Inside the covers of a book or magazine, it is easy to forget that the poetry, fiction, or nonfiction there are the end products of a process involving not only creative inspiration, but also plenty of physical and logistical details—all of which takes place at the writer’s desk.

To celebrate National Poetry Month in 2021, the Writer’s Desk collects remarkable interviews, as well as exclusive visual documentation, with the poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers of the Oregon State University MFA program, as well as undergraduates and other writers in the OSU community.

Behind the effort of graduate students Joshua Barnhart, Rebecca Martin, and Christopher Smith, writers were asked a wide range of questions about their day-to-day writing life, covering everything from how they organize their desk to what tools they prefer.

The result is that everyone opens up about their habits about how, and where, a writer starts and finishes a piece of writing.

Also included are snapshots of every writer's desk.

All of which offers a rare look into the self-made workspaces of a writer’s life.

  • Josh Barnhart
  • Morgan Corona
  • Rebecca Martin
  • Jennifer Richter
  • Christopher Henry Smith
  • Carrie Vaughn
  • Meriden Vitale
  • John Larison
  • Elena Passarello
  • Chloe Pfeiffer
  • Paige Thomas
  • Emma Uriarte
  • Riley Yuan

Josh Barnhart

When did you first consider yourself dedicated to your genre, and what does that dedication mean to you?

I was probably 13 years old. I started writing songs and playing in bands. I then got interested in poets that influenced songwriters I admired (from The Velvet Underground to Arthur Rimbaud, for example). I started writing (bad) poetry in addition to songwriting, and my understanding of craft really didn't develop until I started taking workshops during my undergrad. My dedication to this genre is how I orient myself in the world, how I understand myself in relation to my surroundings, to other people, and to my own past experiences.

How long have you been writing at your current writing desk? 

I've been writing at this desk since early September, 2020. I drove out to Lebanon to purchase it from someone who lived on a farm.

Did you have a plan for the layout of your writing space or did it develop organically?

The only plan was to have the desk in a spare room (for the first time ever). The layout developed organically, or rather haphazardly.

Has this writing desk influenced your work?

The desk existing in this room dedicated to making art, the desk's placement next to a window that looks out on a tree lined street in what still feels like a new or foreign town, my ability to hear birds and rain from my seat at this desk, all of this has influenced my work.

Please describe a typical day being as specific as possible. For example: What time do you get up? When do you come to your writing desk? Do you have specific clothing you change into? And so on.

I get up around 730 or so. I open the blinds next to my desk first thing. I don't typically sit down at my desk until I've had some caffeine and food. Keeping up with Covid fashion standards, I probably always wear sweatpants. Sometimes I have my feet up on the desk, sometimes I curl my legs underneath me, and sometimes I lie down on the floor next to the desk when a shift in perspective is needed. Also, my desk chair isn't very comfortable.

Do you listen to music, the radio, or TV when you work? If so what and does it affect your work?

As many in my cohort already know, I like to make playlists. I have several playlists I use for writing, most of which don't have any words or lyrics. I like ambient and atmospheric music for writing. Sometimes it helps me access a certain mood or memory. Sometimes it's just nice to have a bit of noise in the background.

What kind of writing tools do you use?

Pen, paper, notebook, computer, phone, brain, hands, fingers, eyes, memory, coffee, tea

Do you have any special devices or tools that are unique to your creative process?

Voice memos on my phone help me capture certain words (or melodies) that come while I'm out and about away from the desk.

Are there specific items here that have significant meaning to you?

I have a midcentury stapler that belonged to my grandfather, which still functions like new. I keep books that I'm currently reading on the desk, as well as my various notebooks. The space is also surrounded my musical instruments and artwork, all of which carry some sort of meaning.

Do you work on one project at a time or several?

Several. So many. Too many?

When you are contemplating your work, where and how do you sit or stand?

I change positions a lot. I also find that getting away from my desk can really help. Taking a walk. Seeing some trees.

How often do you clean your writing desk or writing space, and does it affect your work?

It goes through phases, depending on how busy I get. By the end of a quarter, it's usually covered in notebooks and printed pages. I typically like to keep things organized because it's difficult for me to work in a chaotic environment.

Do you have a motto or creed that you live by that helps focus your writing?

I try to be patient with myself and honest. I don't know that I have a specific motto or creed, but I tend to always strive for sincerity as well as non-attachment (to specific words/phrases - everything can change).

What are your favorite subjects to write about currently?

"Favorite" is a funny word, because I often find myself writing difficult subjects, but those are what seem most worthwhile. I like investigating memory, family dynamics, identity, and I've been getting more into travel narratives.

What advice would you give a younger writer who is just starting out?

Read a lot, read novels, read contemporary poetry, and try to be ok with writing "badly." It might be easy to beat yourself up, but work to be generous and patient with yourself, and just keep writing.

Do you have any current projects or publications you'd like to promote?

Nothing poetry specific out in the public sphere, but I have a recently released single: https://open.spotify.com/track/1Y30rqbeBG4IPPZeaGzVLK?si=RXYh1Kz0SvqBcekjvPcZwg

In recognition of National Poetry Month, do you have a favorite poem you can share?

This is a current favorite.

Wrong Side of the River

Stanley Plumly

I watched you on the wrong side

of the river, waving. You were trying

to tell me something. You used both hands

and sort of ran back and forth.

as if to say look behind you, look out

behind you. I wanted to wave back.

But you began shouting and I didn't

want you to think I understood.

So I did nothing but stand still,

thinking that's what to do on the wrong side

of the river. After a while you did too.

We stood like that for a long time. Then

I raised a hand, as if to be called on,

and you raised a hand, as if to the same question.

 

Joshua Barnhart is a poet and musician from California, who performs music under the name Strange Pilgrim and is currently pursuing a poetry MFA at Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR.

Morgan Corona (she/her)

When did you first consider yourself dedicated to your genre, and what does that dedication mean to you?

Since I was a kid, I've been a compulsive writer, but I remember first identifying as a poet in college. I had already begun my journey as a letterpress printer so it was an easy transition from printing others' poems to writing my own.

How long have you been writing at your current writing desk?

I've had this desk since I was 16. So for 8 years now. It's actually a kitchen table. I saw it in an antique shop in San Mateo, CA and fell in love. So much so, that I saved up for three months to buy it. I don't think I could ever part with it.

Did you have a plan for the layout of your writing space or did it develop organically?

I've shifted this desk around SO many times, but finally I think it's in the right spot under this window.

Has this writing desk influenced your work?

It's huge! like 3'x5'. I have so much room to lay out papers and books. It helps me to be free from the confines of the page or the Word doc. I can spread out and let my thinking wander in a more physical way.

Please describe a typical day being as specific as possible. For example: What time do you get up? When do you come to your writing desk? Do you have specific clothing you change into? And so on.

My cat (Mikitty) usually wakes me up at the ungodly hour of 5:30am. I usually lay in bed until about 6am and then get up. I listen to the news while making and eating breakfast. Then, I tend to my chickens (all named Peter) and then I make a HUGE pot of DECAF coffee (wild, I know) and I sit down at my desk to write. After writing, I take a walk and eat lunch. I usually give my dad and my aunt a call and then I sit down a my kitchen table to get the rest of my coursework/ teaching work done. Morning hours are for my creative projects and afternoons are for class, grading, etc work. I try to stop working at 5pm and go for a roller skate or a run and then eat dinner while watching something trashy like Dawson's Creek. Until this year, I have never been a night owl, but I find myself writing more and more in the evening. 9pm-11pm seems to be the new sweet spot.

Do you listen to music, the radio, or TV when you work? If so what and does it affect your work?

I'm a big fan of silence while drafting, but during revision I like to have music playing REALLY loud. Lust for Life by Iggy Pop is a staple. He helps me be a bit more decisive.

What kind of writing tools do you use?

Muji pens, Legal Pads, black hard bound notebooks with no lines, plain 8 1/2x11 paper, scissors, glue, my voice recorder, Microsoft Word, my orange notebook for writing down quotes or copying poems, an etymological dictionary, inspiring books or books I one day want to read, candles, tarot cards, index cards, decaf coffee, water

Do you have any special devices or tools that are unique to your creative process?

She's not a device, but I'd say my cat, Mikitty, is unique to my creative process. She's always near and often chirps and meows while sunning herself on my desk. She reminds me to not be so serious.

Are there specific items here that have significant meaning to you?

The pink heart rock was given to me by my dad. It has a really nice weight to it and I often hold it while thinking or if I need to fiddle with something while I read or write. My Virgen de Guadalupe candle is important to me, too. She's been an icon all of my life and I like to keep her near.

Do you work on one project at a time or several?              

I usually poke at a few things at once. I usually have a primary project (right now a pair of sonnets) and then a background, longer-term project (an essay about desert art). I take turns with them in an effort to not get bored.

When you are contemplating your work, where and how do you sit or stand?      

I usually have to go for a walk or pace in my backyard or take a shower to help myself think through a poem. Action happens at my desk, but the contemplative work happens away from my desk.

How often do you clean your writing desk or writing space, and does it affect your work?              

I clean and tidy it every time before I sit down. There is a lot of stuff on my desk, but everything has its place. I like to wipe it down with a cloth (my cat often lays on my desk leaving lots of hair etc) and I like to arrange all my tools so they are at my disposal for the remainder of my session that day.

Do you have a motto or creed that you live by that helps focus your writing?       

My brother often tells me "It's not that deep." I take that to mean "don't sweat it" or "don't let it get you down." I tell myself this when I am stuck on a draft or a revision or when I am getting in my own way. It helps me to remember that writing is supposed to be enjoyable, if not fun.

What are your favorite subjects to write about currently?             

Daughterhood, scenes of the desert, birth, and horses

What advice would you give a younger writer who is just starting out?    

Even if you don't think it will be a "poem" write it down. Then keep all of that stuff you write down. Make a point to sort through and revisit the material once a year. You'll surprise yourself.

In recognition of National Poetry Month, do you have a favorite poem you can share?     

Song

Brigit Pegeen Kelly

https://www.poetryireland.ie/publications/poetry-ireland-review/online-archive/view/song4

 

Morgan Corona is a poet and doula from Santa Cruz, CA.

Rebecca Martin

When did you first consider yourself dedicated to your genre, and what does that dedication mean to you?          

I first made this decision as an undergraduate, somewhere between my 2nd and 3rd year. Genre specification was a requirement in the creative writing major there, and in some ways, I happened upon poetry - I had professors who opened my eyes to the possibilities of contemporary poetry I hadn't been aware of before; I enjoyed the fiction electives less. But ultimately, after making that decision, I knew it was the right one. What I've learned especially is that dedication to the genre of poetry is far from limiting - rather, it is always asking, as a genre boundary, to be redefined and reimagined.

How long have you been writing at your current writing desk?

I have been at my current writing desk since September of last year, when I moved to Corvallis and happened upon a great find at the local Goodwill!

Did you have a plan for the layout of your writing space or did it develop organically?      

It happened organically, mostly in terms of where the desk fit in my fairly small apartment. I have to admit that the window placement was also a big factor!

Has this writing desk influenced your work?        

Undoubtedly! The very large pine tree right outside my window hosts all kind of bird and squirrel activity, and backyard birds of Oregon keep making their way into my poems!

Please describe a typical day being as specific as possible. For example: What time do you get up? When do you come to your writing desk? Do you have specific clothing you change into? And so on.

This is still being established, and varies day to day (especially in these weird, pandemic times). Typically I get up between 8 and 9 in the morning, make tea, and sit down at my desk to begin either creative work or grading/other duties associated with being a GTA.

Do you listen to music, the radio, or TV when you work? If so what and does it affect your work?

Yes, all of the above sometimes! Music varies a lot - often instrumental if I'm trying not to be too distracted, but I listen to more upbeat/complex music while grading or doing less nuanced things. Sometimes, something I'm watching on TV happens to remind me of something I've been wanting to explore through writing, in which case I'll often write while it's on to preserve the moment.

What kind of writing tools do you use?  

I handwrite in a journal for a lot of drafting, but I also utilize my laptop quite a bit, too, especially when working under formal constraints.

Do you have any special devices or tools that are unique to your creative process?           

I don't know if they are wholly unique, but I do have oracle cards I draw from time to time as a part of my writing practice.         

Do you work on one project at a time or several?              

By nature of how much I have to do, I work on several! Right now I'm working on a series of shape/image poems as well as a crown of sonnets, and some more one-off poems that don't seem super connected to anything larger yet.

When you are contemplating your work, where and how do you sit or stand?      

There's not THAT many options for me currently, but as the weather has gotten warmer I've spent a lot more time reading and contemplating on my small balcony, which is also very adjacent to the large pine tree.

How often do you clean your writing desk or writing space, and does it affect your work?              

I probably clean it up every few days, or whenever it starts to look a little too chaotic.

Do you have a motto or creed that you live by that helps focus your writing?       

I don't, as of right now!

What are your favorite subjects to write about currently?             

Vultures, bog bodies, motherhood, climate change, gay love 

Do you have any current projects or publications you'd like to promote?                

Not right now, but hopefully in the near future!

In recognition of National Poetry Month, do you have a favorite poem you can share?     

"Selkie" by Emma Hine is my favorite that I've read most recently.

 

Rebecca Martin (she/her) is a first-year Poetry MFA candidate in the SWLF department, and is interested in creating poetry that centers queer womanhood through the personal and political, simultaneously in conversation with and troubled by the parameters of history.

Jennifer Richter

How long have you been writing at your current writing desk?   

I’ve been writing at this desk—which is actually a gateleg dining table—for most of the past 27 years. It was one of my first purchases after driving cross-country and landing in California to be a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University, and the desk continues to feel as charmed as those years, when I was stepping fully, happily into the roles of poet and teacher, then wife and mother. First at this table I ate one-person meals I’d made with California’s ridiculously gorgeous produce and wrote poems that would lead to my first book; a few years later this table was where I’d comment on my students’ poems and where my husband and I had coffee together the morning we were married; later, we fed our infant son his first bites of avocado at this table while his eyes tracked the train that ran behind our apartment. Having moved this singular surface through many homes in two states, I love feeling that the history of my family—in layers and layers of handprints—is right here with me. They’ve touched everything I’ve written.

Did you have a plan for the layout of your writing space or did it develop organically?

I write in the only “extra” room of our house—a room that’s shapeshifted to accommodate our family’s changing needs, one we still sometimes call “the playroom” because for years, to get to my desk, I’d need to step around stacks of picture books, toys dumped from bins, paintings laid out and drying beneath our kids’ wooden easel, and often the kids themselves. Though I deeply appreciate this peaceful space at my desk now, I do miss that dynamic, inspiring, messy energy.

Are there specific items here that have significant meaning to you?

I write beneath a painting I made in an elementary school art class—back when I was “Jenny,” as I’ve signed in the corner. I love the painting’s innate cheeriness and nonstop sunshine; I love being able to see my own brushstrokes there as evidence of the creative process. I’m also interested in and moved by the painting’s perspective—it feels like a reminder to my adult self to sometimes stop and look up, a reminder of how small we are but also how vibrant. I’m grateful, too, for the painting’s reminder that I’ve been supported my entire life by a family who admires my art and believes it’s worth saving.           

Do you have any current projects or publications you'd like to promote?

I’ve just finished a draft of my third poetry collection, which considers my surname in the context of Oregon’s urgent earthquake preparation and explores the ways we—as individuals, as families, as communities—cycle through periods of shattering and healing. In the little altar-ish space I’ve created on my desk there’s an Upper Deck “Inventors and Inventions” trading card of Charles F. Richter, creator of the earthquake magnitude scale.

Jennifer Richter’s poetry collections No Acute Distress and Threshold were both published in the Crab Orchard Series and were both named Oregon Book Award Finalists.

Christopher Henry Smith

When did you first consider yourself dedicated to your genre, and what does that dedication mean to you?

I like the phrasing here: "dedicated" to your genre. "Dedicate" comes from the Latin and evokes this idea of speaking well of something but setting it apart (de + dico/ere), and that framing feels useful. I began to "set apart" and "speak well" of poetry with greater intensity in my early or mid-20s. Around this time, I began to revisit some of my old readings and writing from undergraduate and high school courses and "re-dedicate" myself to something that I had loved but strayed from for a number of years. This focus encouraged me to begin reading much more poetry, to write more, to take workshops with local lit and arts organizations, to pursue publication, and to pursue an MFA in the genre. Praise be to the Harold Washington branch of the Chicago Public Library and my freelancer lifestyle at this time for allowing me the resources, the space, and the time to pursue this interest.

How long have you been writing at your current writing desk?

I have been at this space since August of 2020, so seven and a half months.

Did you have a plan for the layout of your writing space or did it develop organically?      

I would say a mix of both. Some features—the paper organizers, the knick-knacks, the mug warmer—are extent from spaces past and were planned. But some elements, like the adjoining bookshelf, the new proximity to my front window, the function of the drawers, and the sticky notes on my window have arisen as needed.

Has this writing desk influenced your work?

In many ways, I think yes. Steps to make it brighter, more comfortable, better outfitted with supplies and caffeine have enabled me to stay here for the hours a day that I do. And whatever books are close at hand often impact my writing during that rotation. It is also, in a pandemic era, my teaching space, my work space, my Zoom-with-family space, my check Twitter space, and much more. Often those hours spent here are not writing, then, but negotiating the other areas of my life that revolve around this desk and, critically, this computer.

Please describe a typical day being as specific as possible. For example: What time do you get up? When do you come to your writing desk? Do you have specific clothing you change into? And so on.

  • 6:00 - Alarm, snooze
  • 6:30 - Actually get up, dress, eat
  • 7:00 - Read the paper
  • 7:30 - Emails and homework / prep for that day (first sitting down at the desk)
  • 9:00 - Writing
  • 11:00 - Lunch
  • 12:00 - Class / teaching / homework
  • 18:00 - Walk / run / stupid exercise app (stepping away from the desk for the day)
  • 19:30 - Reading (usually poetry)
  • 20:30 - More reading (usually non poetry) / DnD podcast / Downton Abbey / Supernatural / something to wind down with

Do you listen to music, the radio, or TV when you work? If so what and does it affect your work?                

Instrumental music sometimes, though generally I like to write in silence. If I'm working on something more menial or bustling around the apartment I like to listen to music or podcasts or sports on the radio (preferably something I have no allegiance to and can't catch the beginning or end of—I'm just fond of the cadence, energy, static).

What kind of writing tools do you use?  

Laptop (and thus, Word, Excel, thesaurus.com/net, Wikipedia, OSU Library's online databases, Photoshop, Acrobat, Spotify, Keep, Drive, OneDrive, Submittable, Medium, Twitter, LitHub, P&W, bookmarks), legal pads, unlined notebooks, MUJI ballpoint pens (or pencils for notes in texts), Royal typewriter on occasion, sticky notes, unlined notecards, sharpies, chalk board.

Do you have any special devices or tools that are unique to your creative process?           

I use unlined notecards often and always try to keep a few in the car or in my pockets for quick notes if I don't have a notebook on hand. I've also taken to using Google Keep for voice to text transcriptions if I'm driving or something. It's also a handy place for lists of poets to check out, books to read, poem ideas, podcasts to listen to, articles I've started but haven't finished, contests / places to submit, etc, etc, etc.

Are there specific items here that have significant meaning to you?          

Most of the knick-knacks are gifts from my brother, my sister, my mother, my former employers, friends, co-workers, etc, and having those items close at hand feels significant. I also feel a pretty strong emotional connection to most office supplies, generally.

Do you work on one project at a time or several?              

Several, always, often at the expense of any single project. I'll be writing a line for one poem then realize a word I've used would be great as a title for an activity I'm teaching next week then jump into Canvas then glimpse a reading I need to get done then check out a few pages then respond to the adjoining Perusal discussion then adjust my Google calendar for the day then tick off items on my to-do list then make a cup of tea then respond to a text then water the plants then come back to that line of poetry either newly invigorated or completely lost.

When you are contemplating your work, where and how do you sit or stand?      

I like to sit or lay on the floor when I'm not seated at the desk, and often when I'm reading or talking through something I'll pace. Deeper contemplation might motivate a walk or a hike. Or at least a trip to the snack cupboard.

How often do you clean your writing desk or writing space, and does it affect your work?   

Deep clean? Quarterly. But tidying? Daily. Hourly. I have a hard time writing with too much clutter around me. Or at least too much clutter as I define it. My desk is generally covered with miscellany and mess, but I have a sense of where everything is. Or at least I think I do.

Do you have a motto or creed that you live by that helps focus your writing?       

I used to have different quotes or phrases that I'd keep close to my desk. "What if?" or "Do the work" or quotes from different writers on notecards or even a typewritten mantra document for a long time. These days, I have strayed from that a bit. If I had to pick one, it might be "everything's poems" or "safety third" or "more fun." No, let's say that. "More fun."

What are your favorite subjects to write about currently?             

Mythologizing memory, nature in the PNW, failings of the "masculine," Texas, theatre, dating apps

What advice would you give a younger writer who is just starting out?    

Nobody's doing it right, not one of us. Commit to failure and anything that brings you bliss (and doesn't perform violence against others, of course).

Do you have any current projects or publications you'd like to promote?                

You can always follow me on IG / TW @chenrysmith. Publications, inspirations, photos of trees, and dumb jokes usually find their way to one of those spots.

In recognition of National Poetry Month, do you have a favorite poem you can share?     

"I've always like ""Walking Through a Wall"" by Louis Jenkins. Credit to Mark Rylance who recited this upon winning the Tony in 2011, instead of a thank-you speech, and I believe that was the first time I encountered it.

Unlike flying or astral projection, walking through walls is a totally earth-related craft, but a lot more interesting than pot making or driftwood lamps. I got started at a picnic up in Bowstring in the northern part of the state. A fellow walked through a brick wall right there in the park. I said, 'Say, I want to try that.' Stone walls are best, then brick and wood. Wooden walls with fiberglass insulation and steel doors aren't so good. They won't hurt you. If your wall walking is done properly, both you and the wall are left intact. It is just that they aren't pleasant somehow. The worst things are wire fences, maybe it's the molecular structure of the alloy or just the amount of give in a fence, I don't know, but I've torn my jacket and lost my hat in a lot of fences. The best approach to a wall is, first, two hands placed flat against the surface; it's a matter of concentration and just the right pressure. You will feel the dry, cool inner wall with your fingers, then there is a moment of total darkness before you step through on the other side.

Christopher Henry Smith makes poems in Oregon and is always deeply moved when people choose to publish them; he is a co-founder of The Calamity, a former resident at Chicago Art Department, and an MFA Poetry student at Oregon State University. @chenrysmith

Carrie Vaughn

How long have you been writing at your current writing desk?   

This desk used to be in the bedroom of one of my sisters in the house in Maryland where we grew up. It moved into my Brooklyn apartment about 7 years ago, and then made the trek across country when I came to Oregon.

Did you have a plan for the layout of your writing space or did it develop organically?

The desk is pretty small, so the organization developed organically to meet the desk's particular constraints.

Has this writing desk influenced your work?

The small space of the desk requires a concentration on one particular task at a time. There's only room for what's in front of me. While there are growing stacks under and around the desk (mainly books, a plant press, a postcard reminder from my dentist) there isn't much room on the desk itself for this accumulation. The desk sits in a corner of large windows looking out on the street. Particularly because I spend, it feels like, about 5 minutes staring into space for every word I write in a poem, the light, the street scenes, the weather all influence what or how I'm writing.

Please describe a typical day being as specific as possible. For example: What time do you get up? When do you come to your writing desk? Do you have specific clothing you change into? And so on.

The typical day these days is atypical from my non-pandemic, non-grad school days. Right now, I usually wake up around 7:45, read the news on my phone until 8:00ish then get up. I like my clothes cozy. For Christmas my partner gave me "joggers" which I call my indoor-outdoor pants, and are just glorified sweat pants. I don't let myself wear these everyday, but probably have them on 3-4 days a week. After I get up, I make tea (PG Tips) and breakfast (yogurt and granola) and sit down at my desk. It takes my computer a while to warm up so I look out the window, eat breakfast, and go over to-dos to decide where to start. Depending on what I have scheduled (class, teaching, etc.) that day, or where my brain is, I either start with tasks I can cross off or with writing. I work more-or-less consistently until around 1:00 when I eat lunch then walk the dog. My afternoon hours usually aren't as fruitful writing-wise, but I work on revisions or other coursework. If it's a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday and not pouring rain I usually go on a run around 5:00. Then it's dinner, a few rounds of gin rummy, and probably TV. I get in bed around 10:30 or 11:00 and read until I fall asleep.

Do you listen to music, the radio, or TV when you work? If so what and does it affect your work?

There's the hum of the refrigerator, the dog snoring, the street sounds, but I don't intentionally listen to anything when I work. The stillness and ambient sounds make their way into what I'm writing.

What kind of writing tools do you use?

Mainly, I write on my laptop. I use notebooks if I'm away from my desk or need to switch things up.

Do you have any special devices or tools that are unique to your creative process?

Pilot Precise V5 Rolling Ball pens

Are there specific items here that have significant meaning to you?

The succulent on my desk came from Karen Holmberg at the end my first fall workshop, and has now been repotted twice. The peter rabbit card is from one of my nieces. The tape measure was a staple in my mom's purse. The vase is Bizen-ware that I got in Japan when I lived there with my parents in 2000-2001. The feathers in the vase have been collected over the years. The jar that acts as my pen/pencil holder says "patience with passion" and was made for me by one of my former middle school students. The unicorn finger puppet was part of a grief care package I received.

Do you work on one project at a time or several?

On the poem-scale of "project" I focus on writing one poem at a time. In revision I often work on multiple poems. On the larger scale of "project" I find that even if I think I am working on multiple things it all ends up being part of the same project because I am circling the same ideas, questions, or subjects.

When you are contemplating your work, where and how do you sit or stand?

I sit in a semi- to un- comfortable chair I got for $2 at the OSUsed sale.

How often do you clean your writing desk or writing space, and does it affect your work?

Um. I de-clutter frequently which right now means moving something from on top of my desk to a pile underneath it, or to the ad-hoc "filing" system on the bookshelf beside me. When things are truly uncluttered (as in, no floor piles) it does help me feel calmer and more focused. This is aspirational.  

What are your favorite subjects to write about currently?

Holes, birds, botany, speculative futures/realities, family, loss, memory, home, bodies, authority, gardening

What advice would you give a younger writer who is just starting out?

Read poems! Ones you love and ones you don't and all the ones in between. 

Be open and observant -- anything can be the subject or seed of a poem. Mainly, keep writing.

In recognition of National Poetry Month, do you have a favorite poem you can share?

This constantly changes. I very recently found this poem and fell in love with these flies. So,  "[When I come home they rush to me, the flies]" by Aracelis Girmay.

Former Brooklynite science teacher, current Oregonian MFA student, I live in Corvallis (until August) with my partner and our meatneck mutt.

Meriden Vitale

When did you first consider yourself dedicated to your genre, and what does that dedication mean to you?

Probably sitting next to a river. Dedication feels like attention and purpose.

How long have you been writing at your current writing desk?

This has been my home away from home desk, a place I come back to in moments of transition.

Did you have a plan for the layout of your writing space or did it develop organically?

It grew out of available space.

Has this writing desk influenced your work?

It's the perfect height for a yoga ball chair which has improved my posture.

Please describe a typical day being as specific as possible. For example: What time do you get up? When do you come to your writing desk? Do you have specific clothing you change into? And so on.

I love mornings. First thing, out and about with the dog. Then, coffee and "business writing." I like to work on poems and other creative writings at night. I do like to dress towards my writing mood, sometimes this involves earrings or a great coat.

Do you listen to music, the radio, or TV when you work? If so what and does it affect your work?

Depends on what kind of writing I'm doing. I like wordless music when I'm working on essays or articles but I can write a poem to anything.

What kind of writing tools do you use?

Pen and notebook. Notes app on my phone.

Do you have any special devices or tools that are unique to your creative process?

When I sit down to write I like to have a fun beverage to sip on, like ginger ale or kombucha, something fizzy.

Are there specific items here that have significant meaning to you?

The one thing all my writing desks have in common is lots of fun, colorful items to look at.

Do you work on one project at a time or several?

Several. I like to bounce around between projects.

When you are contemplating your work, where and how do you sit or stand?

Outside, sitting on the ground or on a walk.

How often do you clean your writing desk or writing space, and does it affect your work?

Not as often as I should.

Do you have a motto or creed that you live by that helps focus your writing?

I just try to remind myself to stay open.

What are your favorite subjects to write about currently?

The economy, geology, and life on the internet.

What advice would you give a younger writer who is just starting out? 

Stay with it, and it's all about the process.

Do you have any current projects or publications you'd like to promote?

45th Parallel!

In recognition of National Poetry Month, do you have a favorite poem you can share? 

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/58603/edward-hoppers-office-at-night

Meriden Vitale is about to defend her thesis and take on the world.

John Larison

When did you first consider yourself dedicated to your genre, and what does that dedication mean to you?          

I devoted myself to reading and writing fiction at the age of 25 because being a fishing guide taught me that sometimes to reach capital T truth one needs a little leeway with lower-case truth.

How long have you been writing at your current writing desk?   

Six years, but same computer since I wrote my first stories at age 25.

Did you have a plan for the layout of your writing space or did it develop organically?      

Organic as a blackberry patch. My writing space is a 14 by 14 studio office my dad and I built outback of my house.  I designed the office's layout, but quickly found that design flawed: distracting visions outside the windows, inconvenient sunlight, etc.  Rather than design a solution, I jury-rig solutions everyday. The office itself then is like a mid-process novel.

Has this writing desk influenced your work?        

Without a doubt. Place becomes product, so design your place carefully.

Please describe a typical day being as specific as possible. For example: What time do you get up? When do you come to your writing desk? Do you have specific clothing you change into? And so on.

Ritual leads to productivity, I think. So when I'm actively drafting or revising a novel, I kept to a strict personal schedule that begins the night before with a long walk, some good reading, and strict avoidance of bars/booze and socializing. The next morning, I get my kids off to school, then take a thermos of hot water to my office, make a cup of matcha tea, and read a poem or two to wake up the brain. Next, I usually do a series of stretches and pushups, and get to work for 3-4 hours. If I can spare the time, I like to return to my writing desk for another 3-4 hours in the afternoon or evening--before beginning the same ritual over ahead of the next day. A novel requires roughly a 1000 such sessions. (And a lot of matcha.)

Do you listen to music, the radio, or TV when you work? If so what and does it affect your work?

Music helps me access my character's inner lives. I don't listen while writing--too distracting--but I do listen right after writing, and on the long walks I take while thinking about my book.

What kind of writing tools do you use?  

Beyond the normal stuff (keyboard, mouse), I keep a daily journal in which I list the hours spent working, what I worked on (and read), and my experience of the session. I also use the journal to document little ideas I have along the way.

Do you have any special devices or tools that are unique to your creative process?           

In 2013 while drafting my novel WHISKEY WHEN WE'RE DRY, I learned how much more productive green tea is for my writing than coffee.  I've never had coffee since.  Rather than experiencing a spike of mental activity and then a crash, now my mental activity grows all day long, leading to much more productive afternoons and evenings.

Are there specific items here that have significant meaning to you?          

On my writing desk, I kept trinkets that help me access my characters.  (Right now I have a chunk of obsidian on the desk).  I also keep copies of books that are inspiring my novel.

Do you work on one project at a time or several?              

One novel at a time, though the next one is continually brewing in the background.

When you are contemplating your work, where and how do you sit or stand?      

I'm a pacer. I don't think well while sitting.  I walk and walk and walk, often turning little circles in my office before rushing back to the stand-up desk to write the next sentence.

How often do you clean your writing desk or writing space, and does it affect your work?              

I only clean before beginning a new push of effort.  I typically spend 5-6 months each winter in a continual writing push (6-7 days a week), which means my office becomes a total mess--a physical manifestation of my brain.

Do you have a motto or creed that you live by that helps focus your writing?       

My students hear me singing the same phrase almost every class: The how is the shape of the what.

What are your favorite subjects to write about currently?             

That's what I try to figure out everyday. I'm currently finishing a giant project on climate change, and I can tell you that next winter, I hope to be exploring a new topic, and it better be funny.

What advice would you give a younger writer who is just starting out?    

All you can control is your process.

Do you have any current projects or publications you'd like to promote?                

My next novel is called THE ANCIENTS.  You and I are the "ancients" of the title.

In recognition of National Poetry Month, do you have a favorite poem you can share?     

I've been reading and rereading Jorie Graham's book RUNAWAY since being gifted a copy in December.  Stunning work. The poems hum in the air after I close the covers.

John Larison is the author of four books, including the novel WHISKEY WHEN WE'RE DRY, which was a national bestseller in hardback and paperback, an Indie Next Pick and frequent Best Book of the Year, and is currently being developed for a television series by the creators of MULAN.

Photo credit: Gazette-Times.

Elena Passarello

When did you first consider yourself dedicated to your genre, and what does that dedication mean to you?

I started writing essays in high school. I suppose I became dedicated a little later, when I tried to write short stories, poems, plays, etc. and found that I was worse at all three than I was at essays.

How long have you been writing at your current writing desk?

About two years.

Did you have a plan for the layout of your writing space or did it develop organically?

When I was making my first book, I realized I liked to spread things out, so I knew that a long desk would be key. We moved an old dining room table into my office, and I used that until I got the chance to buy this gigantic (4-feet-long) adjustable standing thing.

Has this writing desk influenced your work?

It's long enough that I can put a pet bed on it, so that my cat, QQ, is within arms reach when I work. Definitely influential.

Please describe a typical day being as specific as possible. For example: What time do you get up? When do you come to your writing desk? Do you have specific clothing you change into? And so on.

I cannot write in "hard pants." Usually, I write on days when I have space (several hours) and take off the busier days when I'm running around. When I write varies. I'm not really a routine person.

Do you listen to music, the radio, or TV when you work? If so what and does it affect your work?

Honestly? Sound is more important to me than any physical space when I'm working. I'm not really a desk fetishist, but I have A LOT OF NEEDS when it comes to sonic space.

I can't listen to music with words in it when I write, but I need some sound going because I am easily distracted by other noises. I heard there is a disorder concerning this called Misophonia and I have diagnosed myself with it. So I got an app with white noise sounds, and sometimes I put on the ocean, thunderstorm, and fireplace sounds all at once. I could listen to that for hours.

I also like to put really droning, wordless (or semi-wordless) music on repeat. It's best if the songs are very long. Some of my perennial faves are Can's "You Doo Right," J Dilla's instrumentals, Harry Nilsson's "Jump into the Fire," and various Fela Kuti live tracks. I found a 5-hour version of Black Sabbath's "Planet Caravan" on YouTube and that's been hitting the spot lately.

What kind of writing tools do you use?

Laptop, gigantic sheet of artist's drawing paper, 1-3 other notebooks, supplemental Post-its, cat bed, noise cancelling headphones, heating pad.

Do you have any special devices or tools that are unique to your creative process?           

Aside from the music thing and the cat bed, I have an easy chair near the desk where I do a lot of composing. That's where the heating pad is.

Are there specific items here that have significant meaning to you?          

Toss up between the heating pad and the cat.

Do you work on one project at a time or several?              

One, ideally, but it never works out that way.

When you are contemplating your work, where and how do you sit or stand?

In terribly strained, non-ergonomic positions. I have to remind myself to pay attention to my body, especially when I'm in the thick of it.

How often do you clean your writing desk or writing space, and does it affect your work?

I have a hard time starting the writing day in an untidy room. But I never, like, dust or whatever.

Do you have a motto or creed that you live by that helps focus your writing?       

“Work alone is your privilege, never the fruits thereof. Never let the fruits of action be your motive; and never cease to work."

That's a loose translation of three sentences in the Bhagavad Gita. I write it on the tops of my pages a lot.

What are your favorite subjects to write about currently?             

Elvis, puppets, seabirds.

What advice would you give a younger writer who is just starting out?    

Give yourself time. This game is a really long con.

Do you have any current projects or publications you'd like to promote?                

I do a podcast with my pal Justin St. Germain called "I'll Find Myself When I'm Dead." It's all about the literary essay, and we're about to start our third season.

In recognition of National Poetry Month, do you have a favorite poem you can share?

I always thought Lucky's speech in "Waiting for Godot" was a kind of poem.

Elena Passarello is the author of Let Me Clear My Throat and Animals Strike Curious Poses.

Chloe Pfeiffer

When did you first consider yourself dedicated to your genre, and what does that dedication mean to you?          

I think one day I just realized/accepted that writing was one of the only things I really liked to do, perhaps the thing I most liked to do, and I would always sort of be doing it and want to do it, so I may as well try really hard. So I guess dedication just means trying really hard.

How long have you been writing at your current writing desk?   

Since March 2020--I was in Chicago, staying with my boyfriend at his studio, when the pandemic started, so I just stayed. It's less a desk than a small kitchen table. Also there's no counter space in the kitchen so it's actually less a kitchen table than a kitchen counter. But now it's my writing desk!

Did you have a plan for the layout of your writing space or did it develop organically?      

I inserted myself into a pre-existing situation, so it's more like I had to develop to suit the table's needs. Although I have been making room for myself, slowly--I've brought over some candles. But it's very much just my computer, a notebook, and a pencil.

Has this writing desk influenced your work?        

I'm not sure! I think maybe that's something I'll be able to see when I look back. It's nice to just be in a little nook/corner, facing a window, with my back to everything else--I think that sense of partial enclosure has been conducive to writing.

Please describe a typical day being as specific as possible. For example: What time do you get up? When do you come to your writing desk? Do you have specific clothing you change into? And so on.

The time I wake up is completely aleatory, as is how tired I feel; there's truly no way to know when my day is going to start. I try not to look at my computer first thing in the morning, so I'll read or do errands or go on a walk, but depending on my workload sometimes I just have to jump into it! I don't have any special routines for writing versus doing other things; I wish I did. I've been trying to wear earrings, which I love, a little more, as an inspiration boost.

Do you listen to music, the radio, or TV when you work? If so what and does it affect your work?

I prefer not to listen to anything. If my boyfriend is on the phone, sometimes I will try to play music to drown out the noise (studio apartment... grrr), but then I just end up being distracted by the music... so I'll spend a few minutes trying to find music that won't distract me, and then I just give up. Sometimes I'll do some half-hearted writing on the couch while watching sports--just kind of fooling around, and then if something sticks or excites me I'll move to the desk and actually work.

What kind of writing tools do you use?  

Mostly just my computer, although I keep a notebook and pencil lying around--sometimes jotting down notes to myself, even if it's things I already know or are on the page, helps me think.

Are there specific items here that have significant meaning to you?          

I have some candles, some of which I care about more than others. But not really. I don't even keep books over here!

Do you work on one project at a time or several?              

Usually one main one and a few smaller things.

When you are contemplating your work, where and how do you sit or stand?      

Sometimes I'll try to go on walks or do dishes while thinking about my work--talking things out to myself--but it's rarely super useful. I need to contemplate while I'm at my computer, or at least a notebook. I often just jot down thoughts on paper or in a Word doc and those turn into real sentences.

How often do you clean your writing desk or writing space, and does it affect your work?              

I keep it relatively clean because I cook and prepare food here too (I hope this isn't too gross... I mean, I use a cutting board...). I wish it were tidier but it's a small space! I don't think it affects my work too much.

Do you have a motto or creed that you live by that helps focus your writing?       

I don't think so. I feel like if I need inspiration to focus or work on my writing, I'll just pick up a book I love and read a few sentences. Sometimes it ends up being distracting, but it can also be motivational!

What are your favorite subjects to write about currently?             

No idea. Social dynamics? Be more vague Chloe...

What advice would you give a younger writer who is just starting out?    

Read a lot! Figure out what you like and don't like and why. Then just do the stuff you like. Easy peasy!

Do you have any current projects or publications you'd like to promote?                

45th Parallel!

In recognition of National Poetry Month, do you have a favorite poem you can share?     

I love "Crossroads in the Past" and "What is Written" by John Ashbery!

Chloe Pfeiffer is a second-year nonfiction writer at OSU, currently living in Chicago.

Paige Thomas

When did you first consider yourself dedicated to your genre, and what does that dedication mean to you?          

A few years ago? As for dedication to my genre, it has always been nonfiction for me, or lyric nonfiction (approaching poetry). As for dedication to writing in general, at first, I was surprised that I kept wanting to return to a blank page. I wanted to understand and be understood.

How long have you been writing at your current writing desk?   

So far, around 8 months! Truth be told, I can also be found writing from my couch or on my floor.

Did you have a plan for the layout of your writing space or did it develop organically?      

It developed organically. Or I had a plan, but it wasn't useful once I tried it out. Now, I'm surrounded by beloved books and plants and notebooks. One thing that I always try to do with my writing space is clean it up at the end of the day, so that I can return to it under the best possible circumstances.

Has this writing desk influenced your work?        

Hmm, I'm not sure. My environment definitely has. As for my writing desk in particular? Maybe not as much. Ideally, it will continue to be more of a space that I can set up and call "mine" wherever I end up going or living. I want my writing desk to be my writing's home. Right now, I'm still trying to figure out what I like.

Please describe a typical day being as specific as possible. For example: What time do you get up? When do you come to your writing desk? Do you have specific clothing you change into? And so on.

I get up around 7 or 8 and go on a run. Afterwards, I get ready for the day and sit down at my desk and spend an hour catching up on emails or doing small tasks while I drink my coffee. Once I finish my coffee, I brush my teeth and sit back down at my desk and start writing until I have a meeting or class or stop to eat lunch. Depending on the day, after lunch I either write more or work on classwork or go to class. Eventually, I usually end up working from my couch or reading in bed. Throughout the day, I'll go on walks or go out and skate. When the world was open, I used to work in coffeeshops in the afternoon.

Do you listen to music, the radio, or TV when you work? If so what and does it affect your work?

I love silence!

What kind of writing tools do you use?  

I do most of my writing on the computer, but I have taken notes in my notebook, planner, or in the notes app on my phone. I don't often write by hand, but if I do it is with a pen! I want to try Scrivener, but have yet to download it...

Do you have any special devices or tools that are unique to your creative process?           

I just have my handy-dandy brain and the google search engine. Luckily, I have writerly friends in and out of the MFA program that I love to call and talk writing with when I feel unmotivated or stuck.

Are there specific items here that have significant meaning to you?          

I mean, every book that I read and end up loving holds some significance for me. Especially the ones given to me by friends or colleagues. Otherwise, I'm decently unsentimental.

Do you work on one project at a time or several?

I usually only work on one extensive essay at a time, but with grad school and work and life in general, I also work on class assignments and other writing projects (un-related or partially related to my current project) throughout the day. I also jot down other small ideas. I need to be better about working revision of old projects into my schedule...When I'm in-between projects, I find myself stopping and starting a lot of different new works until I find something that I am excited to keep writing about. I also usually only read one book at a time.

When you are contemplating your work, where and how do you sit or stand?      

When I think of a new project, I am usually never sitting at my desk or doing anything related to writing. When it comes to its execution, however, I sit at my desk and either stare at my computer or out the window or play with my cat when I get stuck. I also go on lots of walks where I don't think about my writing, but somehow it always helps my writing.

How often do you clean your writing desk or writing space, and does it affect your work?              

Every night! It makes me feel like I set myself up for success the next day.

Do you have a motto or creed that you live by that helps focus your writing?       

Damn, I wish. My brain doesn't work like that.

What are your favorite subjects to write about currently?             

Hmm, probably my sisters, my body, and the act of care-taking.

What advice would you give a younger writer who is just starting out?    

Writing should be something you ENJOY even though it can be very hard. It should be a gift to yourself. This sentiment might not always be true, but don't try to rip your brain out at your desk when you cannot think of what to write. Also, the first draft does not need to be perfect. That is why revision exists.

Do you have any current projects or publications you'd like to promote?                

Check out the Attic Institute's website! I'm the blog editor there and I publish author interviews and other writerly resources every week.

In recognition of National Poetry Month, do you have a favorite poem you can share?     

"Confession" by Leila Chatti is a forever favorite of mine.

Paige Thomas is a current nonfiction fellow at Oregon State University, and alongside her writing, she is learning how to skateboard.

Emma Uriarte

When did you first consider yourself dedicated to your genre, and what does that dedication mean to you?          

I think part of me knew I wanted to be a fiction writer from the 7th grade, although maybe that idea had been planted in my mind ever since I was voted "Most Likely to Become a Writer" in my fourth grade class (much to my disappointment, I was not voted Most Likely to Become a Singer). To me, dedication means showing up to write day after day, even when you don't feel like it. Eventually, the words will come.

How long have you been writing at your current writing desk?   

My room is so small that I don't actually have a desk. So, my desk is many things: my dresser, my kitchen table, my bedside table, and mostly my bed. This system has worked for me since I moved to Corvallis this past summer!

Did you have a plan for the layout of your writing space or did it develop organically?      

My writing "layout" developed out of a lack of space and a proclivity for staying in my bed as long as possible each morning.

Has this writing desk influenced your work?        

If it has, I hope it's only for the better.

Please describe a typical day being as specific as possible. For example: What time do you get up? When do you come to your writing desk? Do you have specific clothing you change into? And so on.

I wake up at 8am to the lovely "Early Riser" ringtone pre-programmed into my iPhone. After arguing with myself over pressing snooze (usually, the snooze button does not prevail!), I immediately grab my laptop off of the dresser or a notebook from the bedside table and spend the next hour or so writing. Somehow, staying in my bed lets me feel as though I'm not actually working, and the rest of the daily "to-do list" can't intrude when I'm still under the covers!

Do you listen to music, the radio, or TV when you work? If so what and does it affect your work?

Occasionally when I'm working through a specific scene or character, I'll listen to a song on repeat until the lyrics and sounds lose meaning. Sometimes I think the "vibe" of that song comes through in whatever I'm writing. Or, maybe it doesn't. What's helpful is that I can return to that song and get back into the same headspace I was in before, and it helps me pick up where I left off more easily.

What kind of writing tools do you use?  

When I'm writing first drafts or general ideas, I prefer to use a notebook. I'm very particular about the kind of notebook I like (spiral, small, hard cover, no lines on the pages). When I find one I like, I buy multiple! For some reason, I've gotten into the habit of only using blue pens. Don't ask me why. Writing my first (very rough) draft by hand lets me go through one stage of revision simply when I later go to type it out on my computer. Often, this revision is the most substantial and fruitful. I never seem to revise as fully unless I'm forced to type out every single word.

Do you have any special devices or tools that are unique to your creative process?           

I don't think a notebook is a particularly novel tool for writers, but maybe in today's age a lot of writers skip writing by hand.

Are there specific items here that have significant meaning to you?          

The notebook pictured is one of the (very) particular kinds I like. I blame my high school best friend, Georgia, for buying me my first ever hardcover, spiral-bound, unlined-page notebook. It's all her fault. I've been unimpressed with every other kind of notebook since. The one in the picture I bought from an artisan papelería in Madrid who sets up shop in a Christmas market each year down Paseo de Recoletos. This past December I went back and bought two more.

Do you work on one project at a time or several?              

My main project right now is a novel, but I write short stories and flash fiction as the ideas strike. It's nice to have multiple projects at once. If I feel stuck on one project, I move on to another. That way, I don't give myself the excuse of writer's block to keep me from working.

When you are contemplating your work, where and how do you sit or stand?      

Most often I'll think about my work while I'm in bed, usually right before I fall asleep or right after I wake up. Sometimes if I'm really stuck on something, I'll play some Gregory Alan Isakov and walk pensively through the streets of Corvallis.

How often do you clean your writing desk or writing space, and does it affect your work?              

After I'm done writing, I make my bed every morning. Something about that habit lets me "leave" my creative work behind. It's like switching a flip in my brain that says, "Alright, now you can work on other things today."

Do you have a motto or creed that you live by that helps focus your writing?       

I think the closest thing to a writing motto would have to be what my fiction professor in undergrad told me: 50% of writing is showing up to the page. It's so true! If you wait for inspiration to strike in order to start writing, you'll never get the words out.

What are your favorite subjects to write about currently?             

I like writing about teenagers and exploring relationships between characters and their environments.

What advice would you give a younger writer who is just starting out?    

In writing, there's no guarantee of an audience or publication; those are all bonuses. In the end, you're the only audience that matters, so write about what's interesting to you. Don't think about what others are writing or what you "should" be writing. If you're enjoying the words, that's what matters the most.

In recognition of National Poetry Month, do you have a favorite poem you can share?     

"This is Just to Say" by William Carlos Williams

Emma Uriarte is a first-year fiction candidate in Oregon State's MFA program.

Riley Yuan

When did you first consider yourself dedicated to your genre, and what does that dedication mean to you?          

That night in middle school when I read Chang-Rae Lee's essay, "Coming Home Again" and wept. I think that was the moment I realized that words had the power to level and humble, and strike hard and fast at the essence of an experience. And that's still what writing means to me today—explaining to myself and others the way things are, trying to grasp what's simple and good and true. I'd be trying to do that even if it wasn't through writing.

How long have you been writing at your current writing desk?   

Well, my desk and I go back a long time. My parents got it for me when I was very small. But I've probably only written at it, seriously, for a year or two. After I left home, I moved a lot and didn't drag it around with me. I missed it though, so I brought it with me to Oregon.

Did you have a plan for the layout of your writing space or did it develop organically?      

No plan. I arrange it, at any given time, according to what feels and looks right. That tends to skew simple and minimal.

Has this writing desk influenced your work?        

It must. I have yet to understand or articulate how. That said, I have noticed that the state of my desk does tend to track the state of my mind.

Please describe a typical day being as specific as possible. For example: What time do you get up? When do you come to your writing desk? Do you have specific clothing you change into? And so on.

I'm usually up by 6 or 7. Coffee, breakfast, chores, and other ablutions first. And then at my desk to fend off emails and other miscellany by 8 or 9. Sometimes, it takes me until lunch time to get through all that desk work. I want to write first, and may summon up the courage for that at some point. But right now, I still feel a need to clear my mind of all those other non writing-related items on my to-do list before I can really focus. Plus, if I'm being honest with myself, I've always been an afternoon and evening writer.

So that's how it usually shakes out. I'll break in the afternoon for a workout and/or errands, and keep on writing in the evening if I feel like it.

Do you listen to music, the radio, or TV when you work? If so what and does it affect your work?

Never.

What kind of writing tools do you use?  

I try to start drafts longhand—with a fountain pen and a pad. And I stick with those until I can't read what I've written anymore, or get too anxious, or both. Then I move it all over to a plain text/markdown file in iA Writer on my laptop.

Do you have any special devices or tools that are unique to your creative process?           

Admittedly, I'm particular about the ink and paper I use for my fountain pen. But in the end, it's just a pen, some paper, and a laptop. I don't think any of that counts as unique, and wouldn't like to start thinking of it that way either.

Are there specific items here that have significant meaning to you?          

If these physical objects are similar in any way, it's that they're all quite plain and spare. I like and appreciate them for that reason. But they're also all expendable and interchangeable. I don't keep around any sentimental knick-knacks or items of singular, outsized value. I tend not to externalize my sense of significance and meaning in that way.

Do you work on one project at a time or several?              

Several, until one of them takes off.

When you are contemplating your work, where and how do you sit or stand?      

I sit at my desk or on my futon, and chew my nails or stare out the window. I also do a lot of thinking while driving and showering.

How often do you clean your writing desk or writing space, and does it affect your work?

Constantly, sometimes compulsively.

Do you have a motto or creed that you live by that helps focus your writing?       

“A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word to paper.” - E.B. White

What are your favorite subjects to write about currently?             

Anything and everything that I have experienced firsthand. Recently, that's been the open road, and forests and fires.

What advice would you give a younger writer who is just starting out?    

Write like it's any other job, and don't elevate it or envision it as something that has to be inspired. Clock in and out. Show up when you're supposed to. Take a break from it. It's a thing in your life, alongside everything else. You're a person before you're a writer.

Do you have any current projects or publications you'd like to promote?                

"Between the Green and Black" — an ongoing meditation on working forests and fires. https://www.rileyzyuan.com/between-the-green-and-black

In recognition of National Poetry Month, do you have a favorite poem you can share?     

"Eating Alone" by Li-Young Lee

Riley writes and takes pictures in order to make sense his observations, experiments, and adventures, the most recent of which involve fighting wildfires and traveling the American west.