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!
