Ten Questions

“Writing is solitary, but you are not alone.” —Evan Dalton Smith, author of Looking for Andy Griffith: A Father’s Journey

“Sometimes it’s better to lean into your strengths instead of trying to make up for your weaknesses.” —Melissa Mogollon, author of Oye

“I consider notetaking to be an integral form of the writing process.” —Dorothy Chan, author of Return of the Chinese Femme

“I think the arc of writing a poem is similar to the experience of ascending and descending physical terrain.” —Callie Siskel, author of Two Minds

“Take as long as you need.” —April Gibson, author of The Span of a Small Forever

“Trust yourself; if you can manage that, the writing will come.” —Heather McCalden, author of The Observable Universe: An Investigation

“I thought a book could be carved out of a block of poems, but instead it had to start from blank space.” —Cindy Juyoung Ok, author of Ward Toward

“I would write the scene and shake my head in disbelief that a character wanted to do that.” —Phillip B. Williams, author of Ours

“The computer I write on is never allowed to go online.” —Margot Livesey, author of The Road From Belhaven

“In the intimacy of the book, I feel very vulnerable.” —Zachary Pace, author of I Sing to Use the Waiting: A Collection of Essays About the Women Singers Who’ve Made Me Who I Am