sourdough starter (I like to think I was doing it before it was cool) and trying to learn new dance styles online. I'm also a professional dancer, and while there haven't been as many performance opportunities, I've managed to do a few virtual shows with my troupe and as a soloist, which has been a neat change of pace.

If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?

I've learned not to despair when it feels like the spark is gone and may never return.

Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?

Yes! I have writer friends on Twitter and Facebook, and we sometimes look over each other's work and send messages of inspiration. Feeling like I'm part of a community (a sorta weirdly knit grouping of fairy-tale scholars, fantasy writers, and other academics and misfits) have been hugely helpful.

Is there anything that excites you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?

I'm still finding my way into publishing, but I think it's amazing that we can connect online now more than ever; I've been able to attend some Zoom webinars with folks I might not have been able to hear speak otherwise.

Is there anything that worries you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?

Again, I'm new to a lot of this, though I've been publishing my academic work for years. I guess I worry that as more of us are working from home, the culture of capitalist overwork will continue to creep in and drain us all.

Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? Has this changed during the pandemic?

In fiction I'm a plotter, which is why I haven't written much of it lately (I get stuck too easily in the overzealous attempt to plot EVERYTHING out in advance). In poetry I'm definitely a pantser.

Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?

I'll write anywhere! I miss writing in cafes, so while at home it's either at the dining room table or on the couch...either way, I can make a cup of tea while I write, which is nice.

Without too many spoilers, what is your favorite poem you've written since the pandemic began?

I love how, in one poem retelling a fairy tale, I have the image of birds transforming back into humans: "reverse origami."

ABOUT Jeana Jorgensen

Jeana Jorgensen has a PhD in folklore from Indiana University. She researches gender and sexuality in fairy tales and fairy-tale retellings, folk narrative more generally, body art, dance, sex education, and feminist/queer theory. While most of her time goes to teaching college courses and publishing research on the above, she has recently returned to writing fiction and poetry. Her poetry has appeared at Strange Horizons, Liminality, Stone Telling, Enchanted Conversation, and Mirror Dance among other venues. She blogs at Patheos and is constantly on Twitter.

To learn more, follow Jeana and her writing journey at her website and on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for chatting, Jeana!

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