Pages Penned in Pandemic with Meagan Johanson

Too often, we don't understand the importance of a season or a second until we look back. Meagan Johanson's story, "Migration," explores this notion of recollection, and will be available to read January 2021 in the print collective! Until then, I'm excited to chat about Meagan’s pages penned in pandemic.

What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?

It looks like 9 out of 10 people wearing masks, even on the streets. It looks like a world spinning madly on, but with fewer hugs and careful distances between bodies and business. It looks like Zoom screens and digital conferences and deferred holiday gatherings. However, I will say, I've never appreciated fresh air, nor the hands I do get to hold, more than now.

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

Weather by Jenny Offill, Steering the Craft by Ursula K. Le Guin, Luster by Raven Leilani, and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn.

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

Plenty; thank goodness for the digital age. I'm a podcast junkie. A few of my favorites: “The Daily,” “The Moth,” “Sincerely,” “X,” “Ologies,” “Terrible,” “Thanks For Asking,” and “Everything is Alive.” I could go on and on (and on again). I also discovered a podcast this year of just a single cat named Bilbo, purring into the microphone. It's called “Bilbcast,” and I highly recommend for your meditative moments. My family and I also watched all of the Marvel movies, in storyline order. I'd only seen Ironman before COVID. I do love a good--or even fair to middling--blockbuster, as well as anything that includes Chris Hemsworth.

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

Honestly, it has honed it. Of course, every day is a new day--with new disasters, new presidents. But in general, the pandemic has forced me to choose what I want to focus my precious hours on, and I choose to make writing an important part of my life. I have carved out my own private space in the nook at the top of the stairs, and hold private headspace inside my noise-cancelling headphones. I also have a salt light I turn on when I know I'm heading into that focus; this is the silent signal to my kids to please give me my writing time and space, unless an emergency arises.

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

The pandemic has taught me that even writers--often solitary creatures, writing alone in stolen hours of the day--need community--for inspiration, for critique, for friendship, for growth. It has shown me that virtual doesn't have to mean alone.

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

I am a pantser who likes to try plotting sometimes. This usually consists of my premise and an atmosphere, and somehow the storyline winds itself up inside it, like magic, but messier. The mess is just beneath the stage.

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

In my office, and yes, it has changed. With both of my children at home for school, I've had fewer free hours to leave home to write. My little desk at home has served as a fine backup writing spot. Honestly, I could write in a hurricane with the right headphones on.

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

1.) “Pressure” by Youngblood Hawke

2.) “Move” by Saint Motel

3.) “Times Like These” by Foo Fighters

4.) “Running Down A Dream” by Tom Petty

5.) “Illuminate” by Emma Louise

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

I'm looking forward to tomorrow. And going to sleep in my own bed tonight.

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

Write your own magic, and no one else's.

ABOUT meagan johanson

Meagan Johanson writes from her lair in Oregon. She has been published in Berkeley Fiction Review, Emerge Literary Journal, Lunate Fiction, and elsewhere. She loves music, books, new obsessions, and anything with butter on it.

To learn more, follow Meagan and her writing journey on Twitter.

Thanks for chatting, Meagan!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Louis Faber

As humanity struggles to makes sense of the last year, there are some things, which persist regardless of our place here: nature, science, history, etc. Louis Faber's poems, "In Chorus" and "A Hasty Burial," explore these ideas, and will be available to read January 2021 in the print collective! Until then, I'm excited to chat about Louis' pages penned in pandemic.

What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?

My city is two cities, now. Some are heeding CDC advice, minimizing interactions and following protocols, others are doing none of that, often defiantly.

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

Difficult Lives by Italo Calvino, Whale Songs Billy Collins, Hard Boiled and Hard Luck by Banana Yoshimoto.

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

“The West Wing,” “Schitt's Creek,” “High Fidelity” both the series and movie.

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

It has given it a great focus by compulsory availability of time.

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?

Finding a home for my novel or at least an agent to do that work for me.

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

Writing is, by nature, a solitary act and we too often complain that we cannot find solitude. But when it is enforced (or self-enforced) it can be burdensome, despite what it offers.

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

The blogging community, and my wife (a fellow poet), and our new cat who believes her lot in lives is to endless entertain us.

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

More time is more time to read and a demand for on-line publications. My publishing has shifted heavily to on-line publications, and they have a great immediacy.

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

It once was on trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic flights, now it is in the confines of my office (our guest room), with my Muji fine line pen in hand.

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

1.) “Poetry Man” by Phoebe Snow

2.) “Suzanne” by Leonard Cohen

3.) “The Sounds of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel

4.) “My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors” by Moxy Fruvous

5.) “Afternoons and Coffeespoons” by Crash Test Dummies

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

The last one.

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

Playing "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Pat Benetar to my doctor holding a COVID vaccine syringe.

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

Never stop.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

My wealth, but alas it is spent on food and lodging.

ABOUT Louis Faber

Louis Faber’s work has previously appeared in Atlanta Review, The Poet (UK), Dreich (Scotland), The Alchemy Spoon (UK), Arena Magazine (Australia), Exquisite Corpse, Rattle, Eureka Literary Magazine, Borderlands: the Texas Poetry Review, Midnight Mind, Pearl, Midstream, European Judaism, Greens Magazine, Afterthoughts, The South Carolina Review and Worcester Review, among many others, and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. A novel remains, forlornly, looking for a home.

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

Thanks for chatting, Louis!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Hardarshan Singh Valia

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!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Carolyn Linck

Often the words we want to commit to the page are not the same as the words we need. Perhaps the tumult of 2020 brought this more clearly into focus, as each of us found our own ways to make it through. Carolyn Linck discusses just this and more in today's chat about her pages penned penned in pandemic.

What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?

There has been a surge in recent weeks and they've rolled back certain privileges we had earlier this year (namely, in-door dining at reduced capacity). We've had a state-wide mask mandate since May that in my city people are very respectful of. I'm hoping the small businesses - especially restaurants are able to survive the long winter.

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

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, In Five Years by Rebecca Serle, House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal, and Just Kids by Patti Smith.

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

Looking forward to reading The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett and If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha.

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

I love the podcast "My Favorite Murder," - though true crime is hardly relaxing, the hosts feel like my friends and I've been listening for years.

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

Prior to the start of the pandemic, I had gotten into a really good groove of going to a cafe to write 1-2 a week. I've struggled to find a routine that works as well for me as that did.

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 draft of a novel and currently have a little over 52,000 words. The novel is about a classic perfectionist / overachiever who's about to graduate high school. She is extremely stressed about where she'll get into school and where she should ultimately decide to go. When she not only gets accepted but also receives generous scholarships to all four universities she’s applied to, her anxiety rises yet again as she tries to decide which path is the best one to take. Readers get a glimpse of the college experience she would have at each school – from the pre-law track at the University of Chicago, to the sorority house at University of Southern California, to a whirlwind romance at the College of Charleston, or staying close to family and attending her hometown university at Arizona State. Fast forward again and the protagonist is about to turn 30. Similar to Sliding Doors, readers will now see how her life has unfolded in each of these parallel universes based on the college she decided to attend at 17.

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

I've seen a few writing prompts from author Rebecca Makkai on Twitter that I'd like to explore for 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?

Write what you NEED to write. The words that circle in your head when you can't sleep. While I wanted to work on my novel more this year, I've written several short stories and poems because those were the words swirling in my brain and keeping me up at night. The novel will come in it's time too, but sometimes having the words come easy reminds me that I CAN do this.

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

I am in a class at StoryStudio in Chicago. It started pre-pandemic but we have since continued meeting via Zoom. My classmates and teacher, author Abby Geni, have been extremely helpful.

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

Somewhere in between. I've always had a rough outline for my novel, but much what happens in between key plot points, I'm figuring out as I go.

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

There is a cafe in Chicago called Fabcakes that I adored writing at.

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

I don't listen to music while I write.

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

Meeting my nephew, who was born in April in Sweden, some day.

ABOUT Carolyn Linck

Carolyn Linck is an aspiring fiction writer, currently working on her first novel in her spare time. Her fiction has appeared in Adelaide Magazine. By day, she works in corporate communications for technology companies where she does everything from ghostwriting executive op-eds to drafting press releases, product descriptions, and blog posts. She currently lives in Chicago with her dog, Bailey.

To learn more, follow Carolyn and her writing journey on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for chatting, Carolyn!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Kersten Christianson

Navigating self-isolation has meant reconnecting with the world, whatever that may mean to each of us. Kersten Christianson discusses just this and more in today's chat about her pages penned penned in pandemic.

What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?

It is relatively contained. Because I teach, I watch the numbers through our school district website. We've swung widely from 11 - near shutdown, to our current number of 4. Even in small, rural, island communities such as this, there are those who don't feel the need to mask. But many seem to adhere to protective guidelines. This is encouraging.

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

Rewilding: Poems for the Environment by Ed. Crystal S. Gibbins and The Searcher by Tana French.

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

Any and all Scandia Noir searched through Netflix, Acorn, and MHZ. Their storylines add a spin to my perspective of the world.

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

I've reconnected with my writing group and this, in turn, has yielded peace of mind and focus to write and share.

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 residency through Storyknife in Homer, Alaska, has been postponed to July 2021. I am so hopeful that we'll have turned a corner with the virus by then.

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

No matter the circumstances, writing practice offers a way through the challenges of social isolation and the stress of living with the pandemic.

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

Yes - Howie Martindale, Vivian Faith Prescott, Larry Wright, Tom Bacon, Kristina Cranston. I'm so thankful for them - they inspire me daily.

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

Kudos to those literary journals who flex within the constraints of the times and still maintain publication opportunities and vision.

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

Somewhat. I worry that some publishing opportunities will close their doors, but ultimately, others will rebound. It's a precarious scene.

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

Definitely a plotter. I have so many dreams, ambitions, and am so confined by setting and circumstance in this moment. I look forward to a bend in the road.

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

I still love to write at my desk with a view of the Pacific Ocean.

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

1.) "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" by Bob Dylan

2.) "Restless" by James McMurtry

3.) "I Need Never Get Old" by Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats

4.) “Box of Rain” by Grateful Dead

5.) "The Beast Called Love" by Holly Arrowsmith

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

A poem titled "Troubadour." Steve Miller, pompitous of love, and summer social bar scenes that I've missed sorely this year.

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

Vaccination, losing the mask, getting Trump out of office, a new normal, a hopeful normal, and kindness.

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

Write daily, even if it's for 10 minutes.

ABOUT Kersten Christianson

Kersten Christianson is a raven-watching, moon-gazing, high school English-teaching Alaskan. She serves as poetry editor of the quarterly journal Alaska Women Speak. Her latest collection of poetry is Curating the House of Nostalgia (Sheila-Na-Gig Editions, 2020). Kersten holds an MFA from the University of Alaska.

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

Thanks for chatting, Kersten!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Marianne Brems

Perhaps the insular way in which many experienced 2020 allowed a heightened sense of fear for the way the outside world forced its way inside without permission. Whether this was through the news or summer pests or the niggling feeling of uncertainty, each of us experienced our own version of this invasion. Marianne Brems' poem, "Uninvited," explores these ideas, and will be available to read January 2021 in the print collective! Until then, I'm excited to chat about Marianne's pages penned in pandemic.

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

The Overstory and Sing For Your Life.

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

Podcasts from the Upaya Zen Center.

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 am working on finding a publisher for my second chapbook.

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

During times of difficulty, I prefer not to write about that difficulty most of the time.

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

My partner, the four people in my poetry workshop Zoom group.

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

It seems like everything including publishing is becoming more insecure and funding is tighter.

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

A plotter. It hasn't changed too much during the pandemic but at times it has been difficult to concentrate.

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

My desk, but that hasn't changed.

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

“A Promise Broken.”

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

The publication of my first chapbook in November.

ABOUT marianne brems

Marianne Brems is a long-time writer of trade books, textbooks, and poetry. She has an MA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. Finishing Line Press will release her chapbook Sliver of Change in 2020. Her poems have appeared in literary journals including The Pangolin Review, La Scrittrice, The Sunlight Press, Armarolla, Foliate Oak, and The Tiny Seed Literary Journal. She lives in Northern California.

To learn more, follow Marianne and her writing journey at her website.

Thanks for chatting, Marianne!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Lindsey Heatherly

Too often, the world forces us to exist in an all or nothing state of mind. But taking the time for stillness, stargazing, etc. are all integral to a life worth living. Lindsey Heatherly's poem, "roots of our marrow," explores this, and will be available to read January 2021 in the print collective! Until then, I'm excited to chat about Lindsey's pages penned in pandemic.

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

Songbirds & Stray Dogs by Meagan Lucas was my absolute favorite. I've read Ways We Vanish by Todd Dillard, Gravity by Lynne Schmidt, Straight Down the Road by Dan Crawley, and I have a pretty decent stack of more books lined against my bedroom wall that I hope to get to soon!

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

I have thoroughly enjoyed “The Great British Baking Show.” “The Office” always helps me tune the world out. My daughter and I also watch “The 100.”

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

Strangely, it has not hindered my progress. I continue to write when I can: after work, after my daughter is in bed, in voice memos on the car ride to work, and phrases typed into the Notes app of my phone. If anything else, it has reminded me how fleeting life is. How we must make today count. Of course I have moments where the words come to a halt. It is then that I refocus, redirect, and rest. I think we need moments of feast and famine when it comes to our writing. I believe those still, reflective moments are what give us the stamina to continue over time.

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 have a few goals up my sleeve! Of course, like everyone else out there, I'd love to create a chapbook or a full-length book of poetry. I also write non-fiction and flash, so I'm open to any sort of creation down the road. No matter what I do, I want it to be in good time. No rushing for me. I will be ready when I'm ready.

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

These months have taught me that being a writer does not only include "writing." I think there are deeper complexities, deeper emotions involved within a person who is a writer. When I first began, yes, all I could think about were the words. But what I've found is that my mindset has shifted from "what things should I write about?" to "here is my heart - this is who I am." There is great intimacy within that vulnerability. I think there is great liberation within blasting those walls of expectation down.

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

Yes! I have met so many wonderful, encouraging people on Twitter. It has been my lifeline, for sure. I have made some great friendships with many people. I would feel terrible leaving anyone out, so they all know who they are!

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

I love the idea that some literary magazines have been promoting expedited and sometimes limited submission times. I love how it happens in real time. You'll see a call on Twitter that subs are open, and you've got an hour or two, and there it is! I think it brings hope to a process that usually takes many months to come to completion.

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

I most definitely fly by the seat of my pants! I write when I can and submit work when I can. I have many contrasting working parts within my writing, and sometimes I wonder if they will ever connect. I hope they will. I keep waiting for the "idea" to come, the thing I'm meant to create. Until then, I will work on one piece at a time.

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

I usually write sitting on my bed. It's easy and comfy. The kitchen table is too hard. Give me comfort any day!

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

Try not to worry about where you fit in the literary community. Write what you want to write. Read even more than you write. Be yourself completely. If you're authentic, editors will notice.

ABOUT Lindsey Heatherly

Lindsey is a writer born and raised in Upstate South Carolina. She has words in or forthcoming with Pithead Chapel, X-R-A-Y, Emrys Journal, Schuylkill Valley Journal, and more. She spends her time at home raising a strong, confident daughter.

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

Thanks for chatting, Lindsey!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Taylor Napolsky

Time continues to move forward leaving behind empty spaces where normalcy used to reside. Taylor Napolsky discusses just this and more in today's chat about their pages penned penned in pandemic.

What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?

LOL. Most stuff shut down in Seattle. My job at the museum is probably gone for good unfortunately. Bookstores are empty. You have to wear hoods to keep masks from getting wet in the rain.

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

A Naked Singularity by Sergio De La Pava, Orlando by Sandra Simonds, and Labyrinths by Borges.

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

I have been reading!

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

The Carmen Sandiego cartoon on Netflix, "Betty" on HBO, and the Daniel Craig James Bond movies.

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

It's given me a ton of time actually, so that's been nice.

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?

Working on long projects I can't go into detail about.

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

It's taught me nothing about being a writer, really. Actually it's taught me that for some reason journals aren't into work about the pandemic.

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

Eh, I barely hang out with or see anyone. Just getting on a Zoom call feels like a party to me because I do it so infrequently.

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?

Bookstores are fucked for one thing, and I'm not sure how that'll affect smaller authors but it seems bad. Small presses are selling fewer books I'm pretty sure, though not certain.

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

Between. It's stayed the same.

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

Favorite place to write is in my room so that hasn't changed. As for my favorite place to read (coffee shops and places like that), that's a wash.

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

Anything on Ty Dolla $ign's new album, just because it brings me joy.

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

I hate talking about my writing to be honest.

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

Chilling at home like usual I guess; but after that I'll have to get some terrible job and it'll be awful.

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

Find a clique and hope they accept you, because that's the only thing that matters.

ABOUT Taylor Napolsky

Taylor Napolsky has a novel coming in '22 with Unsolicited Press. Their fiction has appeared in Slippage Lit, Anti-Heroin Chic, and other journals.

To learn more, follow Taylor and their writing journey at their website and on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Thanks for chatting, Taylor!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Jeff Burt

The sense of loss may be one of the most profound feelings residing with us despite the shift from 2020 into a new year. Jeff Burt's poem, "The Deliberate Speed of Chaos," explores grief and loss, and will be available to read January 2021 in the print collective! Until then, I'm excited to chat about Jeff's pages penned in pandemic.

What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?

Controlled, people accepting of masks.

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

The Murmur of Bees by Segovia.

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

Bucolia by Crew.

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

“Betchley Circle” on PBS.

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

More internal, from mood to understanding.

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

The importance of the continuing battle against ignorance and equal access.

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

E.E. Cummings.

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

That better stories no matter by whom get published and marketed.

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

The continued shuttering of small and local bookstores.

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

More a plodder.

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

Early morning love seat. Has not changed.

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

Brahms’ “Piano Quuintett Opus 25” and Brahms’ “Symphonies 1-4.”

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

Concerns my dog finding time to stay in her kennel while I am home as if practicing the life we hope is ahead when I will not work at home any more, and maybe what I should be practicing as well.

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

Seeing family easily, a memorial for my father who passed away a few months into the pandemic.

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

Don't let anger become the dominant theme of your work or your life.

ABOUT jeff burt

Jeff Burt lives in the Central Coast of California. He works in mental health, and has contributed to Tar River Poetry, Williwaw Journal, Willows Wept, and Heartwood.

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

Thanks for chatting, Jeff!

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Pages Penned in Pandemic with Samantha Terrell

Finding moments of joy might be difficult, but whether it's enjoying time with friends and family or escaping into creative projects, such time is necessary. Samantha Terrell discusses just this and more in today's chat about her pages penned penned in pandemic.

What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?

We are in a "yellow zone" and numbers are climbing.

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

A Tale of Two Cities (finally!) by Dickens, and Back to Blood by Tom Wolfe.

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

I am reading, but always looking forward to more of it! I can't wait to read a book I've been hearing about for awhile, called "Lincoln in the Bardo" by George Saunders.

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

"Turn" (a historical fiction series by AMC on Netflix). I was sad when it was over!

How has the pandemic affected your writing?

I seem to have more time and, strangely, more structure around writing time.

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?

Yes, I have a few "WIPs" right now. My book Vision, and Other Things We Hide From is forthcoming from Potter's Grove Press. It has been a joy to usher this through the publishing process with Editor, River Dixon. In addition, I'm compiling a new (book-length) manuscript, as well as putting the final touches on a short, ekphrastic-style pamphlet I'm planning on posting via my website.

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

Taking advantage of online platforms and connecting with other writers is always worth the time.

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

Paul Brookes of The Wombwell Rainbow has been an amazing resource and encouragement in recent months. I always enjoy seeing his posts on Twitter.

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

Possibly one called "The Language of Trees" which was posted to The Wombwell Rainbow, and is included in my forthcoming collection.

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

Always my children. I look forward to everything about them, every day.

ABOUT Samantha Terrell

Samantha L. Terrell is an American poet. Educated in Sociology, her work emphasizes social justice and emotional integrity. Her poetry has been included in a variety of fine publications. Samantha's collection Vision, and Other Things We Hide From is forthcoming from Potter's Grove Press.

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

Thanks for chatting, Samantha!

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