Becoming a Writer: An Interview
Did you always want to become a writer?
From age 10 or 11 I knew I wanted to spend my life writing. But I don't think I
knew that real people could be "writers" until much later.
How did your first writing get into print?
In my senior year in college, I won the Mademoiselle college poetry
contest. This was my first official publication, though my poems had appeared in
various elementary and high school literary magazines.
Did you encounter much rejection?
I did encounter rejection, I do encounter rejection, and I'm sure I will
continue to encounter rejection.
Did you learn anything about dealing with it?
Patience.
Did you take writing classes?
No actual writing classes. But I took one class in Prosody at Harvard as an
undergraduate. And I worked one on one on poems with J.V. Cunningham in graduate
school at Brandeis.
Does writing come easily to you? Do you revise much?
Not usually. Occasionally after working hard on one poem, there will be a
residue of energy floating around in my head, and another poem will just come to
me. But in general, it is very hard, though often exhilarating, work. Yes.
Compulsively.
Are there any books about writing you would recommend?
Hilma Wolitzer has a wonderful book—though it is written for fiction writers,
it is also very useful for poets. It is called: The Company Of Writers.
What's the most useful piece of advice about writing anyone ever gave you?
When the world of money, fame, and literary politics manages to get to me, I
remember what Tennessee Williams wrote: "The only honor you can confer upon a
writer is a good morning's work."
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