- What do you love the most about writing in your discipline (poetry, fiction, etc)?
I frequently joke that writing poetry is easy and doesn’t take much time. You can scribble some lines down on a napkin at a bar, call it a poem, and be done. However, the reality of it is quite different for me.
- Who are you reading right now? Any shout outs or recommendations?
I’m close to finishing up Lester Bangs’ Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung, which I am really enjoying for Bangs’ meandering and smart reviews. I’ve also been reading the collection Nice to See You: Homage to Ted Berrigan. Edited by Anne Waldman, this collection gathers together work by some of my favorite writers. As far as recommendations go, I highly recommend Layli Long Soldier’s Whereas, which was a standout for me this past year. It is a very powerful collection and recently won the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award. At one point—specifically when I finished reading the poem “38”—I was so moved/shaken by the power of the work that I had to sit the book down and walk away from it for the rest of the day.
- Do you ever write from personal experience (memoirists, duh, stupid question), and if so, where do you draw the line when writing about your life?
I frequently write from personal experience and haven’t encountered a line yet.
- Kurt Vonnegut once said ‘When I write, I feel like an armless, legless man with a crayon in his mouth.’ How does this make you feel?
Not good. I wouldn’t presume to know what a legless and armless person feels like.
- . Do you often write outside of the genre you are representing at Writers & Words?
Yes. In addition to poetry, I write nonfiction—mostly book reviews and essays.
Bonus question: What sort of inanimate object will you be in your next life? If you’re into that kind of thing.
Hopefully a couch or a bed. Or maybe a beach chair. I’m really tired and need a vacation.
~
I hope you get your couch life, Gina.
Come out to Writers & Words on Tuesday, March 13th at 7pm at Charmington’s Cafe to hear Gina and our other rad readers.
Gina Myers is the author of two full-length poetry collections, A Model Year and Hold It Down, as well as numerous chapbooks. She lives in Philly where she runs the Accidental Player reading series and co-edits the tiny (thetinymag.com).
